Tuesday

Local Information Water Conservation 101

Is your faucet running?  Turn it off! The key to reducing water consumption is to modify daily wasteful behaviors.  To make a difference, practice as many of the following conservation measures as possible.  We understand that changing patterned behavior is a challenge, but with an increased awareness you can reduce the amount of water you use.

In the Bathroom
According to waterwiseeduction.org, approximately 75% of water use is in the bathroom.  Try taking a “Cowboy or Navy” style shower, this is when you turn the water on to get wet, turn off water, lather up and then rinse off.  Repeat for shampoo.  Try placing a bucket in the shower to capture the excess water as you wait for it to heat up.  Use it on the plants at your house.  Brush your teeth with the cold water that comes out of the faucet first.  When the water gets warm enough, plug the drain and use the hot water to shave.

In the Kitchen
When washing fruits and vegetables, use a small bowl of water and a brush instead of letting the water run. When running the automatic dishwasher, make sure it is fully loaded.  Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or using your microwave.

In the Laundry
Try wearing your clothes more than once before washing.   When you get home from work, if you put your clothes on a hanger, they are wearable again.  When you use the automatic washing machine, adjust the load size to small.  Try hanging your blue jeans and dress shirts, instead of using the dryer.  Clothes get a little more wrinkled, but I just use an iron.  Clothes will have a longer lifespan since they are not being exposed to high heat, shrinking and color fading.

RP Tip: Conserve water, it just makes sense.

By Steve White