Lots of old folktales prevail about how to save and conserve water—even if it really is necessary. However, water and water conservation are becoming very serious issues around the world.
 
Waterless Co., manufacturer of no-flush urinal systems, offers the following myths about water and water conservation designed to separate fact from fiction.
 
Myth: Placing a brick in a toilet is a simple way to save water.
Reality: A brick will disintegrate in water, lose its effectiveness at saving water, and can damage the toilet’s plumbing.  Although it is not recommended, when using a brick, wrap it in a sturdy plastic bag before placing it in the toilet.
 
Myth: The globe is covered with water.
Reality: It is true that more than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered with water.  But, the amount of the world’s water that is available for drinking is less than one percent and in many sectors of the world, that one percent is threatened by pollution, overuse, and leakage.
 
Myth: Water conservation means water bans and doing without.
Reality: Water conservation means reducing the amount of water we use waste.
 
Myth: Very few toilets leak water.
Reality: An estimated 25 percent of all toilets leak and can waste five to more than 40 gallons of water per hour.
 
Myth: No-water urinals save water, but smell bad.
Reality: A study by the University of California found no statistically significant difference in the amount of malodor produced by a no-water urinal compared to a water-using urinal.1
 
Myth: The global demand for water is increasing slower than we think.
Reality: The global demand for water has tripled over the past 50 years, and continues to grow.
 
“To me, the biggest myth about water conservation is that there is nothing we can do about it,” says Klaus Reichardt, founder and CEO of Waterless Co., LLC.  “The truth is there is a lot we can do and are doing.  We just need to speed up our efforts.”;
 
1. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, LA. 2003