These coming few days of confinement are a very good time to learn how to introduce practices in your life that can lead to less waste.

There are a lot of resources around us that we are limitless because they are so readily available at our disposal. And one such resource, I am sure you all will agree is water. We feel that it is available 24×7, there is plenty of it around us.

Water is a finite commodity that, if not managed properly, will result in shortages in the near future. Water conservation can go a long way to help alleviate these impending shortages.

Here are a few ways by which you can save water at home:

1.The first place where we use water a lot is the kitchen. So, the next time you step into the kitchen, take a small vessel and fill it with water.

So, every time at the end of the task, let’s say you are kneading dough, instead of reaching for the tap to wash your hands, just dip in your hands into that vessel and wipe it off. You will realize you need very little water to keep your hands clean during cooking.

2. Instead of washing vegetables under the running tap, take a big vessel and fill it with water and wash your vegetables in that.

If you need a second round of water take more. Instead of washing the vegetables under the running tap, wash them in a large vessel. You can reuse this water and put it in your plants.

3. If you have an RO system, use the wastewater to mop the floors in your house.

4. A typical shower uses five to ten gallons of water a minute. Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rise off.

5. Before brushing, wet your brush and fill a glass for rinsing your mouth.

I myself practice these at home and I haven’t seen any reduction in hygiene standards.

This was how you can make subtle changes to bring down the usage of water in your house.

(On 50 years of Earth Day – join us in making India’s largest climate action manifesto. #FiftyForFifty. Connect with us and tell what step are you taking for climate action?)