Water Conservation Tools

Practical reductions that do not compromise hygiene.

• Check the water meter for hidden leaks Read the meter, leave the house without using water for an hour, then read it again. Movement means a leak.
• Repair dripping taps and running toilets A continuously running toilet wastes more than most behaviour changes save.
• Wash dishes in a basin instead of under a running tap Use a second basin for rinsing.
• Run the washing machine only with full loads Partial loads use nearly the same volume as full ones.
• Catch the cold water that runs before the tap warms up Use it for plants, cleaning or flushing.
• Sweep outdoor areas instead of hosing them down Hosing a driveway uses drinking quality water for no benefit.
• Water plants early morning or late afternoon Less is lost to evaporation than at midday.
• Keep drinking water in a covered pitcher Stops the tap running while someone waits for cold water.
• Keep handwashing and food washing unchanged Hygiene is where illness risk rises during a shortage. Reduce elsewhere.

What to arrange before an interruption or a dry spell starts.

• Work out your household daily requirement Use the water use calculator, then plan drinking and cooking first.
• Buy food-grade storage containers in advance Containers sell out once an advisory is issued.
• Identify the nearest registered refilling station and its hours Check this before you need it, not during an interruption.
• Check whether a delivery provider serves your barangay Note the minimum order and the lead time.
• Find out where your barangay sets up distribution points Past distribution locations are usually reused.
• Keep a working method of treating water at home A reliable way to boil, and fuel or power for it.
• Identify household members most at risk Infants, pregnant women, older adults and anyone chronically ill.
• Save the contact details of your water provider Report interruptions to them as well as on this platform.
• Rotate stored water every few weeks Finds a cracked container before an emergency rather than during one.

Setting up storage that stays safe for as long as you need it.

• Use food-grade containers only Never reuse containers that held fuel, pesticide, paint or bleach.
• Prefer narrow openings, tight lids, or a tap Keeps hands and dippers out of the stored water.
• Keep containers off the floor and out of sunlight Sunlight drives algae growth in translucent containers.
• Label non-drinking water clearly In a dark house, two identical drums are a real hazard.
• Wash and fully dry containers before refilling Clean the lid and the tap as well, since these are handled constantly.
• Store away from toilets, animals and chemicals Separation matters as much as the container itself.
• Keep a dedicated dipper if the container is wide-mouthed Long handle, never set on the floor, never used for anything else.
• Discard water that smells, looks cloudy or has a film Do not try to rescue it by boiling if chemical contamination is possible.