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Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 2:22:09 PM

MistressDarkArt

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As most know, California is in its third straight year of extreme drought. My county is on strict mandatory rationing. Not so much a problem for me; I have no landscaping to speak of and after living 12 years on a boat, I treat a drop of water as though it's my own blood. But, I'm sure I can always learn something new.

Curious what y'all do to conserve water?

Post #: 1

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 2:32:23 PM

smileforme50

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From: DelaWHERE(?)
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Wow...I wouldn't even know where to start.....

Well...I don't have any plants.....so I don't have to worry about watering them. But damn....In most places around Delaware, even recycling isn't mandated. I don't know what I'm going to do if I ever move to a place that requires recycling.

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RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 2:41:14 PM

windchymes

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This is probably gross and TMI, but when it's just me here and I just pee, I don't flush every time, I wait till next time

I try to take shorter showers. If the pets' waterbowl needs freshened up but isn't empty, I give the plants what's left. I know that's just little stuff, but I guess it adds up.

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RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:04:54 PM

OsideGirl

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From: United States
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We have low flow European shower heads that use 1/3 of the water that a normal shower head uses.

We have a high efficiency Samsung front load washer and a new Samsung Dishwasher.

We are installing a tankless water heater and dual flush toilets.

We contemplated getting artificial turf for our front yard, but Santee is gopher central.

_____________________________

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The Accelerated Velocity of Terminological Inexactitude

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Post #: 4

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:05:02 PM

smileforme50

Posts: 1623
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From: DelaWHERE(?)
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quote:

ORIGINAL: windchymes

This is probably gross and TMI, but when it's just me here and I just pee, I don't flush every time, I wait till next time

I try to take shorter showers. If the pets' waterbowl needs freshened up but isn't empty, I give the plants what's left. I know that's just little stuff, but I guess it adds up.

aka "If it's yellow let it mellow....if it's brown, flush it down!"

Yeah...I know....TMI....

_____________________________

“Give it to me!” she yelled
“I’m so fucking wet! Give it to me now!”

She could scream all she wanted…..I was keeping the umbrella.

(in reply to windchymes)

Post #: 5

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:06:04 PM

UllrsIshtar

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quote:

ORIGINAL: windchymes

This is probably gross and TMI, but when it's just me here and I just pee, I don't flush every time, I wait till next time

I do that too.

I don't pre-rinse dishes. When something is truly in need of rinsing I use the napkins from that dinner to wipe off the plates before tossing them.

I have drip irrigation for my plants outside, and am in the process of killing my entire lawn (who grows lawn in a semi arid climate anyways...djeeze...).

When I cook pasta or the likes, I catch the water in another bowl as I drain it (especially in winter in summer I rarely cook pasta and stuff), aside from it not letting the heat (that I paid for) go down the drain, the water has nutrients that really make the plants happy. If the water is too grubby, it goes on the compost heap, considering that in our climate it's really hard to keep compost wet enough to finish well.

I -illegally- catch rainwater, and use it to water outdoor plants.

I teach the kids not to let the water running when brushing teeth.

I've got small volume tank toilets, that are made even smaller by having a jar filled with water in each reservoir.

We got low flow shower heads.

I bath the kids, one after the other, in the same bath water. (I do rinse them both with clean water though.)

I use a utility sink to presoak very dirty laundry so the wash cycles are shorter.

In the winter, I air dry the laundry indoors (basement) or vent the dryer indoors (basement) so that the humidifier doesn't have to run as much.

At the same time though, we waste a lot of water too, because we have a whole house furnace humidifier that flushes about 7 gallons of water down the drain each day the furnace runs, just to make the house livable.

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I am the dirt you created
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And your whore
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Post #: 6

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:24:53 PM

TheHeretic

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From: California, USA
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The overwhelming majority of household water use is for landscaping. The yard is dead, I'm not making my showers any shorter, or dry shaving, or wearing my socks and underwear twice before washing them.

We've been informed by the State Water Project that here in this valley, we cannot draw anything from the Aqueduct this year. It will be our local supplies only. That's going to make things interesting in my community services district, because our wells have an arsenic level above the new federal standard. Since the new standard came in, they have been mixing in enough imported (Aqueduct) water to keep us in compliance. I'm not sure what happens now.

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RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:28:50 PM

OsideGirl

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

The overwhelming majority of household water use is for landscaping.

We're having a major remodel done that will destroy the yard, so we haven't been watering.

_____________________________

Give a girl the right shoes and she will conquer the world. ~ Marilyn Monroe

The Accelerated Velocity of Terminological Inexactitude

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Post #: 8

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:31:35 PM

ExiledTyrant

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From: Exiled
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Hmmm... I get over 300 inches of rain a year and catch it in a swimming pool, pump from the pool to take care of everything. Not that I try real hard to run the water out, it just the pool over flows daily.

Don't think I can be much help :(

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Post #: 9

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:37:19 PM

jlf1961

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From: Somewhere Texas
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I just go out and flip the switch on the pump.

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Post #: 10

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:50:18 PM

DomKen

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From: Chicago, IL
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Anybody been out to Palm Springs recently? Are the golf courses still bright green? Wonder where all that water comes from?

(in reply to jlf1961)

Post #: 11

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 3:53:38 PM

mummyman321

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From: Dusseldorf
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My house was built in the 50's. It has a septic system so I have done a number of upgrades to conserve water to put less stress on the septic system. It is still the original system.

Upgrades to conserve water:
0.9 gallon/flush toilets
1.75 gallon/min shower heads
High efficiency washer/dryer
Rain barrels at the gutter downspouts to collect water for plants

These simple things cut my water consumption by about 60%.

