Five Ways the Average Person Can Conserve and Recycle Water - Money Saving Tips That Are Eco-Friendly

Water conservation has been around for years. I remember growing up during the drought in California. It seemed odd to me that there wasn't enough water to go around, considering one of my favorite pass times was swimming in the waves at Santa Cruz. None-the-less, water was deemed a precious natural resource not to be wasted. Had I known back then that water treatment facilities were in the making, I might have worked a little harder to conserve and recycle the water at hand.

Now I live in Arizona, a very dry climate that demands water conservation. There simply isn't enough moisture in the air to keep it from evaporating at record speed. And of course, all those treatment facilities are no longer part of some weird science fiction movie. We actually do use reconstituted waste on a daily basis.

I'm all for recycling and saving water, but I sure don't like the idea of reusing someone else's excess dirty water to take care of my basic needs. Ah, the unavoidable dilemma, which causes me to be creative when I have no choice. If I must used recycled water from water treatment plants, at least I won't have to use so much of it.

There are several things that everyone can do to conserve water right in their own home. These ideas save gallons of water, and when practiced seriously, hundreds of dollars every year. They might even help offset some of those unavoidable gas bills. We all know that consumers are the catch all when it comes to rising prices.

Use Water Catchers

Pull out those rain gages, recycle those plastic containers, put a bucket under the gutters, and start gathering the water you already use. Gallons of water get wasted every year when we do ordinary things like brushing our teeth and showering. Washing the car is a major source of water contention. I propose that we simply use water catchers.

While I'm not recommending that you create a maze in your own shower just to save a little water, I am suggesting that you hang a container on your faucet, and place one on the shower floor. The collected water can be used for cleaning purposes and to water plants.

If you prefer to take baths, don't just drain the tub when you are done. Gather a few buckets of that water and wash off the patio. You can even add a few capfuls of your favorite cleaner to sanitize it.

Drain Cooking Water into Pots

Don't just use a colander to drain those potatoes or pasta. Collect the water in a large pot so you can use it for other purposes. Cooking water has flavor, and nutrients. Use it to water plants, and moisten dry pet food. The plants get an added boost to help them grow, while your pet enjoys something a little tastier than the same old boring dry food.

For those of you into the finer arts of culinary crafts, vegetable water can be used as a soup or gravy base. Add a large beef bone, some herbs & seasonings, and a few fresh vegetables to make an amazing meal. You can also freeze vegetable water to use at a later date.

Dilute Household Cleaners

Purchase a few spray bottles. They usually don't even cost a dollar these days. Pour in a few capfuls of your favorite cleaners, fill with water, and clean to your heart's desire. Simply spray and wipe.

Not only does this idea save water, but it cuts down on cleaning time. By diluting your cleaners, you may even be able to eliminate the need for rinsing when you clean. No longer will you fill a bucket full of water that gets tossed down the drain, or keep the water running while you wipe and rinse the counter top. Now you can just spray, wipe, and be done, using a lot less water for your trouble.

Run the Hose Instead of the Sprinkler

Irrigation is nothing new. The idea is to flood your yard once in a while, rather than turn your sprinklers on every other day or so. The benefits of watering like this are that you control where the water goes. Sprinklers water the ground, but they also water the pavement, side of the house, car sitting in the driveway.

Place your hose in the middle of the yard, turn it on very low, and forget about it for an hour or so. When you come back, water will have spread over a large area, without being wasted on things that don't need to be watered in the first place. Since irrigation is a proven method of deep watering, you won't need to water for several more days, thus saving you time and money.

Water Displacement

Going back to the days of drought in California, I must admit that putting a brick in the toilet tank really does work to help conserve water. As I took a closer look at this idea, living in one of the driest climates around, I realized that rocks could be very useful in my garden.

Mulch is a wonderful supplement to any garden, as it keeps moisture in, and protects against temperature changes. However, in Arizona, even mulch tends to dry out rather quickly. I began putting rocks around my plants. They allow water to seep through their cracks, and they also make a barrier to prevent it from evaporating quickly. Take a look under the rocks in your own back yard. The ground is usually damp, while the earth around them is much drier.

Water displacement can be applied in many situations. Fill your flower vases with decorative stones before adding water to them, add a little more gravel to your fish tank, redirect water so that it can be used more efficiently. Voila! You have just saved gallons of water every year, with minimal effort for your thoughtfulness.

Okay, so none of these ideas will undo the fantasy turned reality of waste water treatment plants. They may not even prevent scientists from pursuing research on desalting oceans. They can however save everyone time, money, and guilt by using simple solutions to conserve water in the comfort of our own homes.