September 2006 Feature

IN THE BATHROOM:

  • Take short showers. Turn the water off while washing and then back on again to rinse.
  • Take a five-minute shower instead of a bath. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
  • Reduce the level of water in the bathtub by one to two inches if a shower is not available.
  • Shampoo hair in the shower. Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week.
  • Test for toilet leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank and if it seeps into the toilet bowl it is easy to fix. Fixing a leak can save up to 600 gallons a month. (Be sure and flush the toilet so the food coloring doesn’t stain the bowl.)
  • Use a toilet device such as a toilet dam or a plastic bottle filled with stones or water, recapped, in the tank. These devices reduce the volume of water in the tank but still provide enough for flushing. (Bricks are not recommended since they crumble and could damage the working mechanism.)
  • Never use the toilet to dispose of tissues, cigarette butts, or other trash. This wastes a great deal of water.
  • Do not use hot water when cold will do. Water and energy can be saved by washing hands with soap and cold water. Do not let the water run when washing hands.
  • Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save four gallons a minute.
  • When shaving, fill the sink with hot water instead of letting the water run continuously. You could save 100 gallons a week.
  • Make sure your toilet flapper doesn’t stick open after flushing.
  • Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants.

IN THE KITCHEN:

  • Scrape the dishes instead of rinsing before washing. There is no need to rinse unless they are heavily soiled.
  • When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
  • Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them.
  • Use a pan of water, or a sink stopper, for washing and rinsing pots, pans, dishes, and cooking implements.
  • Never run the dishwasher without a full load. This will save about 500 gallons a month.
  • Use the garbage disposal sparingly or start a compost pile to save water.
  • Keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running water from the tap until it is cold is wasteful.
  • Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap. Re-use this water for houseplants.
  • Think of ways to save money in the kitchen, such as not making too much coffee or letting ice cubes melt in the sink.
  • Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.
  • Use a small pot of cold water and put a lid on it for cooking most food.
  • Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
  • Use cold water as often as possible to save energy and conserve hot water.

FOR APPLIANCES AND PLUMBING:

  • Clean the lint filter regularly in your dryer.
  • Compare water usage of various models and brands when purchasing appliances.
  • Check all water-line connections and faucets for leaks. Fix any leaky faucets. Learn how to repair leaks so that drips can be corrected promptly. A slow drip can waste as much as 170 gallons each day or 5,000 gallons per month.
  • Check for hidden water leakage such as a leak between the water meter and the house.
  • Check all indoor and outdoor faucets and water-using appliances.
  • Insulate hot water pipes to reduce delays and wasted water while waiting for hot water.
  • Be sure the water heater thermostat is not set too high. Extremely hot settings waste water and energy because the water often has to be cooled with cold water before it can be used.

MISCELLANEOUS:

  • Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
  • Don’t buy recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
  • When you clean your fish tank use the water you’ve drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing free and effective fertilizer.
  • Use a moisture meter to determine when house plants need water. More plants die from over-watering than from being on the dry side.
  • Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if the savings are small, every drop counts.

Beth Donahue, MH, is a counselor and hypnotherapist in private practice. She also provides corporate wellness programs and workshops and can be reached at (505) 248-9700 or at Work Excellence@aol.com.