Many of us are inadvertently wasting tap water as we use it in our homes and yards.
There are many simple ways we can waste significantly less. One way is to “capture” running
faucet or shower head water in a container as you wait for it to warm up. Keep a bucket in the
kitchen and bathroom for your captured water and use it to water plants and rinse and wash
dishes and other items. Doing this, can save 3 gallons of water from running down the drain
each time you wait for hot water to flow.

For a cold drink on a hot day, keep a pitcher of tap water in the refrigerator instead of letting it
run down the drain until it cools. When cooking, repurpose boiled water.

On a hot sunny day, we often run hot water remaining in a turned-off garden hose onto the
ground until it cools. Instead, capture it in a bucket and use it later. Be alert to superheated
water remaining in a hose that can cause burns. As much as possible, leave hoses in the
shade. Water in the morning while the hose is cool.

In many ways, you can make sure your behaviors are those that minimize the amount of water
you leave running down the drain or onto the ground. Saving water is another way to think, talk, and feel-good green.

By Bev Harrison