I lived where saving water was very important. The city had only one source of water. If the lake from which it came was low, no water. So yes, I learned of the water police; they watch, fine, and can even put a lien on your property.
Now in San Diego, we have the same thing. Most of us take things like water for granted. We waste so much of everything, and it's all catching up to us. Changing your habits on a few things will make it second nature.
There are many ways to save, the dishwasher being the first. Always make sure you have a full load before running. If pots, pans, skillets, etc. are really dirty, try letting the bottoms set with water in them, and wash by hand. If your dishes are coming out of the dishwasher dirty, running it again is not the answer.
I made it so everyone used the same glass all day, instead of always getting a clean one. You will be surprised how few dirty glasses there are at day's end. You can also do this with everyone having a bottle of water in fridge with their name on it, instead of dirty unlimited cups or glasses.
When you cleaning, don't let the water just run. There is no need to let water run and run to "get hot". If it doesn't warm up, take a look at the water heater. You can put a bucket under the faucet. Instead of it going down the drain, it can be used for cleaning or watering.
I have even dumped this water in the washing machine for the next load. Make sure your washing machine always has a full load, or adjust the setting, according to size of the load.
Baths are great but filling tub up to the top is wasting water, or letting it run until it is hot. It will get hot, so just be patient, and don't let it run down the drain. Bubble baths or salt baths are great, but if you are using toxic things to make this happen, you need to think, "do I really want that on my skin?". Use organic salts or bubbles with only a few drops of liquid soap.
After enjoying your bath, you can take bucket and use this water for plants, gardens, or even for washing the car. You can put this water is washing machine also before doing a load of laundry. If you weren't planning to do laundry until morning, it's fine. Pour water in washer and leave it until the am.
Toilets take so much unnecessary water. One solution is either go to hardware store or place like Home Depot and purchase a low flow kit for your tank. My thrifty way is put a brick in the tank. You also can use a bottle or plastic bag filled with water. This makes it so when tank is refilling it doesn't use more water than needed.
Watering your grass doesn't need done near as often as you think. Our city allowed only before 9am and after 6pm on alternating days of the week. San Diego is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It has beautiful landscapes, and this did nothing to change that.
Water less; if when watering there is run off, it is being wasted. The ground only takes what it needs. Make sure if you have automated system, you adjust settings.
Washing your car is another way we can all waste water. Do not let the hose just run. Instead use a bucket (this is where bath water can be recycled). Soap down your car, and then only use hose to spray off. I promise its takes less time than you think to have a clean car.
Here are a few solutions that year around will help save on your water bill. Remember water shortage is a problem for everyone. Try to do your part. It's about more than being able to afford the fines. It's about having enough water for everyone to have and even water for the crops which we need to eat. Once you start doing these things it gets to be second nature. One hour showers should be a thing of the past.
By Luana M. from San Diego, CA
While waiting for hot water from your sink to get hot, place a milk jug under the faucet to collect water. Use this water to water plants, pets, etc. You'll be surprised with how much water you've collected.
Tips for saving water. Post your ideas.
While doing your laundry, try adding your liquid fabric softener at the correct time. By running the rinse cycle over, you'll be wasting 10 more gallons of water.
By Terri H.
Editor's Note: If you don't have a dispenser in your machine, set a timer so you don't miss the rinse cycle.
Another hint is to invest in a Downy ball, they cost a couple of dollars and then you add it when loading the washer and don't have to worry about missing the rinse cycle!!!
`breeanasmommy
You can also get a small spray bottle and put liquid fabric softener in that. Rather than having to dash to the washing machine to put the fabric softener in at the correct time, use a wash cloth or rag, spray the fabric softener on the wash cloth -- about six squirts works well, and place the wash cloth with fabric softener on it in the dryer with the clothes. You use less fabric softener that way, still get the results, and save yourself considerable stress.
What i do too save on water is when i take a shower i put the plug in the tub. Then when i am done i carry the water out in buckets too water my plants & garden. I do the same thing when i do the dishes. I know it might sound gross but the plants just thrive on it & save you a lot of money.
