Torrents to Trickles - Water Conservation Today
try reducing the number of flushes. You don't have to flush every time you pee. Just flush if someone has defecated or after 2-3 people have peed in the toilet.
Shower
Take a short shower rather than a bath. If you have an old house or apartment with only a bathtub, you can get an inexpensive bathroom "sprayer" attachment. This is basically a nozzle that fits onto your tub faucet, a tube and a hand-held showerhead. Prices range from $15- $50 depending on how fancy you want to get and what area of North America you live in.
Don't shave in the shower - not even you ladies. Instead, use the drain stopper in the sink, fill the stink with water and shave before or after you've showered.
Wet yourself down, turn off the water, shampoo and soap up, rinse, turn the water off again, use conditioner, shower scrubs or any treatments, rinse again and your done - with 1/10 of the water you'd have used if you let it run the entire time.
Place a bucket in the shower while you are showering and use the water that it catches to water your plants. (Be sure you are using a soap that is appropriate for this. Many shower gels and detergent based soaps are too harsh)
Bathroom Sink
Don't leave the water running while you brush your teeth, shave or wash your face - those sink drain plugs really are clever inventions.
Kitchen Sink
If you've got a dishwasher, don't assume that using a sink will use less water - it doesn't always work that way. Refer back to my article regarding saving energy with appliances for more information.
Don't leave the water running to do dishes, wash vegetables or thaw meat. Use a dishpan instead. You can get them at the dollar store.
Try starting a compost bin rather than running water down the garbarator (disposal).
Pipes and Faucets in General
If it drips, fix it.
Put on an aerator to reduce water flow but maintain water pressure.
Insulate pipes so you get hot water faster.
Don't run your washing machine or dishwasher unless they are full.
Yard
If you have a sprinkler system only turn it on for 1 hour after the sun goes down. By watering at night, there is less chance of evaporation and the plants won't need as much water.
Use a soaker hose
Don't install fountains unless they recycle water
Use a grey water system for watering the yard (make
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