Guest Post: Tips to Conserve Water at Home

Today’s guest post comes from Amanda Tatum of The 1:1 Movement!

Greetings I Love A Clean San Diego Readers,

It’s The 1:1 Movement here. 1:1 is a nonprofit organization headquartered in San Diego and dedicated to raising awareness about conservation, sustainability, and how each of us can play a role in keeping San Diego America’s Finest City, much like I Love A Clean San Diego.

Water has been a particularly hot topic in recent San Diego news. While our City Council has been working diligently to pass legislation which will lessen our dependency on imported Colorado River water, we at 1:1 would like to highlight a few water conservation tips, ranging from simple to advanced, we can all do in our homes- starting today.

• Turn off the water

First things first- consider turning off the water when you are not using it. An example which comes to mind is when you’re brushing your teeth. According to Water Sense, partner of the Environmental Protection Agency, you can conserve over 3,000 gallons of water per year by turning off the faucet while you polish those pearly whites.

• Place a bucket in your shower to collect water

Another idea to utilize water and save some pennies on your water bill is to place a bucket in your shower. The water collected can be used to hydrate your lawn, plants, flowers, or edibles you have around your home.

The average San Diegan uses 88 gallons to 140 gallons of water a day- 30 gallons of which are devoted to showering. A bucket is a simple and cheap solution to catch water while you wait for the ideal showering temperature. There are specific showerheads and technologies you can purchase and install in your home, but for renters or those on a thrifting budget- consider a bucket.

If you use earth friendly soaps such as Dr. Bronner’s or Everyday Shea, feel free to creatively step around the bucket while you sud up. Be cautious as your shower can be a slippery place! Another perk of these earth friendly soaps is the assurance that the soapy water which is washed down the shower drain will have a less detrimental effect on local wildlife and ecosystems.

• Convert your washing machine to a greywater system

For the more ambitious, we recommend converting your washing machine to a greywater system. A conventional washing machine uses about 40 gallons of water every load. Converting to a greywater system is a permit-free, legal method of greywater reuse. Those 40 gallons of water can be diverted from “going down the drain” to irrigate your landscape- be it fruit trees, a lawn, or garden. Think about that monetary reduction in your monthly water bill!

In collaboration with the San Diego Sustainable Living Institute, The 1:1 Movement will be hosting a Laundry to Landscape Greywater course on Sunday, August 26 at 10am. Spots are limited so we encourage you to reserve a spot today to learn more about how you can wash your clothes and conscience clean at the same time!

As our local representatives are hard at work ensuring San Diego can be the safest, cleanest, and healthiest it can be, we as San Diegans can do our part to be part of the solution, too. To get involved with the San Diego community, check ILACSD and The 1:1 Movement websites for upcoming events in your city. If you have any questions or comments about The 1:1 Movement, please feel free to emailamanda@1to1movement.org.