Top Ten Water Saving Tips
We are dealing with our current financial crisis after it became a crisis. This reactionary style is very “American”. Therefore, I propose we do something “un-American” and attack the looming water crisis with more of a preventative strategy. In fact, that is our only option. It’s not like we have a choice to be reactionary in this potential crisis. We can’t borrow water like we can money.
Waiting for this issue to officially hit home will be too late. Our dehydrated brains will wonder (with increasing difficulty–because our brains are over 80% water) “how could we have prevented this?”
Here’s how.
Top Ten Daily Water Saving Tips
1. Showering–Shower with someone. Keep showers under 4 minutes. Purchase a low-flow showerhead.
2. Grooming–Turn off the water while you brush your teeth, shave, and while you lather up when washing your hands. Also, make sure there are aerators on all of your faucets.
3. Toilet–If it’s yellow let it mellow. When you need to replace a toilet purchase a low-volume or dual flush toilet.
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4. Laundry–Only use when you have a full load.
5. Dishwashing–Only use when you have a full load. If you wash by hand (better choice) don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
6. Compost–Composting eliminates the need for a garbage disposal (water waster) and adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
7. Outside–Plant native and drought tolerant plants. Only water your lawn when needed (you can tell when by walking across your lawn–if you leave footprints, it’s time to water).
8. Catching it–While waiting for the water in your shower or sink to get hot, use a large cup (sink) or bucket (shower) to catch the water. Also, install a rain barrel to collect rainwater from your gutters. Use the collected water to water your plants and/or wash your car.
9. Fixing it–Fix leaky faucets and toilets!
10. Teaching it–Make suggestions to your employer to conserve water at work. Encourage your city and local schools to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults. Share this article with family and friends (and enemies too–we all use the same water)!
Most of you may have realized I slipped more than 20 water saving tips in here.
Hey, it’s that important…and I’m that sneaky.
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Image credit: Wikimedia Commons–Jose Manual Suarez
With regards to making sure there are aerators on all of your faucets one should also know that there are low flow aerators. Typical low flow is 2.5 gallons per minute but there are actually aerators that restrict water as low as .5 gallons per minute here is a link to examples http://www.faucetaerators.com/faucet-aerators-c-21.html, you can’t buy them here but can get them at the hardware store. I have actually heard a company is coming out with a .33 gallon per minute aerators.
There is a fabulous product that we installed with our existing sink and faucet (no expensive renovations!) called a sinkpedal. It allows you to control your faucet with a foot pedal, saving tons of water in the kitchen and/or bath. You can find it at http://www.sinkpedal.com
I’m not sure about other states, but here in Utah it is actually illegal to harness rainwater unless you own the water rights to your property, which most homeowners don’t.
Today’s dishwashers use LESS water than hand washing. Of course, it also helps to point out that many places in the US have a fresh water SURPLUS and the only reason to conserve is to make your water bill go down. So really, No. 11 could be MOVE from the Southwest part of the United States to places which have plenty of water.
Dish washer - wash on light instead of normal or heavy duty
Washing machine - even if you have a full load, don’t crank up the water level all of the way up. We set ours to about 70% and it washes clothes without any problems, even on a full load of laundry.
I think you meant “drought resistant” not “draught resistant”…
Another easy tip, don’t even wash your hands. Just let them become filthy and covered in a think film of disgusting crud. Then wipe them off on your spouse.
#5 should be changed. Using a full dishwasher is better then washing by hand.
Average energy star dishwasher uses only 4 gallons of water per load. (http://energystar.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/energystar.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2539)
Filling up both sides of a typical double bowl sink half way is about 8 gallons.
Even non-energy star dishwasher perform better then hand washing.
watering grass is foolish, but if you need to do it, make sure you let your grass grow as long as your local laws will allow (or as high as your mower will cut). this will help the grass from drying out more than anything else. it’ll also save on the chore (less mowing) and money (less gas or electric to run the mower)
This is a really great post. Thank you for spreading the word. Posts like this help all of us to become more aware with what we are given on earth - even though there is a lot of H2O, it is finite. Joe, do you have any case studies that you can share? What are the real cost savings and water savings when someone makes these very positive changes. All the best, Jason.