18 Jun Creative Ways to Save Even More Water this Summer

So you’ve changed your faucet aerators to be low-flow, replaced your showerheads with low-flow showerheads, installed a low-flow toilet and set your irrigation to operate at the most opportune times for minimizing evaporation (before 10am or after 7pm), what’s next in the way of water conservation, you may ask?  There are creative ways to reuse greywater (the water that comes from washing machines, showers and sinks) and harvest rainwater, which will save you money and keep our freshwater resources – such as rivers and lakes – cleaner.

Here are 5 ways to reduce our use of this most precious resource even further:

1. Use greywater to irrigate your garden.  Many cities anfdtowns allow greywater from washing machines or showers to be used in the garden (Austin already allows greywater from your washing machine to flow to your garden but it has to remain subsurface, i.e. buried in soil).  Greywater can typically flow via gravity from your washing machine or shower to a raingarden or depression in your garden which will allow water to sit and infiltrate, however, in the city of Austin it needs to be subsurface so the water can never come in contact with the air.  [This is to prevent standing water which provides habitat to breed mosquitoes].  Infiltration usually happens within 3 hours if you have the right type of soil.  (Heavy clay soils are not suited to this.)  This way you can irrigate easily and give the sewer system a break.  Check out this link: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/gray-water-reclamation.htm to find out more.
2. Wash dishes in the sink, rinse them in a plastic basin and then use that rinse water to irrigate your backyard vegetables or ornamental plants.  Make sure you are using a biodegradable dish soap and spread the greywater around in different areas.  This can save up to 10 gallons per day.
3. Gather up the half finished glasses of water around your house and empty them into a container with a lid (I use a gallon-sized plastic container for this).  Once it is full enough, give your house plants a drink or pour it out in your yard.  You can save up to 10 gallons per week by doing this!
4. If you are washing your car, park it on your property in a place where the water that runs off will flow into your lawn or flower beds.  (Always turn off the hose when you are sudsing up.)  Make sure you are using a biodegradable soap, and the water will infiltrate into the ground, giving thirsty plants a soak as well as recharging underground aquifers.  Soil is one of the best filters you can ask for and will do a great job of filtering out grit, breaking down biodegradable soap and absorbing the water.  You’ll also save money by washing your car at home and eliminate oversoaping your vehicle which is common at commercial carwashes.
5. Harvest rainwater from your roof.  This is fresh, chlorine-free water, which will nourish your plants and keep them vibrant!  Rainwater is ideal for vegetable gardens and is oxygenated, which will give plants more vigour.  Many cities offer rainbarrels at low or free cost and they are easy to install under a downspout from your gutters. 

Wastewater treatment plants are responsible for consuming 3% of the electric load in the USA, which has a carbon footprint of 207 million metric tons of CO₂ per year.  All of these approaches will not only save water but also reduce the load on wastewater treatment plants, which in turn saves electricity and that in turn will lower our carbon footprint overall!

Michele Hallahan, LEED AP, BD+C is a seasoned sustainability and environmental consultant.  Despite coming from Ireland, where it rains at least 17 inches every day of the year, she is a water conservation nut, and has saved businesses up to 40% of the costs associated with water use through good management, employee engagement and strategic planning.