In LA, with its desert climate, our mayor’s already urged us to conserve water this summer, as we seem set for a “perfect drought.”
Which makes this a good time to look up your water footprint, as Anais of Path to Freedom recommends. This water footprint quick calculator‘s a rather rudimentary analysis, though it’s a start.
Perhaps the easiest way to save water is to take shorter showers — I’m usually in and out in 3 mins. You can also put a bucket under your shower while the water warms up — then use that water for your thirsty lawn or garden. That’s what my friend Summer of BTC Elements does. My porch garden isn’t as big as Summer’s; I water it with dish rinsing water.
If you feel up to it, you might even put in your own gray water system with some help from the Graywater Guerillas as I wrote about here; the system would basically automatically reuse your water for you.
As for drinking water: If you’re dismayed by the plastic-encased filters like Brita, consider a ceramic filter. Umbra at Grist recommends them; in addition to the joy of de-plasticking your water, you’ll rest easy knowing ceramic filters have “a proven record of triumphing over water-borne pathogens.” With some DIY spirit, you may even be able to make your own filter.
[water image by Mak Patel; crossposted on BlogHer]
Update, 11/18/08: Brita’s new filter recycling program will begin Jan. 2009.
I support everything you say in this post 110%.
But as an ecologist, I have to take exception to you describing LA as having a “desert climate”.
This year notwithstanding, we normally receive much more water than the deserts do (about 15 inches a year, vs. mediterranean climate, with all our rain occurring in winter, and hardly any in summer (our deserts have large summer storms). Thanks to our mediterranean climate, California is a) extremely comfortable to live in, b) agriculturally super-productive, and c) a biodiversity hotspot.
My point is that coastal California is very distinct from our neighboring deserts, and we need to appreciate what we have in order to protect it.
Comment by Rafi — June 28, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Oh, and I’m a bit bummed because the water-displacement thing I keep in the back of my toilet got dislodged and kept the thing flushing all night long!!! So much for saving water…
:-(
Comment by Rafi — June 28, 2007 @ 11:40 am
It is well for some it is pouring rain here. Indeed the north of England is having serious flooding. Any chance we could take some of our sun if we send you over a few clouds?
Comment by simon — June 29, 2007 @ 1:58 am