Balancing the Water Checkbook

Balancing the Water Checkbook

With almost 2/3 of the world's total land mass now covered in desert, water conservation has never been more important. Desertification is a process where once fertile land slowly turns to dust. Over the last 100 years, tens of thousands of acres around the world have desertified and the problem is growing daily. Harsh chemical pesticides, urbanization and prolonged farming have all contributed to the rapidly growing desert regions in the world. As foliage dries up, so too do many water sources. Without water, we die. The good news is that in most cases, desertification is reparable. But it takes a great deal of effort and time to do. Meanwhile, it is vitally important that we begin thinking in terms of balancing our water checkbook. In other words, conserve and replace what you use. The added bonus to water conservation is that it also saves us money. Here are a few suggestions to help you conserve water. 

1. Install a low-flow shower head in your bathroom(s).  Low-flow shower heads reduce the amount of water coming out, while using pressure to maintaining the normal shower "feel". Unless someone tells you it's a low-flow head, you'd never notice the difference. 

2. The toilet consumes the most water of any household appliance. It might sound strange to people in America, but in many parts of the world, the practice "if it's brown flush it down. If it's yellow, let it mellow" is very common and a great way to conserve water. Another way to conserve water during flushing is to install water displacement devices in your tank to reduce the amount of water used when flushing. These can be purchased in many home improvement stores, or you can fill a 24 ounce water bottle with a little water and bleach and drop it in your tank. The bottle will displace the water, tricking your system into thinking the tank is fuller than it really is.

3. Don't use sprinklers or watering methods that water gardens from above. It can take up to 6 hours constant spraying to get water to a depth of 1" that way due to evaporation and dispersion. Instead, poke holes in a garden hose and run the hose along the base of your plants. The water won't evaporate and will feed the soil quickly and efficiently, reducing the amount of water you need by almost 70%! The bonus is that the leaves of your plants won't get wet, which will help prevent things like powdery mildew, sunburn and rot.

4. Try getting into the habit of taking "camp" showers whenever possible. A "Camp shower" is like a normal shower. The only difference is that you turn the water off when lathering up.

5. Re-use your water. Save dish water and water from the sinks in your bathroom and use that water to water your garden, wash the car, etc. A good way to do this is to install "grey water" tanks under your sinks. This little basin captures the water and either stores it, or directs it into other appliances such as the tank of your toilet so that it can be reused. The tanks can be costly, however. An alternative method is to remove the "u" portion of your drain and allow water to drain into a 5-gallon bucket. You'll need to empty it frequently using this method, but the money you save on your water bill will be well worth it. If using the bucket or tank, remember that harsh chemicals can harm your plants and even the finish on your car, so avoid using them in your sink.

6. Collect and use rainwater whenever possible. Sadly this practice has become strangely illegal in some states, so check to be sure it's legal first.

By conserving water, you'll not only help protect this vital natural resource for future generations, but you'll also save money as well. 

Until next time, 

Be well!

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