Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard residents are hunkering down for a hairy hurricane season forecast to be wetter than normal, but High Plains residents are circling the wagons to protect what little water they have.
The "U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook Through August 2006" from the Climate Prediction Center at the National Weather Service says hot, dry weather is expected to contribute to persistent or worsening droughts over the High Plains region from Texas to Wyoming.
The summer forecast calls for nearly normal rainfall in the Plains this summer, but not nearly enough to erase ongoing drought conditions. Arid conditions could ease in parched Oklahoma and Missouri regions, but extreme drought will persist in the Southwest, including Arizona, New Mexico, parts of Texas, Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming.
Persistent dry weather in traditionally arid regions can ultimately spawn orders for mandatory lifestyle changes to mitigate the effects droughts have on the water supply. Year round conservation efforts can help lessen the impact of a drought before it hits.
From a variety of sources experienced in water conservation measures we've culled three dozen lesser used ways to wean your household from water wasting.
Stretching Water
- To save both water and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth while in the shower.
- Instead of tossing dropped ice cubes, left over ice from takeout drinks and stale pet water, use it to water your plants.
- Likewise, when you clean your fish tank, use the nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich old water on your plants for a free and nutritional fertilizer.
- A bucket in the shower catches water you can use to flush toilets or water plants.
- Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap. Use the proper size cooking pots and pans. Cook food in as little water as possible to retain more nutrients. In both cases use the water again to water plants.
- Wash your car on the lawn.
Appliance Water
- Use water-efficient appliances, shower heads and toilets.
- Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full or, if possible, adjust the water level to the size of the load.
- Cut back on using the rinse-only dishwasher cycle and buy an efficient model. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones and they use less energy, water and detergent.
- Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead.
- Don't use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Reduce the number of flushes whenever possible.
- Make sure your toilet flapper doesn't stick open after flushing.
- Put aerators on all of your faucets.
Indoor Water Use
- Designate one glass for your drinking water each day to cut down on the number of times you need to run your dishwasher. Likewise, keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator to beat the habit of running tap water until it's cool for drinking.
- Don't defrost frozen foods with running water. Plan ahead by placing frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or longer or defrost them in the microwave.
- Wash dishes by hand by filling one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water instead of using running water to rinse. If you only have one sink, use a spray device or short blasts instead of letting the water run. In both cases, use less detergent to minimize the need for rinse water.
- Soak your dirty pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
- Take shorter showers. Let young kids double up during baths.
- While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to later use on house plants or in your garden.
- Turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth or washing your face. Turn it on to clean your blades and rinse. Or rinse with water in the sink. Turn the sink water off while you shampoo and condition your hair.
Outdoor Water Use
- Consider a water-efficient drip irrigation system for trees, shrubs and flowers.
- Aerate your lawn to allow better water penetration and less runoff. Add a layer of mulch around trees and plants to slow evaporation. Weed often so grass has fewer competitors for water.
- Water your lawn in the mornings on still days, rather than windy days, to minimize evaporation.
- Don't water on cool, overcast or rainy days. Adjust or deactivate automatic sprinklers.
- Don't water the sidewalks, driveway or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands only on your lawn or garden. Water smaller missed patches by hand.
- Set your lawn mower's blades a notch higher. Longer grass. Less evaporation.
- Allow your kids to play in the sprinklers' shower only when you are watering the yard, provided its not too cool. Avoid hose play.
- Don't buy recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
- Don't run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end.
- Sweep down the driveway to clean it instead of hosing it down.
- Use pool covers on pools to cut down on evaporation and energy spent cleaning it. Use a grease pencil to mark your pool's water level at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later. Expect to lose no more than 1/4 inch a day.
- Drive less. It takes 44 gallons of water to refine one gallon of crude oil.
- Know where your master water shut-off valve is located to save gallons of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
- Take the "Family Water Audit" to learn how water–wise -- or not -- you are around your home.
- Get an additional "100 Ways To Save Water ... And Counting" for water saving tips based on the region where your home is located.
- Contact your local water authority to determine what water conservation efforts are recommended specific to your jurisdiction and the current climate.
