Down the Drain

Water conservation is a way of life in many parts of the world, including our own western states. Despite the obvious supply of water enjoyed by the Great Lakes states, water conservation should play a larger role in our lives as well, because it is a critical natural resource that we have the ability to overuse.

So where do you begin in reducing your “aquatic footprint?” It’s as simple as THINKING about what you pour down the drain or before you turn on the faucet. Just boiled corn or steamed broccoli? Rather than pour that water down the drain, let it cool and use it to water flowers. Collect the cold water that runs down the drain while you wait for the shower to get hot and use it on your garden, or on a patch of lawn the sprinklers don’t reach. Better yet, turn the sprinklers off or at least don’t run them in the middle of the day when literally half the water evaporates.

Don’t let water just roll down the drain while you wash your hands or brush your teeth – take a second to turn it on and off as you need it. Wash your dishes by hand, or at least run the dishwasher only when it is full. If you have a dog, use that water from the boiled corn to spice up his kibble, or the collected shower water to fill his bowl. Unhook a downspout and let the water off your roof collect into a wading pool for him to frolic in.

What will you save, a gallon a day? Maybe two, maybe three? It adds up, so don’t discount your contribution!