Water Conservation Tips for Summer :)

"When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water."      
~ Benjamin Franklin

"Children of a culture born in a water-rich environment, we have never really learned how important water is to us. We understand it, but we do not respect it." ~ William Ashworth

Alright people, now that summer is finally here (yay!!), and it's raining less (well, except it's sprinkling today, naturally), it's important that we're extra conscious about our water consumption.  Here are some tips I've gathered and wanted to share with you all.  Please check them out, and remember this fact: only 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WeighingWater/). Plus, when you use less water you save money on your utility bill.  It's a win-win!  So, let's all make sure that we're using this precious natural resource wisely. :)
Indoors:

• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Duh, we should all know this one by now. ;)
• Dish time: (1) Operate the dishwasher with full loads only. (2) Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean. (3) When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink or a pan with soapy water instead of letting the faucet run while soaping dishes. Rinse dishes in a filled sink or a pan of water.
• Take shorter showers.  According to a national study of residential water use, the average American shower uses roughly 17 gallons of water and lasts for around 8 minutes. The average bath uses 24 gallons of water and accounts for roughly 2 percent of the water used indoors.  Even reducing your shower time by a few minutes can have an impact.
• Laundry time:  (1) Remember to operate the clothes washing machine with full loads only. (2) Wash in cold water as much as possible.  About 22 percent of the water used in a typical residential home is for washing clothes. Estimates say that a 4-person household with a standard washing machine will generate more than 300 loads of laundry per year, consuming 12,000 gallons of water. A high-efficiency front-loading washing machine can reduce water consumption by more than half, saving you energy and money.  If you purchase a high-efficiency washing machine, check with the Oregon Department of Energy and Energy Trust of Oregon for residential or business energy tax credits and rebates.
• If you're a Portland Water Bureau customer, you can request a free home water audit kit or water conservation devices like faucet aerators by calling (503) 823-4527 or visiting: www.portlandoregon.gov/water/conservation

Outdoors:

• Lawn care: (1) Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation. (2) Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.(3) Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped. (4) Use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
• Garden care: (1) Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture and saves water, time and money(2) Use a rain barrel to collect water from your roof, and use it to water your garden.
• Sweep it! Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save water every time.
• Car wash time:  visit your local car wash, especially one that recycles water (i.e. Portland's Eco Car Wash), instead of washing your car in the driveway.
• Recycle air conditioner condensate. If you have a window air condition, place a bucket underneath it to collect the water that drips from condensation.  Then, use the water to water your plants.

Food & Drink:

• For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
• Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
• Use a reusable water bottle (my fave is Klean Kanteen) instead of buying bottled water.
• Eat less meat. It takes 5,000 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat, while growing 1 pound of wheat only requires 25 gallons. A totally vegetarian diet requires only 300 gallons of water per day, while a meat-eating diet requires more than 4,000 gallons of water per day.

Resources:http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=51031&a=265705
http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php
http://www.bonnieplants.com/LearnGrowLibrary/GardeningMadeEasy/tabid/79/ID/236/categoryId/46/Drought-Busters-Respond-with-Many-Good-Ideas.aspx
http://www.plantanswers.com/calvin/WaterSourcesforPlantsjuly.htm
http://www.goveg.com/environment-wastedresources-water.asp