Thursday, October 25, 2007

Ten Tips to Save Water

10 tips to save water
By BO EMERSONThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/26/07
You've already cut off the sprinklers (your lawn is dead anyway) but Gov. Sonny Perdue wants you to reduce water usage by another 10 percent. If, like the average American, you go through 50-100 gallons a day, that means cutting back by 5-7 gallons. Here are a few suggestions:

Laundry Switch off the "extra rinse" cycle; save 8 gallons.

Toilet Don't use the toilet as a trash can; save 3.6 gallons.

Toothbrushing Don't run the water while you brush, use a glass to rinse; save 4 gallons.

Shaving Don't run the water while you shave; save 4 gallons.

Dish washing Don't rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, or half-fill a plastic tub to rinse; save 8 to 10 gallons.

Drinking water Keep a bottle in the fridge; don't run the tap to get it cold; save 1 gallon.

Showers Take a "Navy" shower (turn the water off while you lather); save 8 gallons.

Baths Shower instead of bathing; save 30 gallons (even with a long shower).

Garbage Use a compost pile instead of the garbage disposal; save 2 gallons.

Food Defrost in the refrigerator overnight, not under running water; save 4 gallons.

Savings at the commode based on 3.5 gallons-per-flush; (greater savings available with low-flow 1.6 gallon-per-flush toilet). Savings at the sink based on 2 gallon-per-minute tap in bath and kitchen. Savings in the bath based on 2 gallon-per-minute showerhead and a 50-gallon bathtub. Savings in the laundry based on a 40-gallon top-loader (a 24-gallon front-loader offers more savings).

4 comments:

Bek said...

I think it's sad how some people are wasting water on a daily bases. Most of the suggestions on your list should be common sense and done regularly, not only when water is scarce.

Dirty Fingernails said...

Sunday we are having our family meeting and see what brainstorming we come up with from the kids.. I agree, we should conserve all the time and not just in a drought.

Andrea's Garden said...

Great tips. When we built our house we installed a lot of energysaving features from light to heating to gas . Miss reading you in my blog! Greetings from Germany, Andrea

Cindy Garber Iverson said...

Great tips! I love that you included the front loader stats too. I've lived through a drought before too. It's no fun is it? But there are wetter days ahead. ;) Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage