Ideas for conserving water

**lwlynch** · 10-18-2007, 01:03 PM

Well now that I whined about no rain and water low..
Now I would like for everyone to start searching for ideas, Maybe some I wouldn't thought of, maybe some we already do. I think it would just be nice, incase someone is really trying and can't figure out what to do..

Here are a few of mine.

~I have two square sink buckets (i guess thats what they are, got them both times when I was in the hospital.) The brown things.. I use one for dirty dishes (as a holder) the second I fill with soapy water. Then I have a dish drainer the size of my sink. I take a dish, wash a dish and then when I fill the drainer I squirt everyone with hot water.

~use more paper plates (throw aways)

~Save my milk jugs to clean out and fill with water. I keep 5 full for emergencies. I also used about 4 to fill the dead space in my freezer (saves money)

~I am thinking about getting some good bath plugs. Everyone can shower, but save the water. With this water I am going to get a 1 quart pitcher and they can fill it and flush with it.. (only the # ones) everyone will be gagging and throwing up if they had to actually look and flush # 2's... now that left me laughing..

I am going to stop so someone else can give some ideas..

**Rompers1** · 10-18-2007, 01:15 PM

Use a rain barrel, with a hose attachment, for watering plants

**bumplett** · 10-18-2007, 01:34 PM

~ I recycle the bath water to water all of the plants (indoor & outdoor)

~ I also keep a bucket in the shower to catch the extra water - the dog usually drinks most of it out of the bucket. She thinks it's great that she has her own super secret doggie bowl.

~ I've been buying a 2.5 gallon jug of water every grocery trip (just in case our water issue gets much, much worse) This is DRINKING water.

~ take less baths/showers & keep them as quick as possible. (military showers)

~ I will never use paper plates/cups/etc. This just kills more trees - I'll wait til the dishwasher is completely full until I wash. (but I did this before we had a water issue)

~ Outside the home - I will NOT wash my car, pay someone else to wash my car, nor will I go through a car wash - I personally think it's time to put limits on these things as well.

**Jeanna** · 10-18-2007, 01:47 PM

I to live in western NC and although our town has not put out water restrictions I know that we are very low and it will only be a matter of time. I am starting to put a bucket in the shower when I take one and then I can use it either for flushing the toliet or watering my house plants. I also know that some people think it is gross but I use my master bedroom toliet and am not flushing as much, of course I do if it needs it.

**lwlynch** · 10-18-2007, 02:25 PM

nothing gross to us Jeanna.... I have little ones potty training.. And if I flushed every time, I would own the water company..

**Katyllw** · 10-18-2007, 03:45 PM

One you may not have thought of: (though, we dont have water problems here..I live in Washington and if you want water...step outside if its nor raining now it will be in five minutes)

If you fill an empty Soda bottle with rocks or water you can put it in the back of your toilet tank. It cuts down on the amount of water used to flush.

**druidessemily** · 10-18-2007, 04:28 PM

Use the water from rinsing dishes, or boiling pasta, to water your indoor (and even outdoor) plants. Certain dish soaps, such as Dawn, are actually really effective pesticides. So recycling dish water is actually beneficial in many ways

I don't really agree with using paper plates. Yes, you are saving some water... BUT, it is a total waste of a tree. It is easier to just cut back on the amount of water you use to wash dishes.

**ilovechocolate** · 10-18-2007, 05:34 PM

Bumplett---how do you recycle your bath water? Do you scoop it out of the tub into a big bucket? I hate to act dumb (some of my friends say it isn't an act) but I really would like to know. Are you pipes hooked up in such a way that you can drain the water outside? I just can't really figure it out.

**freyadog** · 10-19-2007, 01:13 PM

I have 55 gal containers that were filled with spring water. have a 325 gal container that we are going to fill this weekend. even with the spring running it may not run forever(kwim). anyway I dont use a dishwasher I was dishes once a day. instead of running water to rinse dishes I fill sink and put a glug of bleach in it and also in my dish water.

I have my buckets ready outside if it should happen to ran. HA fat chance. all we have seen is a tiny drizzle. 60% chance tomorrow, right.....

I fixed pasta today and turned around and put whole washed potatoes in the same water to cook them to put in frig..

I have started bathing every other day with the days in between wiping off.
my hair needs a good cleaning since it is so long so i do that once a week.

the

doesnt get flushed as often as it did. except when it is necessary.kwim

the only place that water can not be conserved is for my animals.

**fizzie** · 10-19-2007, 08:34 PM

I hear there are total watering bans in Atlanta now so the grass is all dying. We oughta all get rid of our lawns & stick to drought tolerant plants anyway. Or better yet, grow food (that won't help save water though).

**Edna_E** · 10-22-2007, 04:33 PM

Use your used napkins to wipe the dishes with, keep a pan of soapy water and use it for several washings (days?) and rinse quickly with hot water.

When CA had a drought when I was in school there, we were limited to 3 minute showers - at which point the water was turned off. If you didn't want to be soapy, you'd better be quick. We learned to put shampoo on almost immediately upon entering the shower, and hang our heads to rinse while we soaped everything else.