green living blue planet - Natural Awakenings Magazine Charlotte
green living blue planet - Natural Awakenings Magazine Charlotte
green living blue planet - Natural Awakenings Magazine Charlotte
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Ablution Solution<br />
Water-Saving Bathroom Tips<br />
There’s a regular waterworks in modern<br />
bathrooms—sinks, commode, tub, shower—<br />
maybe even a bidet. The U.S. Environmental<br />
Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that bathroom<br />
activities account for more than half of<br />
indoor water use.<br />
n First, find and fix any possible plumbing<br />
leaks from pipes, faucets, flappers, valves<br />
and drains that can run up the water bill,<br />
even when no one is home. Then consider<br />
replacing aerators on faucets to reduce<br />
water flow, but not pressure, for a tiny cost<br />
with big returns. An EPA WaterSense label<br />
indicates a wise choice.<br />
n Toilets use 30 percent of bathroom water,<br />
so make sure household utility bills aren’t<br />
paying the high cost of an old-fashioned<br />
(1990s or older) 3.5- to 7-gallons-per-flush<br />
type; modern fixtures use about a gallonand-a-half.<br />
Dual-flush toilets (for number<br />
one and number two) save even more. Universal<br />
conversion kits are affordably priced.<br />
n Chuck the commode altogether and<br />
switch to a composting toilet. It may seem<br />
radical and expensive, but will also use<br />
less water and even process the waste onsite<br />
(more details at tinyurl.com/37swkz).<br />
n A low-flow showerhead makes a big<br />
difference. Start with a test: Fill up a gallon<br />
bucket at full pressure; if it takes more<br />
than 20 seconds, it’s a low-flow device.<br />
Because nobody wants to walk into a cold<br />
shower, most people tend to wastefully<br />
let the water run a bit first. Fortunately,<br />
gadgets such as Showerstart are available<br />
that cut any water flow to a trickle as soon<br />
as it gets hot, which saves water and also<br />
signals that the water has warmed up.<br />
n The EPA estimates that a shower uses 10<br />
to 25 gallons, compared to 70 gallons for a<br />
bath, so save the more water-intensive ruba-dub-dub<br />
for a special occasion—perhaps<br />
with some bath salts, candles and music.<br />
n Alter personal habits to shower more<br />
quickly and turn off the tap between wetting<br />
and rinsing; the same goes for hand<br />
washing, tooth brushing and shaving.<br />
Visit Water Sense online at tinyurl.com/<br />
y9b9j5b.<br />
natural awakenings October 2011<br />
13
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