Wardrick wells, Bahamas
Living aboard a boat with only 110 gallons of fresh water, instilled a strong desire to conserve water in both Jim and I. Before we left the US, We filled up both tanks and two five-gallon plastic Jerry cans, (those were lashed to the shrouds), 110 gallons in all. By conserving the fresh water, we found we could make it last two month, maybe almost three, if we were exceptionally good at using very little! Refilling our tanks on the boat meant hauling 6 of those Five-gallon containers, in the dingy, to shore, hiking 1-3 miles, with the empties, to a public water site and then hauling those full containers back to the dingy and out to the boat. Once back on board, the water had to be poured into the tanks and then we would repeat the routine three more times, to fill the tanks and have the extra 10 gallons on deck. Remember, being good at conserving our water, this had to be done every two month. If water was available at a Marina you had to pay $1.00 to $1.50 per gallon. We had a budget to live on so that we could cruise as long as possible . That budget required us to put in the work to get the free water! Needless to say, we became exceptionally good at using as little water as possible. When we brushed our teeth, we only used a small amount of fresh water to rinse our mouth; we used a lot fewer dishes when cooking, that ment less to wash. I was the Queen of “One Pot Wonder, Meals” We washed everything in salt water, rinsing in a pot of fresh water and I mean everything, dishes, clothes, linens and ourselves. The foot pumps in the galley (kitchen on land) and the toilet produced only a small amount of water with each pump. This was a big help in judging how much water we were using, one pump for teeth rinsing, two pumps for dinner! When we first moved back to land from the boat, we were both filled with a sense of guilt when we would turn on a faucet and water poured out in what looked to us like our entire 100 gallons at a time. QUICK, turn it off, that looks like about 10 gallon a second coming out of there! That was not far from the truth, when you consider that according to the American Water Works Association, the average United States resident uses about 110 gallons of water a day. The most being used for toilets, followed by bathing, laundry/dishes and cooking/drinking. To begin conserving water, everyone needs to know some simple facts:
- Water is a limited resource.
- Water costs a great deal in energy and money to pump, move and purify.
- Water consumption can be reduced significantly in the average home.
Conservation is everybody’s responsibility. Most of us can significantly reduce our household water consumption if we change some of our habits. You don’t have to live on a boat with only 100 gallons of water to learn to conserve. Here are some tips from the American Water Works Association:
- When you brush your teeth, don’t let the water keep running. Instead, half fill a glass and use that water to wet your brush and rins your mouth.
- When you shave or wash your hands, do not let the water run. Fill the basin and dip your razor or hands as needed.
- Don’t flush the toilet unnecessarily. Each flush uses 5 to 7 gallons of water. Throw tissues, insects and other trash in the wastebasket, not the toilet.
- Bathe small children together.
- Turn faucets off completely to avoid drips and slow leaks. Too much pressure or turning too tightly can damage valve seats.
- Teach children water-saving techniques.
- Take short showers, not baths. Limit showers to 5 minutes or less.
- Install flow restrictors on individual water fixtures like shower head and faucets. They automatically reduce flow and aerate the water.
- Turn the valves under the sink to reduce the rate of water flow.
- When you take a bath, partly fill the tub. A good rule is 5 inches.
- As you wait for shower water to heat up, collect the cold water in a bucket for watering plants.
- Reduce the amount of water the toilet uses by filling a 1 gallon plastic container with water and putting it in the tank to displace 1 gallon of water.
- Use tight-fitting lids on pans to keep water from boiling away faster.
- Cook food in as little water as possible. Doing so also prevents loss of nutrient value.
- Save the water left after you cook vegetables for soups, cooking other raw vegetables or fruits. Refrigerate and use within a few days.
- Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water.
- Serve drinking water only if someone requests it.
- For drinking, keep a covered bottle of water in the refrigerator so you won’t have to let the water run to get cold.
- Use a small pan of water to wash, peel or clean vegetables rather than letting the water run.
- Limit use of the garbage disposal since it requires a sizeable amount of water to operate properly. Wait and use disposal only once rather than several times. Save food scraps for a compost pile.
- Hand wash cooking utensils and serving dishes that take up a lot dishwasher space. Wash them as soon as possible to prevent food particles from getting hard and becoming more difficult to remove.
- Wash only full loads in the dishwasher.
- Scrape/wipe dishes rather than rinsing if they are to be washed immediately in the dishwasher.
- Follow your dishwasher manufacturer’s instructions on how to best save water and energy. Select shorter cycles when possible to use less water.
- When hand washing dishes, use a pan of soap water for washing and one of hot water for rinsing. Doing so uses less water than a running faucet.
- While waiting for faucet water to warm, catch water and use it for other parts of the meal preparation (cleaning vegetables, cooking liquid, hand dish washing, etc.), or to water plants.
- Use rinse water after it has cooled to water outdoor plants.
- When planting a garden, group vegetables needing more water so you can apply water most efficiently.
- Mulch shrubs and small trees to retain moisture in the soil for a longer time. Spread leaves, pine straw or small pieces of bark on the ground around plants.
- Pull out weeds to eliminate competition for water.
- When building or remodeling, plan your landscape and garden to minimize water needs.
- Water thoroughly but less frequently. Doing so promotes a deeper grass root system to withstand dry weather better.
- Be alert to water waste when you see it running down the driveway into the street or storm drain.
- Water your lawn and garden between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. to avoid sun evaporation. Don’t water when it is windy and during the heat of the day. Set an alarm to remind you to move or turn off the water.
- Check hoses, faucets and water devices periodically for leaks and malfunctions which can waste large amounts of water.
- During periods of limited rainfall reduce the amount of fertilizer applied to avoid water-demanding new growth.
- When you plant new grass, try a variety that withstands dry weather. Consult your county Cooperative Extension agent for more information.
The goal for our families at Our Everyday Earth is to reduce our water consumption and by doing so, build a greener earth-print. Join us!
