Water Care in Our Personal Hygiene
Water is essential for our health and well-being. However, many of our daily hygiene routines—such as showering or brushing our teeth—can use more water than necessary.
Sometimes this consumption goes unnoticed, but it represents a large part of our household water footprint. Small changes in hygiene habits can make a big difference!
Impactful Facts
Making small adjustments in your hygiene habits can help make your personal care routine more sustainable. The shower is one of the places where, with a little attention, you can easily reduce your environmental impact.
A 10-minute shower can use up to 200 liters of water (source: Fundación Aquae). Also, leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth can waste up to 15 liters of water. If you brush twice a day, that adds up to 30 liters daily—over 800 liters a month and more than 9,000 liters a year (source: Colgate).
Your Actions Matter:
- Reduce your shower time: every minute less saves between 10 and 12 liters.
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or use a reusable cup.
- Check for leaks or dripping taps.
- Choose sustainable hygiene products (biodegradable soaps and shampoos) to reduce water pollution.
- Install aerators or efficient showerheads that lower water flow without sacrificing comfort. If your home has water-saving devices on showers, taps, and toilets, you can save between 40% and 60% of the water used in each shower, hand wash, and toilet flush.
Taking care of your hygiene and saving water can go hand in hand—every responsible habit adds up to a more sustainable planet!