Sierra Blogging Post Archives

We turn the faucet on, water comes out; we turn the shower on, we get wet; we turn the sprinklers on, the lawn gets watered. While it may seem like there's no shortage of clean water to those of us who have it, just ask those who don't. There's about 1 billion of them...

Water shortage is one of the most pressing environmental issues we face today. Drought has been a major concern this year--both here and abroad. The Mayor of Atlanta just announced that one of Georgia's major watersheds, Lake Lanier, is about to go dry. This lake supplies water for 1/3 of the state's population, including Atlanta. It's a real problem... and it's only going to get worse.

While we can't make it rain (although we've tried), there are some simple things we can do at home to help conserve...

Easy Ways to Save Water

1. Sink a plastic bottle into your toilet tank(s). Every flush uses between 5 and 7 gallons of water! But if you fill an empty plastic soda or dish detergent bottle with water, remove the label, and sink it in the reservoir of your toilet, you can reduce that to 2-4 gallons of water for each flush. That's an easy fix with a major impact.

2. Turn the water off while washing hands, brushing teeth, taking out contacts, washing dishes, etc.

3. Install a low-flow showerhead or take shorter showers.

4. Consider xeriscaping your lawn if you live in a dry climate. If you must water, only do so in the early morning or late evening when it's less likely to evaporate and go to waste. Do not water at all when restrictions are in place.

5. Don't buy individually-bottled water--it takes a lot of water to make those bottles and they just end up in the trash. Reusable water bottles are much more environmentally sound (not to mention much less expensive).

6. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine with a full load. Use a lower setting than you think you'll need in the washing machine---your clothes will get just as clean with less water. On the dishwasher, choose the short cycle.

7. Don't pour water down the drain that could be used for something else--watering houseplants, filling the dog's water bowl, or cleaning.

8. Buy powdered laundry and dish detergents. The liquid versions simply have water added to them, making them a waste of water, money, and packaging.

9. Make sure your house is leak free. A good way to see if you're wasting water is to read the water meter before and after a two-hour period when all water is off. It should read the same. If it doesn't, you have a leak. It's worth hiring a professional to investigate.

10. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. Every drop counts.

11. Insulate your water pipes to get hot water faster.

12. Install a flow restrictor on every faucet in the house.

13. Don't use running water to defrost meat; defrost in the refrigerator.


Know of any other creative ways to save water? Please leave a comment or send us your thoughts. We're all in this together.