Ok I love to save $, the earth etc. only I learned a horrible lesson in San Francisco during a drought.
I was living there with my aunt we were asked by
water co. to volunteer cutback on water we did this for 4 months. It was tough I ended up cutting my long, thick hair as my aunt set timers for showers!
Long story short we did great and neighbor was a water pig, washing his car outside on driveway watering concrete. Well after our 4 months the water co. audited water useage and the water pigs who used more GOT MORE alloted water and if we went over our meager amount we were fined so much for
overage. It was one long, horrid dry summer .
I am careful but this is one area I do not
go nuts about and our water bill is usually $16.00 a month here in Missouri.
If you have an older (not water-saving) toilet, put a brick or small paver in the tank. It saves water with each flush.
Sorry about this "when I was a Kid" story, but here goes. One of my fondest memories of my childhood was staying at my Grandmothers farm every summer. Monday-washday was the most fun. Gramma had a ringer washer and no hot water or bathoom in the house either. I got to help, first by chopping wood for the woodburning stove, Gramma pumped all the well water and poured it in her big boiler type pot. She only used HOT water in the ringer washer, the rinse water was cold, and it was in another tub like a ringer washer but without the wringer thingy attached. I won't go in to the rest of washing except to say that was all the water she used to wash a weeks worth of clothes. She always started with the whites and the worked her way down to the darkests and dirties, the blue jeans and work socks were last. After done washing she laided the washer hose out the porch door and the water ran in a groove alongside the house to the back yard where the garden was. It was our kids job to keep the water going down each row so that all the rows in the garden got water. We loved playing in the mud, digging trenches for the water to flow down the row and when it got to the end we had to dam it up and send it down the next row. Gramma never let the water out till all the clothes were hung on the line, as we helped with that, too. Everyone thought the food from her garden was the best, it didn't have bugs as the soap in the GRAY WATER discourage bugs. So Gramma saved water 2 ways, didn't use as much to wash the clothes and then water the garden with the very same water. Oh yes her clothes were very clean. It has been proven that the automic washer was the first thing to cause miss use and water waste. I am only 57, but did live in rural Montana. Now I have a water saving washer, but in dry hot times I will catch the water from it and use it to water our trees and flower plants out side.
Hotels are one of the greatest offenders of wasting water, they do not require from their plumber manufacturers to make water faucets capable of regulating the flow of water, forcing the guests to waste water by opening the foucet at full blast.
Let us contact congress to pass laws forcing faucet manufacturers to change the specs of their water faucet allowing users to minimise water usage. Do the same with the dish detergent manufacturers, they add too much foaming ingredients, forcing people to use more water to rinse their dishes and get all the extra foam out of the drain lines. Thank you.
Here's a tip to save money on water I bet you have never thought of. Keep a dish pan in your sink and after you use the loo, but before you flush, wash your hands in the sink, (over the dish pan) and use that water to flush with.
I use a 4 quart ice cream pail to catch the cool water while waiting for the water to get hot to take my shower. I usually have a full pail and use this water to water my plants.
To save water when flushing your toilet, remove the tank lid and put a brick into the tank. This replaces some of the water that would normally go down the drain. In time you will notice a slight reduction in your water bill depending on use.
With the drought conditions in many parts of the country, begin to conserve water even if your state hasn't been affected. If it's yellow, let it mellow, bathroom-wise. Turn off the water while brushing. Use gray water for the lawn and plants.
Since we are on a well and not city water my husband is always trying to save wear on our pump. He purchased a special shower head that you turn off after you get wet and are soaping up or shampooing.
One great way to save water is from your faucets. By keeping a big bucket handy you can catch enough to water quiet a few plants instead of letting it go down the drain. When on water restrictions, this really comes in handy.
We have an instant on demand water heater, so while waiting for the cold water to run out of the pipes, instead of just letting it run, I put my flower watering pots on the counter and fill them until the water gets hot.