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Post #: 12

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 4:31:21 PM

OsideGirl

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From: United States
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mummyman321

My house was built in the 50's. It has a septic system so I have done a number of upgrades to conserve water to put less stress on the septic system. It is still the original system.

Upgrades to conserve water:
0.9 gallon/flush toilets
1.75 gallon/min shower heads
High efficiency washer/dryer
Rain barrels at the gutter downspouts to collect water for plants

These simple things cut my water consumption by about 60%.

I will say that I was surprised at how much just switching the dishwasher and washer made. Our water prices went up this year and some of our friends are paying at least double what we are (one is paying triple) and they're in smaller houses or condos. Our water bill pretty much stayed the same.

_____________________________

Give a girl the right shoes and she will conquer the world. ~ Marilyn Monroe

The Accelerated Velocity of Terminological Inexactitude

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Post #: 13

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 8:18:59 PM

MercTech

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One of the most effective things is a split septic system.

Blackwater to a conventional septic system and greywater used for irrigation.

Gad, I remember the drought PSAs in the L.A. area of the late seventies.

quote:

If it's yella, save a fella.
If it's brown, flush it down.

(in reply to OsideGirl)

Post #: 14

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 9:59:56 PM

MistressDarkArt

Posts: 5178
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Does anyone know of some kind of loop valve that reroutes the water back to the heating tank until it gets hot? On demand hot water heaters are too expensive, and my shoulders hate schlepping the bucket I currently use for catchment while it gets hot.

(in reply to MercTech)

Post #: 15

RE: Water Conservation - 3/16/2014 10:15:27 PM

ExiledTyrant

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Joined: 12/9/2013
From: Exiled
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quote:

ORIGINAL: MistressDarkArt

Does anyone know of some kind of loop valve that reroutes the water back to the heating tank until it gets hot? On demand hot water heaters are too expensive, and my shoulders hate schlepping the bucket I currently use for catchment while it gets hot.

If your floor plan allows, get a Paloma... I bought another brand recently, but can't recall the name of it. In Hawaii I can get little Paloma heaters for about 125 bucks. If your kitchen and bathroom share a wet wall, using a small Paloma would take care of you.

_____________________________

Gnothi Seauton
To lead, first follow: Aurelius, Epictetus, Descartes, Sun Tzu, to name a few.

Semper fidelis (which sometimes feels like a burden)

(in reply to MistressDarkArt)

Post #: 16

RE: Water Conservation - 3/17/2014 5:50:21 AM

jlf1961

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From: Somewhere Texas
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I was kind of snarky about the turning the pump on, but there is a well on my property.

When you are talking water conservation, what many people dont realize is that you can use gray water for irrigation, at least for lawns, but redoing your house's plumbing for this is a bit expensive.

The cheaper route is actually a well combined with a rain water catch system (of course if you aint getting rain, you have a dust reclamation system.)

In this part of West Texas, we have two types of ground water. There is the fresh water and there is the Coleman Junction, a salt water aquifer, which of course is deeper than the fresh water.

A growing number of farmers and ranchers and a couple of municipal water districts around here have started a new trend that I am considering for my other property.

The idea is to bypass the fresh water and actually drill to the salt water layer and use desalination systems to make it useful. It is much more expensive initially, but you dont have to pay a use fee to the state water board.

_____________________________

Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don't you think?

You cannot control who comes into your life, but you can control which airlock you throw them out of.

Paranoid Paramilitary Gun Loving Conspiracy Theorist AND EQUAL OPPORTUNI

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Post #: 17

RE: Water Conservation - 3/17/2014 5:53:26 AM

theshytype

Posts: 1600
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quote:

When I cook pasta or the likes, I catch the water in another bowl as I drain it (especially in winter in summer I rarely cook pasta and stuff), aside from it not letting the heat (that I paid for) go down the drain, the water has nutrients that really make the plants happy. If the water is too grubby, it goes on the compost heap, considering that in our climate it's really hard to keep compost wet enough to finish well.

This is a great tip. I'll have to remember this. Knowing myself, I'll probably remember right after draining into the sink.

We always try to conserve our water usage. Especially now that we have our own well to worry about.
We shut the water off when not actually using it (lathering hands, brushing teeth). Kids used to bathe together, then shared bath water. Unfortunately, now the two oldest are taking showers but we do have low-usage heads.
We don't water the lawn, just flowers I've planted.
Dishwasher and washing machines are only used for full loads.
I'm a pre-rinser of dishes, but I fill the sink a little to do so.

(in reply to UllrsIshtar)

Post #: 18

RE: Water Conservation - 3/17/2014 6:44:19 AM

UllrsIshtar

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quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

When you are talking water conservation, what many people dont realize is that you can use gray water for irrigation, at least for lawns, but redoing your house's plumbing for this is a bit expensive.

Not legal, not legal without permits and/or extremely hard to permit in some states.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

The cheaper route is actually a well combined with a rain water catch system (of course if you aint getting rain, you have a dust reclamation system.)

Not legal in some states.

Not that I'm trying to discourage people from doing these things... just make sure you know local ordinances, and if you're going to be out of compliance, be hush about it...

_____________________________

I can be your whore
I am the dirt you created
I am your sinner
And your whore
But let me tell you something baby
You love me for everything you hate me for

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Post #: 19

RE: Water Conservation - 3/17/2014 6:54:36 AM

ExiledTyrant

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From: Exiled
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In America "code" is generally only within the limits of a city.

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To lead, first follow: Aurelius, Epictetus, Descartes, Sun Tzu, to name a few.

Semper fidelis (which sometimes feels like a burden)

(in reply to UllrsIshtar)

Post #: 20

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