Easy ways to save water

Photo credit: Randy Son of Robert, flicker

While drizzle "ravages" L.A., and pundits bicker over the severity of California's drought, I'm busy doing what I always do: nagging my kids to quit Bogart-ing the shower, the sink and the hose.

One minute the dry spell is "the worst in modern history," prompting a state declaration of emergency and fines and higher H20 bills for water hogs. The next minute, it "doesn't look too bleak." Huh? I can't keep up with the controversy, but I can police my brood's violation-worthy thirst for agua.

How? By drying up our household water consumption with an extra hand from something my oldest just learned to read—a clock. We're also sipping (and scrubbing) light, with a blend of these SuperEco tips and a clever cheat sheet we picked up from the La Habra Children's Museum. You can too. If you're not surprised how much water you're (probably) wasting, I'll be surprised!

Task	Water Hog	Water Miser
Shower	Water running, 30 gallons	Quick lather, rinse and squeegee, 5 gallons
Bath	Filling to the top, 40 gallons	Filling halfway, 15 gallons
Brushing teeth	Tap running, 10 gallons	Wet, brush and rinse with the tap off, 1/2 gallon
Washing hands	Tap running, 2 gallons	Half-filling the sink to quick-wash, 1/2 gallon
Flushing the toilet	Regular tank, 7 gallons	H2O-conserving tank, 2 gallons
Handwashing dishes	Tap running, 30 gallons	Wash and rinse in a dishpan or sink, 5 gallons
Automatic dishwasher	Full cycle, 15 gallons	Short cycle, 7 gallons
Washing clothes	Top water level, 40 gallons	Minimum water level, 25 gallons
Shaving	Tap running, 20 gallons	Half-filling the sink, 1 gallon

Of course, these conservation comparisons are merely approximations. They vary depending on the size of your household appliances and fixtures (and appetite for the wet stuff).

What doesn't have to vary is your family's water use. Whip out the trusty timer and keep this cheat sheet handy, and you'll be on your way to lower water bills, not to mention bathing in good, green karma, in no time. Put that in your bowl and gently flush it!

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