Ways to conserve water

Driving up the 15, the freeway sign reminds us: Severe Drought Please Conserve Water! Easy to read, harder to do. How about we share ideas of how we can actually do this? Here are some habits I've acquired which might work for you too.

1. Keep a garden watering can by or in your kitchen sink. Fill it when you're waiting for hot water (instead of it going down the drain). (I have to waste five gallons of water before hot water gets to all parts of our house.) A recirculating system doubled our propane bill, so this works better for us. Water used for washing fruit, etc. does not have to go down the drain either.

2. Ever leave the hose watering a tree for "a few minutes" and discover it five hours later when you notice erosion? Put plastic wristlet key chains on each faucet. When the hose is on, it goes on your wrist. Seeing it on your arm reminds you that water was left on.

3. If rain is on the way, you can park cars out of the garage. A quick sponging in the drizzle, and let the rain rinse. Make laziness a virtue!

I'd love to hear ideas that work for you. Hopefully we can all find ways to manage our rapidly reducing water supply, so we don't have to go to rationing, forced compliance, and/or even higher water bills.

Karen Eddy