12 Hot Tips to Save Water
Even though summer is coming to a close, we should still keep in mind that we need to save money and resources. By resources, I mean the ones that have the most direct impact on us. One of the easiest ways to save is by saving water. Not only will this save money, but water as a sacred commodity should not be squandered.
- Lawn Watering. Most lawns in the U.S. need about 1 inch of water a week to remain healthy. Deep and infrequent waterings are best to achieve this but the other thing to remember is the time at which you water. Try to water early in the morning so there is time for the water to soak down to the roots and the sun and heat don’t evaporate your money. If you have a timer and sprinkler, set it up for early AM. The wind should be calmer at this time as well.
- The higher you mow the grass, the deeper the roots are. The deeper your roots are, the more able they are to take up moisture. Which in turn means you can water more effectively and for shorter periods. (Don’t wait; mow when you are going to but about a third of the grasses length and keep your mowers blade sharp to prevent disease from torn tips.)
- Speaking of irrigation, check your lines for leaks. These can go unnoticed for weeks if oyu are not careful and instead of money evaporating, leaks can cause you to lose money here as well. Set aside an hour this coming weekend to be sure you don’t have any. If you didn’t blow them out before the last freeze they may have burst under ground.
- Use a push broom to clear and clean driveways, not your hose. It takes a little longer and involves more work but is better in the long run.
- Put a good layer of mulch on your flower beds to retain moisture. This helps your outdoor plants absorb nutrients as well. This should be done once a year at least or as needed. Check around in your county for free mulch and get the friend of yours with a pick up who owes you a favor to help out. You helped him move last spring right?
- Visit the carwash instead of your own hose + driveway solution. Brushless carwashes recycle a high percentage of the water where all of yours goes into the sewer. That is more money down the drain.
- Consider rain barrels to catch the water off your roof. When set up correctly, these can be used to water your plants and grass during those dry seasons. Its incredible how much water can be collected this way. Put a screen in to catch debris and it might be a good idea to drain them in the winter. (Rain water far out weighs your city’s water due to the higher amounts of Nitrogen, which is good for growth, color, density and the formation of chlorophyll.)
- Take shorter showers. Consider installing a shower head that has restricted flow. Not only will this eventually pay for itself but by combining this with a shorter shower time, you will keep more money in the bank.
- Only run the dishwasher when it is absolutely full. If you run it less frequently, less water is waster per month.
- Use the right amount of water for washing clothes. If you don’t have that many clothes ot wash, don’t consider it a “large” load. Remember to use the right amount of detergent as well. Too much detergent can actually burn the fibers if not diluted correctly.
- Displace water in your toilet tank with some bricks. Less water will be used per flush, thus saving liquid moolah on a daily basis.
- Turn the faucet off between brushings while brushing your teeth. Its not a lot of savings but over a lifetime it will add up.
- (Bonus!) After you boil eggs, allow the water to cool and water your plants with it. The proteins from the eggs are a fave for plants and the broken shells can also be used a fertilizer.
There are a dozen more I am sure, can you think of any? Send them in! (Also, another one of my creepy hoppbies, is lawn care…got a question? Let me know!)
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Comments
I think I’d use #4 Use a push broom to clear and clean driveways, not your hose, but I have that darn exposed aggregate, so it’s tough to push broom anything through it.
As for #8, how about NOT showering! Many cultures are cool with just getting a wet washcloth to do their cleansing… Not me, I dig the long shower. 
Aggregate as in crushed stone or gravel? At least you dont have to repave or seal a paved driveway right?
And yea, I couldn’t condone NOT showering haha, good point though.
[...] 12 Hot Tips to Save Water. Fortunately, we are doing most of these, but I really liked the bonus tip for my leftover boiled egg water (we boil a lot of eggs). [...]
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