The hills are turning golden early this year, and California is in another drought. There are several basic ways to save water without taking army showers or suffering dehydration.
The first is to fix drips. If you have one leaky faucet in your house that does about five drips per minute, about 173 gallons of fresh water are going down the drain every year. Imagine if you have two leaky faucets, or ones that drip even more. I recommend taking a little survey of your house to check every sink, shower, hose, and tub tap to see if any leak. If they do, try replacing the seals or washer. There are plenty of online tutorials to help you with every type of faucet imaginable.
One less conspicuous place a lot of water is wasted each year is the toilet, and many leaks have no visible signs. To see if yours is leaking, put food coloring, instant coffee, or fruit drink mix in the tank to turn it a dark color. Let it sit for 30 minutes without use. If any color seeps into the bowl, you know you have a problem. Another simple environmental measure is to stop using plastic water bottles. Each bottle takes more water to make than is put in it, making it a double waster. The plastic leaching is also a danger, so play it safe and use metal or reusable plastic. Plus, it tastes much better.
Finally, you can cut down on the water wasted in your shower without taking a sponge bath. Put a bucket under the shower head while you wait for it to get warm. Scoot it over as you shower, and some of you extra water can splash there instead of down the drain. When it’s full, water your lawn with it. The plants won’t mind the soap. By stopping leaks, reusing water bottles, and collecting your shower, you can help keep the hills green for a little longer next year.
