Let's begin!

Let's begin!

The much expected Chennai's Summer is nearing and we have to prepare ourselves to face it, be it the scorching sun or the water crisis that may follow due to the rains that absented itself like a school kid during exams!
Oh Lord Varuna, have mercy on us! If you come now, we may not need Lord Krishna to lift the Govardhan giri again but need his mercy to save those waters in our lakes and water bodies.

On one side, people are performing yagna and singing hymns, praying for the rains, by mixing the ghee and the rice, rains are anticipated as tonnes of oxygen gets created.  We can do our part by starting from our homes.

Other than reusing recycled RO water,

Let's take a stand not to use the  washing machines till the crisis is gone. If we wash with our hands, water consumption will be less. It may be hard in the beginning but we'll get used to it.

Similarly, we can stop using dish washers as it doubles the water usage, as we need to wash lightly and then load the dish washers! We can wash the utensils right the first time itself instead of redoing the job. In addition to diluting the dish soap in water, adding vinegar will help in a quicker way to get cleaner utensils.

Also,let's take up the way of our elders by using banana leaves in the weekends. That way, no plates to wash after eating! The cows will thank us for changing their menu from plastic covers to newspapers to these yummy banana leaves.

Let's show our kids to pour the water from their water bottles into a bucket or to the plants so that its not wasted!

A change to spray mop will reduce the water quantity for wiping.

Using cleaning tissues to wipe the kitchen counters, fridge, kids school baskets will also save water.

Taking care of the overhead tanks to prevent water from evaporation and also make a promise that no overflowing is allowed.
No washing down the apartment staircase and common area and the vehicles with fresh water.

Increase the time line for change of bedsheets, curtains and blankets.

Vacuuming the doormats and the house will help too in postponing the washing and wiping respectively.

While cooking, let's reduce the number of vessels, the serving spoons and cups. One kadai cooking, two serving spoons per meal will also reduce the cleaning.
Wipe the grime on the kitchen counter every night or once in 2 days with a kitchen tissue so that more water isn't required. Using less oil for cooking will also help reduce the water for cleaning. A little planning will help us go a long way.

Let's show kids that their uniforms have to be repeated and worn for two days. Same goes with socks and the clothes they wear at home. If we implement in front of kids, they will follow us.

Schools can step forward and change the white color uniforms to colored ones so that frequent washing isn't required.

With the ban on plastic covers, its not going to be easy but we all can make it happen together! Use newspapers for dustbins as an alternative. We can place the newspaper as dust bin liners and throw it after 2-3 days. That way, the upcoming demand in newspaper can also be controlled. The newspaper industry will increase its costs keeping this in mind! We can also use the grocery plastic covers like wheat flour cover, the lentils covers as alternative liners.

If we don't make wise choices now, we'll be forced to accept whatever is available! Our children will have to undergo hardships for all the mistakes we have committed! Its our duty not only to bring them up well but also to share the valuable resources with them.

A drop saved is a drop got and every little helps! So, lets all begin, NOW.

--Vishnupriya