Tossing Water
By Jenn (TinyChoices.com) | August 10, 2010
I didn’t think I was a big waster of water until this week, when I’ve had reason to question that assumption…
I thought I was generally conscious of conserving water: I installed an aerator on the faucets in my bathroom and kitchen, which reduces the flow and thereby saves water; my shower has an awesome showerhead which automatically shuts itself off when the water has turned hot, saving pre-shower water warmup flow.
But the other day I returned to NYC after a weekend in the country, and as I was hefting my pack in advance of my trek home on the subway, I asked a friend to dump out the water inside my nearly-full reusable bottle. She looked at me in shock and asked why, and I said that I was carrying too much heavy stuff and needed to lighten my load. She then proceeded to empty my bottle into hers, and hand me my empty one back. Huh.
Then last night I had some friends over, and as I was preparing cool beverages for us I dropped an ice cube on the floor. One of my guests picked it up and rinsed it off, and proceeded to suck on it to cool herself off. She asked why I’d waste a perfectly good ice cube like that, and I had no real reply– because it simply hadn’t occurred to me that I was wasting water.
So it turns out that I really notice and pay attention to water coming out of the faucet, but once it’s out then I hadn’t remembered the value attached to it. I’d thought of all the factors which go into getting drinkable water to me through the pipes– the watershed upstate, the aqueduct system which transports it to me– and I’d thought about the energy required to treat the water after it goes down my drains and into the waterways beyond. But somehow I was missing a link with the water I’d already conjured up.
I’m really glad to realize this, and I feel grateful for the clear water in the glass on my desk next to me right now. Just as I value the food in my pantry, the water in my cup won’t go to waste.
How’re you doing with water conservation? Have you had any ah-hah moments in your eco-life lately?
[Image by DigiPam via Creative Commons]
Topics: Food, Waste | 5 Comments »
I keep my watering can (for my little container garden) in the kitchen behind the trash, and pour unwanted water into there- like when the cat drinks out of my almost full glass of water, I’m not going to drink it, but it’s good enough for my tomato plants. =)
I am familiar with this habit. I do toss floor cubes into the cat’s water dish, I got that far. I have a tendency to pour a glass of tap water, drink most of it, then unconsciously toss the last bit of water down the drain. WTF! Maybe I should try the watering can trick, that’s a good idea!
i have found that the closer the dog and cat water bowls are to plants the happier everyone is … the cats & dogs get fresh water more often and the plants get tossed some water more often … i don’t think the plants mind the cat/dog drool. ;)
and all ice cubes on the floor go to the border collie … he comes running as soon as the freezer is opened … hoping for a spill. ;)
All floor cubes go into the plants, along with any water used in cooking like, hard boiled eggs and pasta (cooked together to save energy). I also have a bucket in the shower ( I used a 5-gallon portable solar water heater to heat the shower water in the summer) to catch extra water for both the plants and the toilet (which of course is under the “if its yellow” usage). Rainwater is caught for the outside plants, washing the car (on the lawn to water the grass) and using the solar heater, I can do the dishes too. I have a front load washer now or I would be using it for the laundry also.
Wow Anna you have quite the set up! That sounds impressive.