Water Conservation

A Story

I grew up in California in the drought in the late 1980s. This was a time of big hair, Depeche Mode, and people spray painting their dead lawns green as water conservation.

We tried to save water in the Anagnoson household. My earliest memory of water conservation is my mom hauling a five-gallon bucket out of the shower to save the water that ran while she waited for water to warm. This could have gone to waste! she would say as she staggered out of the bathroom with the bucket. Five gallons of water is heavy. Like 40 pounds.

Eventually, years later, I stumbled into a job in conservation and realized that most people had not evolved beyond the 1980s. There were plenty of showers and buckets used by residents throughout California. They were convinced they were saving the world with their buckets.

There is a better way to save water with grace. Saving water in your everyday life is a matter of habits as well as hardware. And, while it’s not particularly difficult, it is a little counter intuitive. You don’t need a bucket, but you’re welcome to add one if you want some weightlifting.

Water Conservation Advice

Here are some tips for saving water in and around your home:

First, start outside because that’s where most of your water use is most likely happening. Consider slowly replacing your traditional landscaping if it’s grass with plants that thrive with less water and use drip irrigation. If you’re feeling bold, get rid of your lawn entirely.

Then shift your water-saving gaze to inside your home. Replace your toilets and clothes washer with efficient models. Between toilets and washing machines, that’s where at least half of the indoor water savings are.

Some of my favorite places to look for guidance include:

Sustainable Conservation and their water saving guide

The EPA and their water saving tips and products

The Public Policy Institute of California and their publications