Water, water, water—everyone’s talking about water! I attended a regional water meeting a few days ago, and it was most illuminating--lots of people with lots of concerns and lots of ideas. Most people were thinking in terms of broad, future plans, but I began to think of small, everyday ideas that could make a difference in our water consumption.
Fix leaking faucets and running toilets. Faucets can drip as much as 20 gallons a day, and toilets can waste 90,000 gallons a month. That is literally money down the drain! I do not know how to fix a toilet, so I call my plumber, but even I can change a washer on a faucet. Pay attention to leaking faucets or running toilets in public places or at the homes of friends and relatives, and mention it. It is easy for people to become oblivious to the sound.
Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes. When shaving, put a little water in the sink so you can rinse your razor. When washing dishes in a double sink, fill one with soapy water and the other with clean water for rinsing. Our water bills tell us exactly how many gallons of water we use in a month. Try to lower your number every month. Consider it a challenge!
Install low-flow aerators on all faucets and showers. Get the type for your shower which can be turned off while you wash your hair or shave your legs, and remember to do it.
Catch rainwater in a barrel and use it to water plants. Decorative barrels with spouts can be purchased at gardening stores or on the internet, or you can just use any large container. If you have a mosquito problem in your area, cover the barrel when it is not raining.
Eat vegetarian one day a week. John Robbins, the author of Food Revolution, calculated that it takes 300 gallons a day to produce a vegetarian diet for one person and 4000 gallons a day to produce a meat diet for that person. He also states that not eating one pound of beef saves more water than not showering for a year. With all the delicious vegetables available, this will not be a burden. During the summer months, my mother occasionally cooked an all-vegetable dinner. It was my favorite!
As you think of other ways to conserve water, remember the childhood rhyme:
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand
Make a mighty ocean
And a pleasant land.
We are fortunate that we live in a beautiful and pleasant land. Let’s keep it that way!
Fix leaking faucets and running toilets. Faucets can drip as much as 20 gallons a day, and toilets can waste 90,000 gallons a month. That is literally money down the drain! I do not know how to fix a toilet, so I call my plumber, but even I can change a washer on a faucet. Pay attention to leaking faucets or running toilets in public places or at the homes of friends and relatives, and mention it. It is easy for people to become oblivious to the sound.
Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes. When shaving, put a little water in the sink so you can rinse your razor. When washing dishes in a double sink, fill one with soapy water and the other with clean water for rinsing. Our water bills tell us exactly how many gallons of water we use in a month. Try to lower your number every month. Consider it a challenge!
Install low-flow aerators on all faucets and showers. Get the type for your shower which can be turned off while you wash your hair or shave your legs, and remember to do it.
Catch rainwater in a barrel and use it to water plants. Decorative barrels with spouts can be purchased at gardening stores or on the internet, or you can just use any large container. If you have a mosquito problem in your area, cover the barrel when it is not raining.
Eat vegetarian one day a week. John Robbins, the author of Food Revolution, calculated that it takes 300 gallons a day to produce a vegetarian diet for one person and 4000 gallons a day to produce a meat diet for that person. He also states that not eating one pound of beef saves more water than not showering for a year. With all the delicious vegetables available, this will not be a burden. During the summer months, my mother occasionally cooked an all-vegetable dinner. It was my favorite!
As you think of other ways to conserve water, remember the childhood rhyme:
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand
Make a mighty ocean
And a pleasant land.
We are fortunate that we live in a beautiful and pleasant land. Let’s keep it that way!
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