Best ways to save precious water? We all know the basics: installing low-flow toilets like the AmericanStandard Flowise, using low-flow shower heads such as these at the Earth Easy Shop
and implementing an Energy Star qualified dishwasher and clothes washer…
But here are my favorite at-home basics for saving water without major time or money expense:
1) Turn off the water while you lather up or shave and while brushing your teeth.
2) Try wiping dishes off with a reusable rag instead of rinsing before loading the dishwasher.
3) Only operate washing machines and dishwashers when they are completely filled.
4) If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.
5) Repair water leaks around the house. These account for about 14% of the average household’s water consumption. Find out hot to check for leaks at the LCRA website.
6) Avoid running the garbage disposal and creating trash at the same time. Compost!
7) Keep drinking water cold in the fridge instead of running water until it’s cold.
Take a brief shower not a bath. A 5-minute shower = 12 to 25 gallons of water, a bath = 70 gallons.
9) Buy organic – it helps reduce groundwater pollution.
10) Instead of sprinklers, consider a drip irrigation system from the Drip Store. They water more deeply and efficiently. And remember, water early in the day to prevent water loss due to evaporation.
11) Don’t use your toilet to flush small pieces of trash like tissues. It
can waste up to 5 to 7 gallons of fresh water per flush (depending on how old the toilet is). Use the trash can instead.
some wet links:
the water family.co.uk – click, log-in and play the game
h2ouse.org
Related: previously on AltCon – Water Day, 2007 (3.12.07)
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These are some good ideas. One thing, though: It shouldn’t take 5-7 gallons of fresh water to flush! If your toilet uses that much water you can and should replace it. Low-consumption toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush. If you’re serious about conservation, this is a must. In the US, toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons CANNOT BE SOLD. If you’re toilet uses more water than that, chances are it’s more than 20 years old and ought to be replaced. Great post, though!