http://www.care2.com/greenliving/use-less-water.html
Conservation Nation: Use Less Water
Adapted from Water: Use Less, Save More by Jon Clift and Amanda Cuthbert (Chelsea Green, 2007).
Did you know that Americans use 127 percent more water than they did in 1950? Or that about 95 percent of the water we use goes down our drains? Given the severe drought conditions occurring in parts of the United States right now, it seems prudent to dive in and share some helpful water saving tips with you.
Although we appear to have plenty of rain in the United States, our water resources are under pressure. Quite simply we are consuming too much. Water also requires huge amounts of energy, both to treat it and pump it to our houses, so our thirst for water is damaging our planet in more ways than one.
The good news is that there are many simple things we can do at home and at work to reduce our consumption of water. Here are 10 of the 100 smart water-saving tips from Water: Use Less, Save More:
1. If you are making a hot drink, fill the kettle with only as much water as you need. You will save energy as well as water.
2. Garbage disposals use a considerable amount of water. Start composting and put vegetable scraps in your compost bin.
3. Use a bowl to wash vegetables or to wash and rinse plates.
4. Don’t keep the tap running when cleaning your teeth.
5. While waiting for shower water to run hot, collect the cold water and use it on your plants.
6. Have a five-minute shower instead of a bath and save 30 gallons of water.
7. Attach a hose to your washing machine outlet pipe. Collect the used water when the machine is discharging and use it to water the garden.
8. Use a rain barrel to collect the rainwater from your roof rather than using treated drinking water on your garden. (Read all about using rain barrels here.)
9. Make sure everyone in your home knows where the main water valve is and how to work it. Use it to turn the water off if you have a leak.
10. Keep the telephone number of a plumber handy for emergencies.
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31 comments
add your comment »If your husband refuses to save water (I live in a household with three guys that feel the same) do everything YOU can! Save as much water as you can... or hang your laundry out instead of drying, use vinegar and baking soda to clean/do laundry, walk or ride your bike more, do your best to reduce and reuse before you recycle... if you fall short in one area because you JUST CAN'T do some of them (I would love to get a hybrid or totally electric car... but it's just not feasible!) doesn't mean you can't improve on every other aspect and make those more green! I hope I helped and don't let it bother you cuz he's not going to change his mind anytime soon, as goes with stubborn people.
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how do i get my husband to conserve water. he doesn't believe there is a need to.
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I had a problem with one of the suggestions above and the comment on using the water from washing your fresh produce. I would like someone to please clarify for me. I cannot afford organic foods at the store (this summer I am joining a community garden to grow my own organic veggies), so putting the water from washing my produce outside doesn't sound so good. Same with the detergent for the washing machine. Or is it that the detergent/pesticides are so watered down that it really doesn't matter? I conserve water as much as possible since we run a tavern in the country and have a very small holding tank (which is also for the house). People that drink alcohol use even more water going to the bathroom, and that doesn't even INCLUDE the health regulations on how hot the water to do the dishes has to be and how often we have to change it. It is like trying to pull teeth to get everyone to use less water and recycle. Every morning I go through the trash and pick out all the recyclables too... My fiance laughs at me, but he understands and tries his hardest to help me in my goal of getting this OLD building as eco-friendly as possible. We don't have enough money to do the things I would love to do (like a grey water system), but there is still plenty we CAN do. If there are any other suggestions, fellow care2 members, I would love to hear them!
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Or you could take a cloth or fungus and wet it in prefered temparature. Wash your entire body with it. and then dry yourself with a towel. (do not throw the fungus in the sink again) (Use only the amount of water needed.) Then afterwards use the saved water in the sink for wetting your hair. Use a cup while leaning over the toilet while pouring the water over hair til its all wet. Then rinse in your favorite organic shampoo. now Poar the remaining water over hair while leaning over toilet (to keep the sink water clean.) and rinse out shampoo. Rinse all out with the water in the sink
This way you don't have to dry your shower either saves time. Practical. You could also heat the water, over the fire.
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add a brick into your toilet tank - the top part - u will save water on the flush
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I reuse the washing machine for the toilet...it saves a LOT of clean water on every flush, the water I use washing vegetables is very good for your garden. In the shower, the best is the electric shower, hot water inmmediatly, no waste and very little heat consumption compared to a heater...
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When you think of all the people in poor countries without clean running water it makes sense to use water wisely p.s buy volvic water they donate 10 Litres of water per 1 litre sold
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I agree we need to stop wasting water,there is several ways to do so....even using common sense and willing to do what you can daily...fix that leak, the dripping sink,adjust your toilet to use a little less..reuse the water you can...don't over fill containers..the list goes on...we can all do it if we all work at it together....
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I NEVER water my lawn even in the hot summer. I find it incredulous that people water their lawn, fertilize it, and then mow once a week. What a waste!
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There are so many ways we can conserve water if we only think. good info.
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