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Go With The (Low) Flow II -
Now that you've installed low-flow showerheads throughout
the house (you have, haven't you?), there is one more small
do-it-yourself home improvement you can make to reduce your
overall water consumption. Installing aerators with flow
restrictors on all your faucets can reduce your water usage
(and bill) by more than 20 percent. They're inexpensive,
they're a cinch to install, and their benefits will persist
indefinitely.
Go With The (Low) Flow -
Recommending that you take shorter showers seems pretty
obvious, but it's still sound water-saving advice. There is
another tip for saving water in the shower that might not be
so obvious. Installing ultra-low-flow showerheads can reduce
the amount of water going down the drain by as much as 50
percent, and the cost of the showerhead will be recovered in
the form of lower utility bills.
Turn It Off -
Everyday personal hygiene usually involves wasting the
majority of the water we use at the bathroom sink. Shaving,
brushing your teeth, and washing your face can all be done
in a water-conserving manner if you just do one little
thing. Turning off the water in between rinsing your
toothbrush and razor and while you scrub your face can save
as much as 80 percent of the water normally used during
these tasks, so try to remember to turn the water off when
it isn't actually being put to good use.
Keep It Cool -
Getting a glass of cool water out of the tap can take a
while if you live in a warm climate, but letting the water
run until it gets cool isn't the answer. Store a bottle of
tap water in the refrigerator for those times when you want
a nice, cool drink.
Fill 'Er Up - No one is going
to try to convince you that washing clothes and dishes is a
bad thing, but a simple alteration to the way you do those
things can save lots of water. The secret? It's simple
really. Just wait until you have a full load of dirty
laundry or dishes before running the washer or dishwasher.
Even with adjustable water level settings, washing two small
loads consumes considerably more water and detergent than a
single large load, and you'll save money on both.
Become a Collector -
Many homes receive enough water to satisfy all their
gardening needs, but this free resource is usually ignored.
Start collecting rainwater and, chances are, you'll have
plenty to irrigate your garden even if watering restrictions
are in place in your community. You don't have to live in
the tropics to collect a substantial amount of rainwater,
and even if you live in a dry climate, every drop you
collect is water that otherwise would have gone unused, and
it's free! Here is an excellent article that will help you
get started:
How to Build a Rainwater Collection System.
Addendum - Reader Barbara Boissonnas sent the following:
Just thought I'd pass along our
experience with our new rain barrel, given to my
husband by our daughter for Fathers' Day. We
attached it to one of the downspouts by the garage
(which doesn't even drain the biggest roof on our
house) over the weekend. On Wednesday there was a
fairly steady but not unusually heavy rain most of
the morning, and we were happy to see that it was
about one-third full after that short time. Then
there was a period of heavy rain for about an hour
in the afternoon, and now the barrel is full. One
day, full barrel -- that's 60 gallons of free water
in one day!
Dyeing to Save Water -
Toilets have a habit of leaking slowly and silently so that
we are unaware of the wasted water escaping down the drain.
Here is a quick and easy way to determine if your toilet is
wasting water: add a few drops of food coloring to the tank
and wait about 30 minutes to see if the water in the bowl is
colored. If it is, you probably have a rusted, corroded, or
bent component in the flush mechanism. Replacement parts are
usually inexpensive and easily installed, so consult a
plumbing specialist at your local hardware store to fix the
problem. And be sure to flush as soon as you have finished
the test so the food coloring doesn't stain your tank.
Flush If You Must -
There is no denying that there are times when flushing the
toilet is the only right thing to do. However, there are
many times when it isn't. It's
time to stop thinking of your toilets as general-purpose
trash receptacles. There is no need to flush tissues, dead
bugs, or small miscellaneous bits of waste when putting them
in the trash would do the trick. Use the toilet only for the
things it was designed for and leave the rest for the
garbage man.
Don't Be a Drip -
Your kitchen sink has a slow drip, but you don't do anything
about it because it doesn't add up to much, right? Wrong.
Even at the rate of only one drop per second, you're still
wasting up to 2,700 gallons of water per year. Replace the
defective washer and tighten up any loose fittings to stop
the drip, and save some money on your water and sewer bills
at the same time.
Watch the Meter -
Many homes have small water leaks that we aren't aware of.
Fortunately, the water company has provided a very easy way
to detect them. Just check your water meter before and after
a two-hour period during which no water is used. If the
readings aren't exactly the same, it's time to call a
plumber.
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