05051 Strategies, Techniques, and Tools for Water Conservation

Water is essential for all dimensions of life. Over the past few decades, use of water has increased, and in many places water availability has fallen to crisis levels. More than eighty countries, with forty percent of the world’s population, already face water shortages, while by year 2020 the world’s population will double. The costs of water infrastructure have risen dramatically. The quality of water in rivers and underground has deteriorated, due to pollution by waste and contaminants from cities, industry and agriculture. These water issues destroy ecosystems, sometimes permanently. Over one billion people lack safe water, and three billion lack sanitation; eighty per cent of infectious diseases are waterborne, killing millions of children each year. — World Bank

This chapter is a “tip jar” of ideas for conserving water. Using less water is a critical behavioral change for all who take the permaculture ethics seriously.

If it’s yellow, it’s mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down. This is one of the most simple methods of water conservation that attacks one of the more egregious wastes of water — using several gallons of water to flush a few ounces of urine into the sewer.

Do not use the garbage disposal. Garbage disposals are Type 1 errors in the first place. If your dwelling has one, installed by a previous owner or the landlord, don’t use it. Just because it’s there doesn’t mean it needs to be used.

Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. This prevents the common practice of running the tap water for a while to get cool water. Or keep a cooler of iced water on a counter and avoid opening the refrigerator every time you want a cool drink.

Take short showers, not baths. Use the button, which many shower faucets have, that stops the water while you soap up and scrub a bit. Then rinse off. Showers use less water than baths. Only use the bath if you need to soak in hot water because of a body ailment or stress. Put a tote into the shower and use your shower water to water plants or the landscape.

Don’t waste water while brushing teeth, cleaning contacts, or shaving.

If you have to run water in the shower to get to the hot water, catch that water in a bucket. Use it to water plants or to flush toilets.

Wash dishes by hand. Don’t use a dishwasher. Don’t rinse with running water. Fill a basin or the second division of the sink with clear water and use that to rinse. Wipe dry with a towel.

If you have lawn to water, water it only during the cooler parts of the day or at night to minimize evaporation. Don’t water the street or sidewalks. Don’t over-water your lawn or landscape plants.

Mulch around trees or plants. Put mulch in the containers of your container plants.

Don’t buy a new car. It takes about 39,000 gallons of water to make a new car.

Make sure all faucets have aerators.

If a toilet runs, or a faucet leaks, fix them! They won’t get better all by themselves and until fixed, they will waste water and energy. You might as well get a cigarette lighter and start burning dollar bills.

Install a low flow showerhead. This is easy to do yourself and they are inexpensive. Your landlord will not ever notice. You won’t notice much difference in the feel of the shower either. Take it with you when you move and reinstall the original full flow showerhead. Or leave it in place, and donate it to the cause of using less water. Buy another and install another one at your new location.

Don’t buy bottled water. Get a reusable water bottle and carry that with you.

Drive less. A gallon of gasoline takes about 13 gallons of water to produce.

Recycling a pound of paper saves about 3.5 gallons of water.