A town in Tennessee has run out of water. The Georgia Aquarium, home of "the world's largest fish tank", is draining displays. Governors across the southeastern United States are scrambling for solutions. And folks around the world are wondering what will happen next.
While companies and organizations are finally beginning to implement water conservation methods, some folks wonder if it's too little, too late. There's plenty of room for people who have been touting conservation of natural resources 'til they are, well, green in the face to say "I told you so" these days. As stories like these hit mainstream media, some people are concerned and others are still shrugging it off. Easy to do when you're not the mayor of a small town who has to go turn the water on for only three hours a day.
What steps can we working women take to help conserve water? Well, same ones we can take to conserve any of our resources. Whether you are a home-based worker, a retail manager, or the CEO of a corporation, women have a lot of buying power and a lot more decision-making power and influence than we sometimes realize.
Today I'll touch on a few steps you, personally, can implement to help conserve water at home first. Want to conserve? Try some of these at home:
- Take showers, not baths. If you have kids, get them started on showers when they are around kindergarten age. For safety sake, a parent may have to shower with them or at least help them most of the shower until they are old enough to keep the shampoo out of their own eyes. Not comfortable showering with your kiddo per se? Pull on a swimsuit. Either way switching them off a bath will save gallons and gallons of water each day. Even if each family member were to still indulge in one steamy bubble bath a week, you've saved a lot versus several baths a day!
- Take shorter showers. Don't turn the water on until you are literally ready to get into the shower. (I admit I'm still working on this one myself. Multitasking is not always good!) Consider turning the water off while you're lathering up or shaving; any good hardware store should have a shower head with a valve for this so you don't have to keep turning the tap on and off (and risking temperature fluctuations - hate that!) Try an electric razor that can be used after you shower, rather than shaving in the shower with the water running. Throw conditioner on your hair and let it set while you lather up, shave, or do other tasks, rather than making it a separate step while the water's a wastin'.
- Replace water-using appliances with high-efficiency (HE) units when the time comes. Don't rush out and buy a new model just because it's HE if your older ones are working fine - that's a waste of your financial resources! But when the washer's on the fritz and the Maytag Man can no longer work his magic, hit the store and look for Energy Star and HE models.
- Only wash full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. If those dishwasher racks are half empty, it's a clear case of not being "half full". Don't run it 'til you're full. Someone's favorite glass is dirty? Well, let them wash it by hand or do without. Your favorite jeans are dirty? Create a full load by grabbing other family members' dirty clothes or wear something else. Remember not to overload appliances though - you'll just wear them out faster and not get things as clean. (Kind of defeating the purpose if you have to run the load through a second time, isn't it?)
- Shut off the rinse water if you're not actively using it! This is, by far, the easiest step to take - and all too many people don't even think about it. Brushing your teeth? If you're still brushing, not rinsing, turn off the water! Rinsing dishes for that dishwasher load? Turn off the water while you're loading! If you don't have something under that running water, think about whether it really NEEDS to be on.
These five steps alone can save you hundreds of gallons of water in a week. This is especially important if you're in a drought area - every single bit counts! If you have to pay for your water, you'll also see financial benefits as you cut back. If you have a well for your home, I doubt I need to remind you that your home's resources are not limitless. Every small step you take keeps the water running longer.
Another day we'll discuss ways you can cut water usage at work. Stay tuned!
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