Comments on: Does Water Conservation Save You Money?

By: Susan in San Antonio

Susan in San Antonio — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:31:16 +0000

We had the opposite problem in San Antonio last summer – seemingly endless drought and 60 or more days in excess of 100 degrees. We’ve been collecting the air conditioning condensate water. Last year we just placed a watering can beneath the a/c drain pipe, but we recently purchased a flat-back rainbarrel to collect this water. That 50-gallon barrel was completely full in 5 1/2 days, and our a/c hasn’t even been running much yet! Once we figure out an efficient way to empty the rainbarrel, the water will be used on our landscape.

By: DeputyHeadmistress

DeputyHeadmistress — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:05:38 +0000

We looked into it when we lived in Colorado and installed a graywater system- our bathtub/shower drained right out to the garden, just below the ground, and so did our washing machine. We used a natural brand of laundry soap that was listed as safe for gray water use in the garden.
Using water with a few drops of laundry soap is actually a recommended treatment for a number of plant diseases and bug infestations.

You can google it to find soaps and shampoos that you feel comfortable with, and you could also use gray water on decorative plants instead of edible ones. Oh, now I use baking soda on my hair instead of shampoo, so I’d feel even more comfortable doing this.

By: MBR

MBR — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:27:55 +0000

Nashville is definitely in my prayers. This is a great time to think about ways to save water – a flooded city, and the summer gardening season upon us.

I love the idea of using gray water for other uses. But I wonder how safe it is to pour soapy water on plants, especially edible plants. Anyone know what the possible consequences are of introducing those chemicals into the plants and the ground?

By: caryn verell

caryn verell — Wed, 12 May 2010 23:19:09 +0000

my son and daughter in law live in nolensville which is not far from nashville…just last year the nashville area was dry as a bone with little rain in sight….be a do it yourselfer, and make some water barrels…and collect rainwater. rainwater is great for watering plants/gardens, taking an outdoor shower, washing cars/pets, flushing the toilets etc….and if properly treated or boiled can even be used for drinking water. water is something we all take for granted, but when there is none or it is rationed, we wish we had prepared sooner. trashcans make good rain barrels and are inexpensive compared to the price of a modernday rainbarrel…heck, you could even use those five gallon buckets folks use from restraunts and hardware stores. just set the barrel where it will catch the rain run off and there ya go..water when you need it.

By: Shannon Miller

Shannon Miller — Tue, 11 May 2010 02:55:03 +0000

Nashville is in my prayers! I’m in awe of your upbeat attitude:)

By: Forest

Forest — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:55:42 +0000

So sorry to hear about the floods…. it’s awful, awful, awful .

I hope that the habits people are being forced to do in this hard time will make some lasting impact… If everyone just used a little less water, electricity and other things the world would run a little smoother.

By: DeputyHeadmistress

DeputyHeadmistress — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:23:50 +0000

Rough times, but as you say, it does put things in perspective when a friend has lost everything, and you merely have take a sponge bath instead of a luxurious soak.
We lived in a place with water rationing- they literally turned off all our water every other day. We learned to reuse the children’s bathwater for plants and toilet flushing, take sponge baths (a bucket of soapy water and a washcloth and bar of soap, scrub down, then take a bucket of clean water adn a wash cloth and rinse off. Dump both buckets outside by a tree requiring water).
I re-used cooking water for soups and stews and used wipes and the soapy washcloth method for cleaning a whole lot more stuff, and yep, we wore the same clothes a lot longer.
Using an apron helped save me a few laundry washings.
Best wishes for a quick recovery for TN.

By: Roxie Meiske

Roxie Meiske — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:20:47 +0000

Your city is in my prayers. Our church, Celebration Church has sent our ‘team’ into Nashville to help. I am glad you and the family are okay, I will keep praying. Blessings Roxie