**UPDATE** At the Bottom 
Here in North Carolina we happen to be going through a drought. Not only did we not have a typical hurricane season which helps tremendously with our water situation, but water mains continue to burst after the initial water main in Raleigh burst back in November spilling 500,000 gallons of our stored water. Don’t ask me why they’re bursting. it’s not like we’re getting the winter weather everyone else is. (It was 80 degrees yesterday, will be 80 degrees again today and tomorrow. I’m not complaining that the weather is nice, but it is the middle of December. Also, side note…2007, where did you go?)
On November 30 it was released that we basically have two months of water left until we run out. Spectacular. I know I do little things trying to conserve water, but I know I definitely don’t do enough.
Luckily, where I work has that handled. Yesterday they passed out “Low Flow Showerheads”. And they came complete with “10 Ways to Save Water”. I feel compelled to share them with you:
- Turn off faucets while shaving, washing or brushing teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. I don’t remember the last time I washed my teeth, but thanks for that tip.
- Turn water off while shampooing/conditioning your hair and save more than 50 gallons a week. I actually tried this tip this morning, but they may have left out a step b/c has anyone noticed that it doesn’t really take that long to shampoo/condition hair? Maybe I’m doing something wrong?
- Drop tissues and other waste in the trash rather than toilet and save gallons each time. Pardon me for being confused but doesn’t that cause a whole other problem?
- Report leaks, dripping faucets, and running toilets. A dripping faucet wastes more than 600 gallons a year, a running toilet, more than 131,000 gallons. Yes, but how many gallons of water does a leak cause? What? Oh…it depends on the size of the leak? That makes more sense now But I’m still curious.
- Keep showers under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons a month. Yes, but I’ll stink and have really hairy legs.
- Wash full loads in dishwashers and washing machines. This could save up to 1,000 gallons a month. My maternal grandmother once did my laundry when I was in college. I had approximately 3 loads of laundry. She separated them into 10 loads. Convincing me that it would take a shorter amount of time. I got my clothes back a week later.
- Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for a cold drink. Or use ice? Also, how many gallons a day/month/year/lifetime does that save?
- Don’t thaw food under running water. But what if you forget to take it out until you get home? Like I kind of did this morning? Honey can you put the chicken in the sink? But don’t use water to thaw it!
- Replace your showerhead with a low flow version. Also, hello, good morning!
- Make a conscious effort to do one thing every day to conserve water. Every drop counts! For Reals!
I’m still shocked that one of the tips wasn’t “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”
**UPDATE** I just noticed that my water conserving, low flow showerhead had a “Niagara” setting. That’s a little contradictory, don’t you think?
*kisses*
haha. that would have been very hippie of them.
they’re right about the leaky faucet/toilet though. when we got our toilet fixed it saved $20/month on our water bill!
haha! I was waiting for that last tip. Eww but that’s kinda gross, no?
Low flow shower head? Yuck. My parents have a well (um, country?) and their shower head literally drips out water. I take at least 20 minutes in there because it takes at least that long to rinse my hair!
Also, unrelated – I have asked myself everyday for the past three months where 2007 went. It still hasn’t answered me.
I’m actually surprised they didn’t include the flushing toilets tip either! I’d think that would be the first one.
Wow, am I dork that I already do most of those things?
A low flow shower head = my nightmare. I love the earth and conserving water and all, but I need the equivalent of a water tornado to wake me up in the morning.
I’m actually surprised how much water can be saved by using those tips. But an under five minute shower? Um, no.
I don’t take five minute showers. I recently realized that my hair is way past my bra in the back and…yeah, it takes five minutes just to shampoo and rinse that. And if you turn off the water to shampoo your hair, isn’t it cold when you turn it back on? I can’t get in the shower until the water is already on and fully warmed. We have a leaky faucet in the bathroom. I want Noah to fix it so we can save lots of money on our water bill but…so far no luck! 80 degrees? I’m super jealous.
Ha ha! Love the niagra setting! Recently our water pressure has dropped significantly although I don’t know why. It is so annoying trying to take a shower – it takes forever!
TWO MONTHS? Well, I hope we’ll all get invited to the funeral.
I would hate not having good water power. But what I would hate more? Being paranoid as I awaited the end of the two months. I hope your supply builds up before then!
If not, you can come steal some of ours. It’s all over the ground. All the time.
When it come to water and energy conservation, I’m almost military in my approach. I do all of those things…well most of those things…minus the low pressure shower. Can’t compromise on my bath time, but can on the number of baths. So only dry cleaning at nights now on…
Five… minute… showers…?
I need longer than that to get the water temperature just right.
A five minute shower?! Can people DO that? You’re right. My leg hair would grow out of control…it’d be like the vines in Jumanjii or something.
I love your snarky dialog in italics. It made me laugh.
Did you sneak on the Niagara function for at least a minute?
We have most of those tips going year-round in Phoenix, too, being in a desert and all. I will have to time my shower, but I think I can get out in under 5 minutes, and that includes shaving. Then again, my hair is nowhere near my (non-existent) bra strap. …
I think what they mean in #8 is to cover the food with cold water, which you can change out once every half-hour or so, rather than running the tap the whole time. (At least that’s what they tell you to do with a turkey should you forget to start dethawing it early enough. I end up doing that every year at Thanksgiving and haven’t killed anyone … yet.)