Pee in the Shower and 10 other tips for Water Conservation at Home

A small bucket in the shower won't take up too much room

“If the earth is 70% water, why do we have to save water?”  Many people think it’s silly to save water when it’s the most abundant resource on the planet.  However, humans use more fresh water (only 2% of the earth’s water) than can naturally be replenished.

Austin’s in the middle of a drought.  In fact, in the next five years, it’s expected that at least 36 states will face water shortages.  We already have a mandatory watering schedule.  Can you imagine more stringent water rationing?!

The good news is, we can change our future by conserving water NOW.  Just follow these easy tips to help you start saving at home.

Easy tips for water conservation at home:

1. Time your showers and don’t take baths. Many of us use our alone time in the shower to think about our day and unwind.  When the mind wanders, time flies and one could easily spend 20 min bathing.  That’s easily over 40 gallons of water!  (Think 2 gallons/minute in the shower)  Take a yoga class and meditate out of the shower kids. You can also save water by using a solar shower.  I use it for quick rinses after exercise.

2. Let your dirty recyclables soak, instead of washing them under running water. When you’re done with that peanut butter, fill it with water and let sit for a couple of hours.  OR feed it to your dog.  Our dog, Matilda loves to eat peanut butter.

3. Keep a bucket in your shower.  You can use the excess runoff water for gardening and lawn care.

4. Thaw your meats in a bowl.  I lived with a girl who attended culinary school, and she always insisted that we thaw meats under running water.  Not under my roof! BIG NO NO!  Fill a bowl with water, store meats in a reusable bag and let it thaw out.  It may take longer, but you can do your prep work in the mean time.

Sophia always turns the faucet off when she brushes her pearls

5.  Keep a dish with soap water by the sink.  I learned this from my host mom in Costa Rica.  If you need to wash a single dish, use the soap water instead of letting the water run.

6. Only start your loads when they are FULL.  Wait until your dishwasher is full before you start it.  And make sure you’re making the most of your washer loads.  You’d save so much water by combining loads.

7.  Start harvesting rain water. You don’t need a fancy system, just a rain barrel in the back yard.

8.  Minimize Toilet Flushes.  So you shouldn’t really pee in the shower, but don’t flush unless you have to.  Remember: If it’s mellow yellow. Brown flush it down.

9.  Only water your yard after sunset, and avoid watering when windy.  This helps prevents water loss to evaporation.  I’d also recommend planting native plants that don’t require a lot of water.

10. And of course… turn the off the faucet while brushing your teeth!  If you haven’t learned that one by now, there may be no hope for us.

Save zee water!