[SustainableTompkins] less bathing

[Deb Eichten]

It seems to me the real issue is reducing water consumption, not
necessarily the frequency of performing hygienic tasks.

One  simple option is to shower  (or wash dishes) with the mindset of
someone with limited fresh water reserves.  As they say in the Navy,
"time to give up the "Hollywood style" luxury shower."  Instead,  turn
water on briefly to get wet, turn off while lathering, turn on for
brief rinse. I found this to be a very effective technique when living
in Mexico's high dessert where pure water is in very short supply and
thus very expensive.  My family also found the  technique works well
when camping; many campers use a "solar heated water cube" which
usually holds only a gallon of water.  Kids learn the value of water
very quickly when you make them fetch 'n carry the fresh water supply
from pump , or they have to wait for water to cycle through a filter
before it is potable!

Another tactic is to rethink the volume of water American toilets use.
 Anyone who has traveled internationally has seen that in many
countries (even other Western countries) one deposits tissue in waste
cans rather than using several gallons of water to flush.  Dual flush
toilets are increasingly available for those doing new construction or
remodeling as are low volume flush toilet models.  I have not done an
ROI model on replacement costs, but am confident updating your
existing fixture is worth the hassle.



On 2/27/08, Simon St.Laurent <simonstl at simonstl.com> wrote:
> Another option, which may not reduce bathing but might reduce water
> usage, is to collect your shower/bathwater in the tub and use a bucket
> to grab it for flushing toilets.
>
> My sink also has an access port on the bottom of the U-trap, and
> sometimes we put a bucket under there to capture water going through.
>
> It's super-simple greywater use, and not always convenient, but we think
> it helps.
>
> Thanks,
> Simon St.Laurent
> http://livingindryden.org/
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