PETALING JAYA: Some conservation methods may seem insignificant but you’ll be surprised at the amount of water you can save with a few simple steps.

“We should alter our water consumption pattern so that there is enough for everybody,” said Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministrysecretary-general Datuk Loo Took Gee.

“For example, instead of washing your car using a water hose, use a pail instead,” she said, adding that water conservation could be done without compromising one’s quality of life.

According to the ministry, we can save about 382 litres of water by using two pails of water to wash instead of a hose attached to a running tap for about 10 minutes.

According to a brochure available at the ministry, we can save 60 litres of water daily just by turning off the water while applying soap in a 10-minute shower.

If we use a glass to collect water while we brush our teeth instead of letting water run for five minutes, we can save an extra 44.5 litres of water.

Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia president S. Piarapakaran said that being water- efficient could be as simple as re-using water that was used to wash clothes or vegetables.

“Waste water (after rinsing clothes) can be used to flush your toilet or wash your drains,” Piarapakaran said, adding that the water used to wash vegetables or rinse rice could be used to water plants as well.

On top of that, people could also save water by collecting rainwater for non-drinking purposes, he said.

Loo said people also saved money by using water wisely.

“We must remember that treated water is not free. We have to pay for it,” she added.

– The Star Online