While we haven’t heard anything about the drought in a while, the threat isn’t completely gone. With the recent drought in Cape Town it is especially important to remain vigilant. If we go back to our old water wasting ways, a water shortage is sure to become a problem again very soon.

Luckily for you there are dozens of simple ways for you to save water without putting much effort in. One of the easiest ways to save a lot of water is to make sure all your plumbing is fixed. A leaky tap can easily use up to 30 litres of water a day, that’s enough to take a long shower.

But even if you are certain all your taps aren’t leaking and there aren’t any other leaks throughout your house, still try to shower for as short as possible. A typical shower can use up to as much as 20 litres per minute. This is the same as washing your dishes ten times or cooking 40 Kilograms of rice! So even by shaving your showering time down by half a minute you can save enough water to cook enough rice for a sizeable gathering.

Another way to save even more water while showering is to install an aerator into your shower head. This mixes air in with your water so you could use half as much water as you usually do but the water pressure remains the same, so you barely notice any difference.

Saving water doesn’t have to be an ordeal. With the right mindset you can saves dozens of litres and still be enjoying yourself in the process. But never forget that water is precious, and once it’s gone, its gone.