Water Water Everywhere - Let's Save Some

Isn't it odd that on a planet covered 2/3 in water we should conserve? Can't drink salt water. I saw on that PLANET EARTH series that a large portion of the fresh water on the planet is in ONE huge lake over in Siberia somewhere - it's more like an inland SEA - has its own species of fish & coral and plants because it is completely landlocked. I digress.

We are in a mini-drought here in Houston, TX, but Hurricane IKE will probably alleviate that situation. I hope it rains, but we sure don't need floods and wind problems. Ike's not supposed to hit for a day or two, but all my plants need to be watered NOW. I will check tomorrow and see what the forecast is - maybe they will suffice with just a little drink rather than a deep soaking since they'll be getting that very soon.

I try to conserve water by doing a few things like:

• Low flow shower heads - 2.5 gallons per minute Vs 7-10. I had to make a few adjustments in my showering technique and the change did take some getting used to, but all in all I am sure it was good idea.
• A brick in every toilet tank - I learned that trick back in the '70s-saves 8-12% with every flush depending on tank size. I also heard that some people fill a plastic milk jug and put that in their tank - good way to keep that plastic out of the land fill.
• I already talked about rain barrels (soon to be filled by IKE).
• I already talked about watering the lawn by hand, too.
• I quit washing my hair EVERY DAY...probably saves 10-20 gallons when I don't.
• We don't use as much water with the garbage disposal since I got my worm farm - that's another whole (a whole 'nuther?) BLOG entry there.
• Using the dishwasher is supposed to conserve water over hand washing - if only I could get Mom to only run it when it is actually FULL. At least she uses the "Quick Wash" setting and no-heat drying cycle.
• Single rinse for the wash cycle - we used to do 2 rinses a lot, but then we started to use liquid laundry soap & it rinses out easier.
• We got an electric teapot that heats water REALLY fast, so don't let the faucet run to get the hot water so much.
• I found out that your hands get just as clean in cool tap water as in hot as long as you lather them for at least 15 seconds, so basically I quit running the water until it gets hot to wash my hands. I also turn it off while I am lathering them.
• Turn the water off while brushing my teeth - that's has always been a NO BRAINER. I'll never forget my Dad's lecture on the restroom procedures when he bought a motor home back in he '70s. One of the things he said that just didn't make sense to me was, "Don't leave the water running while you brush your teeth." I said, "Hunh? What do you mean?" WHY would anyone leave the water running for no reason? I did not do that anyway, so it never occurred to me that other people would DO that. I will admit that I would let it run while I was just swishing out the toothpaste, but I have even started tuning it off for the post brush rinse.

Hey, I heard that you get charged twice for you water - once to get it and then they ASSUME that all you pipe in will go out the sewer, so they charge for that, too...Not fair really - a lot of mine goes to the trees, grass, and assorted plants...or out of the household in reusable water bottles and "disposed of" elsewhere if you know what I mean. I really can't complain - our water bill is usually around $35 a month which makes it the second cheapest utility - land-line telephones being the cheapest. I think my water bill is lower than anyone else's I know around here. Not only is it easy to be GREEN, it's cheaper!