Drought conditions call for desperate measures. There are a few ways, however, that do not fall into the category of wise choices. Reducing your water bill at the cost of alienating your family and friends is not the best idea. There are other ways to save money and reduce water consumption. When the state passed water restriction laws, necessities were not included in the list of activities to be avoided.
Not taking a shower or bath is a terrible way to conserve water. Instead of not bathing, limit yourself to a few inches of water in the tub. When it comes to showering, limit yourself to five minutes or less. These two small measures can save several gallons of water each week and still allow you to remain clean and fresh. Unless you participate in strenuous exercise or get extremely dirty, you may not need to take a shower or bath every day. Bathing on a daily basis can dry out the skin. The same is true for your hair.
Don't Clean the House
Reducing the amount of water you use to clean your home can also be detrimental to your health and well-being. Leaving dirty dishes to set for days at a time will cause bacteria to form and can lead to mold and insect infestation. Washing dishes and counter tops will eliminate bacterial growth that can contaminate food making it dangerous to eat. Keeping your home clean and germ free is important to maintain good health. The kitchen and bathroom are areas in the home where bacteria thrives. It is important to make sure those area of the home are kept clean at all times.
Resurface Your Yard
To avoid wasting water on keeping a lawn clean, you could always resurface the entire area with a concrete, gravel or sand. Although sand would allow you to create a virtual beach in your own backyard, it would also turn into the world's biggest cat litter box. If you want to keep the vibrant green look of natural grass, you can always install artificial turf to create the look of an evergreen lawn. Artificial turf, much like the cement and gravel requires little to no maintenance. The problem with concrete and gravel is the overall look and feel of the surface. The neutral color leaves a lot to be desired and the texture of the surface can be hard on bare feet or skin if a child would happen to fall down.
Don't Do Laundry
Doing laundry uses massive quantities of water compared to other household activities. Instead of walking around in clothes that you have been wearing for weeks on end, there are several ways to cut back on water usage when it comes to the laundry. The easiest way is to limit your wash loads to one rinse cycle. The second way is to always check the size of the load and set the dial accordingly. Don't put a small load in the washer and then leave the dial set for a large load. This can waste gallons of water each time.
Cook With Wine
Cooking is another way in which reducing water usage is not a good idea. Cooking macaroni with wine or other forms of liquid will result in wasted food and a hungry family. Adding juices or other liquids to baking mixes can result in poor results. When it comes to foods that you eat, using water when it is called for is necessary for creating healthy, nutritious dishes. Using water to cook produces the best results and minimizes food loss due to waste.
