Thirsty Thursdays: Earth Day Edition

We are blessed to have the clean, available water we have in this country. Public water suppliers process 38 billion gallons of water a day for domestic and public use in this country and we are lucky to have every drop. While we may take a ready supply of clean water from the tap for granted, many in the world are not so fortunate.

Rather than posting a cocktail recipe today, I thought I would honor Earth Day by providing some simple ideas for water conservation.

Fix any and all leaky faucets. Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run if you'd like a cool glass of water. Re-use any left-over clean water for watering plants, or cleaning chores, rather than pouring it down the drain. Do not use a hose to clean your sidewalk or driveway. Letting the hose run can waste hundreds of gallons of water. Instead, use a broom to sweep sidewalks and driveways.Do not let the water run when you are shaving or brushing your teeth.Water lawns and gardens during the early morning or late evening hours of the day, when the water is less likely to evaporate from the heat of the sun. Take short showers rather than baths. A full bathtub requires an average of 36 gallons of water. Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you can save up to 150 gallons per month.Replace large shower heads with water-efficient models. Avoid buying and using recreational toys that require a constant flow of water.Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.Use water saving aerators on all of your faucets.