"Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink!"
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Yes, there is water everywhere on our beautiful planet, but 97% of our world's water is either salty or otherwise unfit to drink! Another 2% is inaccessible in icebergs and glaciers! That leaves only 1% and this tiny 1% is what we use to cover the agricultural, residential, industrial & personal needs of more than 7 billion people! Remember this the next time you turn on your faucet and let water run down the drain. Keep in mind, too, that many women in Africa spend most of their day walking many miles back and forth to collect barely enough water to keep their families alive, while, in the US, each of us uses about 50 gallons of water per day.
So you see that the first and best thing you can do to go green and improve our environment is conserve water, which will also reduce your water bill and save your household some money. Conserving water is easy, because there are only a few things you need do to get started!
In your bathroom:
Put a bucket under the faucet in the bath. Every time you run the water for your bath or shower save the run off in the bucket. This will collect about three gallons or 12 Liters of this lovely, life giving stuff! You can use this water to flush your toilet or water your plants. Maybe you will think of other ways to use it. Better still have your plumber put an instant hot water valve on your boiler. This way there will be no run off!
Don't leave the water running when you're brushing your teeth. In fact, dentists recommend you not rinse your mouth after brushing so that the residual paste can continue to do its work on your mouth and teeth!
Don't leave the water running when you wash your hands! Put in the stopper and catch the initial water you use to dampen your hands in the basin, then soap your hands and rinse them in this water. Once you've removed most of the soap pull the stopper and give them a final, quick rinse under the faucet. You'll have saved at least a gallon of water and your hands will be as clean as before!
You can save a lot of water by not flushing every time! In San Francisco we have a saying: "yellow is mellow, brown goes down!" Certainly don't flush every time you toss something like a tissue into the pan! By the way, urine does not carry harmful bacteria, because it is sterile! There are many beneficial uses for urine: in ancient times and in some modern cultures, urine has been used for washing, mouthwash, or drinking. Traditionally urine has been used in tanning leather.
To make sure your cistern is not leaking put a few drops of dye into it. If there's a leak the water in the bowel will be discolored after a little while. Consider having a water saving toilet installed. If you can't afford a new toilet, fill a large bottle with water, fasten the top and put it into the cistern. This will reduce the amount of water used to flush.
In your kitchen:
When you wash dishes don't leave the water running. Instead, if you have a double sink, run a few inches of water into the second one and use it to rinse your dishes. Keep in mind that the soap only needs to be removed from the eating surface of the dish or cup! If, like me, you have only a single sink keep a jug in the sink to catch water as you rinse and use this to water your plants! Use as little water as possible to wash your dishes and consider reusing the water several times. When it looks grungy use it to flush the toilet.
Dishwashers use a lot of water, so use yours wisely! This will not only reduce your water needs, it will also reduce your energy bills! If yours is old replace it with an Energy Star unit. These use far less water than older models. If you can't dash out and buy a new appliance, here are some tips to help reduce water and energy until you can:
Only run full loads (you'll save about 1,000 gallons of water per month) and don't rinse the dishes before loading! Use a fork or paper towel to dispose of pieces or bones in the compost container.
Don't overload the dishwasher, don't use the pre-rinse cycle and you'll save 3 to 7 gallons of water.
Regularly using the water saver cycle can save up to 30% of your usage.
Clean the dishwasher regularly by checking the filter and removing trapped particles, wiping off the water jets and spray arm nozzles with an abrasive cloth or sponge.
To save energy use the 'no heat' option and open the door after the final rinse and let the dishes air dry.
Learn about Energy Star dishwashers
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=DW
In your garden:
Make sure your sprinklers are watering only your garden not the street, the paths or the steps. Make sure the sprinkler is not leaking. Use native or, at least, drought tolerant plants whenever possible and don't plant a lawn unless it's native to your area. Don't over water, which is also bad for your plants. Don't use a hose to clean paths and driveways, use a broom or rake. Water in the early morning to reduce evaporation. Collect rainwater to add to the water collected from your household.
More ways to save water:
www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_protect_water_supplies
www.wateruseitwisely.com/join-the-cause/index.php
Here are some more water facts:
• Water regulates earth and body temperature and carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, it supports joints, protects organs and tissues and flushes away waste.
• Our bodies consist of 70% water.
• All life forms on our planet need water to live.
• Providing water in your home costs 1 cent for every 5 gallons. Your water company will no doubt charge more than that!
• World water day is held on March 22 every year:
www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/world-water-day
About tanning and urine:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanning
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