If you’re concerned with going green, you likely already know the basics of saving water, like limiting showers and baths, and installing energy-efficient appliances. If you live in an apartment, dorm or other place where you can’t make changes to the property, you might need to find creative ways to save water. This also holds true for seasoned conservationist who have already employed the most common water-saving strategies. A few tips can help you start saving water or continue scrutinizing every drop of this precious resource.
Install a Rain Barrel
Rain barrels attach to your home’s gutter system and collect rainfall as it travels through your downspout. You can harness the rain and use this water to clean your car, water your plants and even bathe. If you have a filter system attached to your rain barrel, you can drink the water you collect. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we use 40 percent of our water to meet our lawn and garden needs. Since your lawn and gardens are regularly exposed to rainwater, a good rain barrel system could take a large chunk out the amount of fresh drinkable water you use to feed plants. Be sure to keep your gutters clean and well maintained to avoid contaminating your water with rust and sediment.
Re-think Pets
Different pets have different water needs. The advantage of having a cat versus a dog is that cats don’t need regular baths. They also use less water to drink than you would need to fill large aquariums or keep large-breed dogs hydrated. If you already have aquariums or large dogs, make the water you use on them serve double duty. Use aquarium water on your lawn and in your flower beds and planters. Do the same for your dog’s stale water. The website Water: Use it Wisely recommends washing your dog outside so the excess water goes into the ground and waters the lawn versus going down your tub drain. Never reduce the amount of water you give your pets to drink.
Check Ice Consumption
You may not have thought about the amount of water you waste in the form of ice. When you eat out at a fast-food restaurant, save the ice that collects at the bottom of your cup and sprinkle it in your garden or into your flower pots. It will melt slowly and most of it well get used by your plant because it has plenty of time to get absorbed into the soil. Chill drinks before serving so you can skip having ice in your glass altogether. Use plastic reusable ice cubes for drinks that require constant chilling.
Dry-Shampoo Your Hair
Showers are one of the largest water-consuming activities we participate in at home. People with a lot of hair know that the bulk of this time is spent washing and conditioning. According to water conservation experts at Water: Use it Wisely, if you didn’t use that water during hair washing, you could save 150 gallons of water per month. Since most people aren’t interested in shutting the water off when they’re shampooing, shampooing less is a viable option. Dry shampoos are powders that absorb oils and leave your hair looking clean and smelling fresh. Try to alternate shampooing with dry shampooing to cut the amount of water you use shampooing in half.
About this Author
Lillian Downey has a diverse background, including studies in English, social work, women’s studies, nonprofit management, political science and nursing. She’s worked as an intern sex-educator, clinic manager and mental health professional. She is currently studying to be a birth doula and childbirth educator. She served as editor-in-chief of “Nexus Journal of Literature and Art” and an assistant fiction editor at the “Antioch Review.”
