I had a great conversation with T in Yakima about conservation. He had some helpful suggestions for my new challenge; Water Conservation! During my Trash Challenge I was taken aback by the amount of...well...EVERYTHING that I use. Trash was on my mind, but then I began to realize how much water I was using. I mean, I love baths. I love super soapy, hot dish water, I love my dishwasher. I really like to flush my toilet every time...Then I hear this report on NPR: Southern States Drought My baths and flushing seems foolish and wasteful when humans need to drink it to live. What luxuries we love but what do they cost?
I need your suggestions on water conservation; Websites you have been to, organizations you know of and your stories too. I plan to start monitoring Nov. 12th. I will do this for 7 days. My goal is to decrease the amount of water I use by 50% - more if possible. The first week I will monitor how much H2O I use. This includes drinking water, all household and outdoor water, and somehow water used at other places. I MAY try to figure out how much water is in my hard liquor too. Which reminds me of Mark Twain:
"Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over!"
You know what I'm thinking of right now? Dune. I'm thinking of that scene when they take the dead and squish out the water and drink it. OH! And right before they squish the body, everyone spits - because water is so precious to spit is a honorable action.
11 comments:
If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down.
The good folks Down unda are going through a water crisis that we are just beginning to understand here in "the States".
http://www.savewater.com.au/
Growing up in a very crowded island with little water made me very conscious of conservation, which I still practice today.
Tip 1: leave a bucket in the bathtub and smaller containers by the kitchen and bathroom sinks. When you run water waiting for it to get hot, save every drop! Use it for watering plants, filling the toilet, or small washing projects.
Tip 2: Wash your fruit and veg in a basin of water, then use that same water on the plants.
Tip 3: Before boiling eggs, wash them in CLEAN saved water. That way, after you've boiled the eggs, the hot water is clean enough to use for tea. (I know people who did that, but frankly that was - begging your pardon - not my cup of tea!)
Tip 3: I know you wash your rice, Missy, as all good Asian girls are taught to do. Don't pour that washing water away! It is great for plants.
4. Can't finish your glass of water? Dogs and cats' water bowls look murky and need changing? Dump the extra on to plants!
5. Mop your floors with a bucket of water to which you have added an ORGANIC non-toxic soap. You can use the water on plants, or on the lawn.
6. If you are able to collect the water from your washing machine (mine drains into the laundry tub so that's easy) use an organic soap, and you can also collect that water for plants, or for washing floors....or just collect the rinsing water.
7. Please, please PLEASE trun off the faucet while brushing teeth (or men, when shaving), or while you are soaping up in the shower.
8. Go on a camping trip whhere you have to CARRY every drop of water you use. You'll learn very quickly how not to take water for granted!
(In case you're wondering, I've got heaps and heaps of potted herbs sitting in my southern windows for the winter, and they require a lot of water, which is why most of my tips involve plant needs. Still, with the above tips, I usually don't have to draw any water for the plants - there's more than enough from the above uses to take care of them all.)
I applaud you, dear girl, for your efforts! Bravissima!
I've read that the dishwasher uses a lot less water than hand washing. Maybe it's true. And filling up the dishwasher so that everything gets clean but there's no wasted space is like doing a little puzzle every day.
Shorter (and fewer) showers. And you know about flow restrictors don't you? They're cheap, and effective (for some people).
And so on.
Good luck. Have fun.
Senator S.I. Hayakawa went further, advising that urination did not really require a flush ("No pull for a pee" has become a California quip), according to Time magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918791-2,00.html
I remember reading that article! Yikes. The article suggests among other things, reducing the volume of water in your toilet tank. Bricks, water filled milk jugs, or water bottles all work.
Take a Navy shower! Leave the water running long enough to get your skin wet. Turn it off while you lather up and scrub, then turn it back on again when you are ready to rinse off. This has been the way sailors have showered on board ships for many years and it saves water and the energy used to heat it.
hey there...
Here's an easy home water conservation tip that will save you energy, money and time: Install a Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve under the sink farthest from your water heater and you will have instant hot water throughout your entire home! In many homes it takes a long time for hot water to circulate to the faucet or shower. Waiting for the water “to heat up” wastes valuable water down the drain. The Hot Water Lobster is an electricity free solution that anyone can install in 15 minutes! You'll recoup the small $179.95 purchase price in no time.
The Hot Water Lobster is made in the U.S.A. in the United States It’s designed according to strict manufacturing standards to ensure easy installation and long maintenance free operation. It comes with a 10 year warranty and a money back guarantee! It simply can’t be beat!
www.hotwaterlobster.com
You can save alot of water by using a rain barrel, and not over-watering your lawn/garden.
Check out my blog for other water conservation tips.
WATER IS LIFE, use it wisely!
We used rain water for drinking and cooking. On rainy season, we collect/harvest rain using plastic sheets spread out in our open backyard tied on four poles or sticks. Made a hole in the middle of plastic sheet and collect water down below and put them on gallons and containers.
On hot season, dont waste too much water. Collect water used in washing veggies, fish and rice washings; they're good for our plants at home.
Laundry used water can be used for flushing toilet. While we enjoy using water, many places on earth long for it.
Let's use water wisely. Protect and clean our water sources. Plant trees, protect our watershed.
I have been working with a group of students to get the word out about water conservation and its importance. We live in the Southwest where it is a huge issue. What our local water agency told us directly was to use appropriate landscaping and to be sure our pools and spas were covered. An uncovered pool in the Mojave desert can lose up to 1000 gallons of water in a month if left uncovered!
I have been looking for an easy to use water conservation device and have finally found one. I am not sure if any of you have heard of the LeakAlertor but it is such an easy product to use, and has helped me save a substantial amount of money on my water bill. It is a small device that press applies to the outside of your toilet tank and monitors your tank for flapper leaks. You will receive an update after each flush so it is impossible to have an unknown leaking toilet. It will notify you with a blinking red light and will also beep. No installation, and no tools required made this the easiest conservation product I have seen as of yet. Check it out at www.leakalertor.com!
The Half-Cup-Flush-Toilet Adapter
A device that allows us to flush away urine using just half a cup of water instead of three litres.
It may not see like a big deal, but it can make the difference between a country being self-sufficient in water and having to build and operate energy-hungry desalination plants.
Take a look at the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI6JtagHvqA
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