|
|
|
By Rhema from Charleston, SC
People in other countries, less affluent than ours (maybe wiser in some ways) have been using that statement for years. In it's entirety it says: "If it's yellow stay mellow, but if it's brown flush it down." Sometimes in a small household, it's not too bad. In a big household, I might get grossed out. At night, who cares - don't turn the light on.
I've been fighting a lack of water too in California and I have found some ways to conserve. Our well is very low and we had to quit watering the lawn. I let my shower water run into a bucket while getting it warm enough. Then I put it on the lawn. I turn the water off while shampooing and then back on to rinse. I rinse dishes off into a pan and pour the water on the lawn.
I wash my face and hands during the day into a bowl in the bathroom sink and dump it on something outside. I even throw water with pieces of vegetables and so forth on the lawn, figuring it eventually turns into compost. Sometimes the wild life gets to it first and that makes me happy. It is fun to see a spot "green up" that would otherwise die.
I decided I was tired of standing at the sink running the water down the drain, while I waited on it to change to hot water to use. My goodness what a surprise I had when I used a pitcher to catch the water! I was wasting almost a gallon every time I was waiting on the water to get hot. Now I keep a pitcher nearby, and I save the water to use during the day.
Calculating the savings: 2 gallons a day (AM and PM) = 14 gallons in one week or 14 x 52 weeks = 728 gallons a year I was throwing away. Now I simply use the pitcher of water to make tea, coffee, or to water plants. I cannot imagine how much the gallon of water was costing me while I waited on the water to turn to hot. This is the most simple "going green water" solution I have come across yet, and all you need is a pitcher.
By Marsha from Greenville, NC
Shared on: 06/28/2011