Water Week isn’t over yet, and you still haven’t gotten the hang of the right habits? Don’t worry—the SME is here to remind you of the right steps to take to conserve water, preserve its quality, and protect the environment as a whole. With the help of tips, simple actions, and even games, you can do even better.
Best Practices
To mark Water Week in Martinique, the Société Martiniquaise des Eaux (SME) is offering a number of simple ways to reduce water consumption and thus conserve this scarce and precious resource that is essential to life.
Conserving water starts with simple actions: turning off the shower while you lather up; turning off the water for 2 minutes saves about 30 liters of water—«over the course of a year, that’s the equivalent of dozens of bathtubs saved per person! » according to the SME.
In addition to choosing to shower instead of taking a bath, you should try to shorten your shower time because «a 5-minute shower uses about 40 to 60 liters of water, compared to double (or even triple) that amount if you let the time slip away.» Advice from water experts: «Play your current favorite song (they’re often between 3 and 4 minutes long). When the music stops, turn off the water!».
A virtuous cycle
These savings add up. Reducing water use also helps cut energy consumption, especially when it comes to showering. «Less water wasted means less energy needed to heat it—and a planet that thanks us for it,» notes the SME. Similarly, when using the toilet, it’s important to use the small flush button to conserve water. Once all these small actions are incorporated into daily life, they add up to significant savings on water and energy bills.
Conserving water at home is a first step, which should also encourage us to protect the ocean and rivers. No waste should be thrown into them, as this risks contributing to pollution and the accumulation of microplastics.
To raise awareness among young people, the SME offers an online game that lets players answer questions and gain a better understanding of the challenges involved in preserving this resource. To learn while having fun, check out here.
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