Use a low flow shower-head

(For the 21st of February)

Stream, Ireland
Photograph by Philippe Bourseiller

To attempt to meet our escalating need for energy, humans have built dams and diverted rivers: 60% of the planet's rivers have been tamed in this way, and more than 45,000 large dams produce 20% of the world's water. Building these dams, however, has displaced between 40 and 80 million people - few of whom were consulted beforehand - and has caused extensive deforestation and species loss. Showers account for 12% of household water use, adding more than 6,600 liters per year.

You can reduce water consumption by replacing your shower-head with one that aerates and increases the flow of the water to produce a finer spray. A low-flow shower-head can use around 8 liters per minute, depending on the model (much less than a conventional shower-head); Many have 'pause buttons' as well, so you can stop the water flow while you soap up.

- from the book '365 Ways to Save the Earth', by Philippe Bourseiller.