Making Every Drop Matter

Simple Water Saving Solutions for Your Home

[ Written By Jennifer Maciejewski ]

Although the drought began in the spring of 2006, many metro-Atlantans didn’t feel pressured to preserve the area’s water supply until the drought lingered and intensified. As Alexandra Adams, policy director at the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, said, “Gallon for gallon, conservation is the cheapest way to get new water.” If you’re ready to make every drip count, follow these tips.

Adopt New Habits

Simple changes in your daily routine can add up to hundreds, or even thousands, of gallons in water savings each year.

• Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or washing your hands and face.

• Shave at the sink instead of in the shower, and turn the water off when you’re not rinsing the blade.

• Take a “Navy shower,” turning the water off while lathering your hair or body. To simplify the process, install a soak-and-soap showerhead, available at www.watersavers.com, which enables you to stop and start the water flow with the push of a button.

• Defrost food in the refrigerator overnight instead of in the sink with the cold water running.

• Skip the pre-rinse before loading the dishwasher.

• Swap the garbage disposal for a compost pile.

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash that uses recycled water.

• Use a broom, not the hose, to clean off your driveway or deck.

• Cover the pool when it’s not in use to limit evaporative loss.

• Wash clothes only when you have a full load, and opt for the cold-water setting.

Quick Fixes

You may be losing water without even knowing it. Be sure to plug gaps in your home’s water use.

• Repair leaky faucets, toilets and sinks, irrigation systems and pools. To check for toilet leaks, add a few drops of food coloring to the tank. If it seeps into the bowl before you flush, it’s leaking.

• Replace toilets manufactured before 1993 with a low-flow toilet, which uses up to six gallons less per flush. Save even more by buying a model that qualifies for a $50 to $100 rebate. Visit www.northgeorgiawater.org for details.

• If your showerhead uses more than 2.5 gallons per minute, swap it out for a new one. To check the rate of water flow, turn on the shower, and time how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket. If it takes less than two minutes, replace it.

• Buy a front-loading clothes washer, which uses roughly two-thirds less water than their top-loading counterparts.

H20 Times Two

Look for ways to make your water do double duty.

• Drain water from boiled pasta or eggs into a spare container. Once it cools down, pour it on indoor or outdoor plants.

• Refresh the fish tank and use the aquarium’s dirty water, which is high in nitrates, to water the garden.

• Bathe small children at the same time or back-to-back.

• Catch running water in a bucket while you adjust the temperature, and use it to water plants or mop the floor.

Change Your Environment

Make landscaping choices that help to replenish the groundwater supply by reducing both the volume and the velocity of stormwater runoff.

• Opt for Xeriscaping — landscaping with drought-resistant, native species, such as Bermuda grass, black-eyed Susans and coneflowers.

• Choose a pervious concrete, which allows 3 to 8 gallons of water to pass through each square foot per minute, for paving projects.

• Add a layer of mulch or pine straw around plants and trees to help regulate both the soil’s water temperature and moisture level.

• Use swales and diversions on your property to slow down rainwater runoff.

• Follow local water restrictions. The schedule, which encourages less frequent but deeper waterings, actually improves drought tolerance. Frequent, shallow waterings encourage the roots to stay shallow, making plants more susceptible to drought.

• Adjust irrigation systems and hand-watering schedules based on each week’s rainfall. Most lawns only need an inch of water a week, roughly the height of a tuna can.

• Install a rain barrel.

• Group plants with similar water needs together.

• If you plan to pour dirty bath or dish water into the yard, make sure the detergents are not high in phosphates or harsh chemicals, which can kill plants.

Tap Into Hidden Savings

Water savings can come from unexpected sources, as well. “The lowest hanging fruit across the board is to conserve energy,” said Elizabeth Nicholas, general counsel, Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, because power companies use the largest volume of water statewide. “By conserving energy, you are also conserving water.” Turning off lights when not in use or replacing old appliances with Energy-Star rated products can go a long way to conserve energy and water. Please visit www.conservegeorgia.org for other conservation ideas. PN