Last Updated on May 20, 2024 by Brenda

Watch Episode 10 – H2Oooo Yeah! Celebrate Smart Water Habits

by Annie McCauley

Our Earth came with a finite amount of water and most of it is salt water. The small portion that is “fresh” or without salt is either polluted, too far below the Earth’s surface, or frozen in the polar ice caps. The little available water left is a precious commodity that we all need to work to protect and conserve. Lately, with the increase in household bills, I know we are all looking for ways to budget better. Here are some ways to help your budget and our environment.

The highest household water use is toilets, showers, faucets, washing clothes, and leaks! Here are some things you can do around the house to conserve water and save money.

“Little” Things for Water Conservation

-keep a bucket in the shower or kitchen sink to collect water and use it to water plants

-recycle “used” or unused cups of water by using them to water plants, pour into a bucket for your garden or yard, or use it to water your pets

-mop water – use it to water plants if detergent is safe

-check and fix leaks around your house

-only run the washing machine and dishwasher when they are full

-time showers and keep them short or turn water off between soap and rinse

-turn the faucet off à don’t keep the water running while brushing teeth, shaving, rinsing dishes, or washing hands

-scrape plates instead of rinsing (this can save 5,000 gallons a year)

-fish tank water- water plants (it’s a great fertilizer!)

-fill a 1/2-gallon plastic container with water or gravel and place in toilet tank to save 1/2 gallon of water with every flush

-fix that leaky toilet! A leaky toilet wastes 200 gallons a day!  If you are not sure if it leaks, add food coloring to the tank. If the color makes it to the bowl in 15 minutes you may have a leak.

-keep a pitcher of water in fridge so you aren’t running water to let it get cold for a glass of water

-utilize a soap sink and rinse sink or basin so that you are not constantly running the faucet to do dishes

-rinse veggies in a bowl instead of running water

-reuse cooking water (like pasta water) once cool to water plants

-use a bucket to collect water while you are running the tub or faucet and waiting for it to get warm; this water can be used for watering plants or pets

Water Facts: 60 drips a minute = 192 gallons a month

Home Improvement and Investments

Simple ways to save water and money.

-install low flow toilets

-install low flow shower and sinks (can save 12,000 gallons a year 12% energy reduction on energy bill)

-add a low flow aerator to sink faucets (these are inexpensive and easy to install)

-install an instant water heater for sinks that are a long way from your water heater

-purchase a water efficient /high efficiency washing machine

-direct rain gutters to trees/shrubs to utilize rainwater

Yard and Garden Water Saving Tips:

Collect Rainwater

          -there are many DIY and inexpensive ways to do this

          -makes area where water drips cleaner and can reduce muddy areas

          (**check to make sure you can legally collect rainwater in your area)         

-water plants and yards during cool times of the day (9pm-9am is best)

-limit car washing or wash your car with it pulled onto your grass

-deep soak your lawn so the ground and roots are wet rather than just misting the surface

-if you have a sprinkler system, or use sprinklers, position them so you are not watering concrete (on average, 146 gallons a week are lost to evaporation, runoff, and wind)

-don’t water on windy days

-sweep or use a blower to clean sidewalks and driveways instead of rinsing with water

-water timers are inexpensive and auto turn off, you can also place a bowl in the yard to measure how long it takes to get to 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch of water and the time it takes so that you don’t over water

-when you are planting, group plants and vegetables with similar water needs together

Native Plants

You can reach out to your local extension office or local nursery to find low water plants for the area you live in. Here are some of my favorites for our area (Zone 7A/7B)

-Bermuda

-tall fescue

-lavender

-sedum

-salvia

-cacti/succulents

And last but not least, let’s teach kids about water conservation from the start so they are water conscious as they grow up!