The Cliffs Cottage at Furman

Becoming a Water Miser

This month's utility bill arrived with a plea for voluntary reduction of water use by 15%. The Upstate of South Carolina is in a rather severe drought. Long before this state of affairs became prevalent, we have been folks who thoughtfully limit our use of this precious resource. How on earth are we going to save an additional 15%?

Behaviors already generally in place:

• Use of the Quadruple P---"Powell Potty Poetry Principle" of flushing only when necessary. "If it's brown, flush it down. If it's yellow, let it mellow."
• Run dishwasher and washing machine only in full loads.
• No more baths or dawdling showers.
• Fixed leaky toilet tank.
• No car washing or outdoor watering of plants.
• Turn off tap when brushing teeth, shaving or soaping up.
• Handwash and rinse dishes in standing water rather than running water.
• Save vegetable cooking water, foot-soaking water and (even) dropped ice cubes for running the garbage disposal and watering indoor plants.

Hmm, okay. I can also:

• Put a couple of bricks or a gallon jug in each of the toilet tanks.
• Keep a big pitcher or bucket near the sink to catch water running to get hot or cold; or, use the microwave to heat water and, planning ahead, the refrigerator to cool water.
• Become more vigilant by examining my usage patterns, limiting quantities, looking at simple creative alternatives and solutions, and continuing to change behaviors.

Most importantly, if and when the drought lessens, I need to resist the temptation to resort to my old wasteful ways!

Five to fifteen gallons of pure fresh water flow out of a tap every minute. That is more than the average person in Kenya makes do with throughout an entire day.