Saving water without going thirsty: smart living in the dry months

In Spain you often hear that water is “the new gold”. And yet we still tend to treat it like soft drinks: widely available, cheap, and endlessly refillable. That is, until summer arrives and the authorities suddenly ask us to skip watering the garden for a day.

The funny thing is this: almost everyone drinks bottled water here, but happily hoses down the pavement with tap water. As if we instinctively know water is scarce, but are not quite sure when to be careful. I am not saying we should save water out of guilt. But a bit of logic would not hurt. Why shower as if you are rinsing grapes? Why top up the pool while the olive trees have been begging for a drink for weeks?

After writing about wasting heat in a previous article, this time I am turning my attention to the tap.

The difference between thirst and habit

Most waste is not luxury, but habit. Leaving the tap running while you look for a lemon, using the hose as a broom, or watering plants in the middle of the day simply because it feels convenient. Water use here is not just about technology, but about timing. Early morning or late evening is enough. The rest evaporates — quite literally.

Reuse without effort

Greywater sounds like a trendy sustainability project, but it is really just common sense. Water from your shower or washing machine can easily be reused in the garden, as long as you choose the right cleaning products. And anyone who thinks this is complicated has clearly never seen how effortlessly Spaniards work with buckets. One in the sink, one by the shower — done.

Plants with character

The smartest water saving starts with what you plant. Lavender, rosemary, olive trees — they do not just grow on character, they thrive on it. Tropical flowers look great on Instagram, but they are thirstier than a tourist in July. Your garden will look better with plants that actually know where they live.

Small habits, big difference

There is a Spanish saying: El agua es vida. Water is life. And it is true. But just like life itself, it is not about abundance, it is about balance. Put a basin under the tap, reuse what you can, and give only what is truly needed.

Saving water in Spain is not a sacrifice — it is simply smarter living in a dry climate. And you will be surprised how little thirst you feel along the way.