waste — to use something carelessly or without purpose

a teenage boy carelessly leaves the water faucet running at full blast while brushing his teeth. Water pours continuously down the drain as he moves away from the sink to grab a towel. The water keeps flowing even though he's no longer using it, creating a steady stream of unused water. His mother enters the kitchen and points at the running faucet with a concerned expression. She quickly moves to turn off the tap while shaking her head disapprovingly. water being used carelessly and without purpose