I can’t believe it’s June! School is almost out and the long, hot hazy days of summer await. Our eco-resolution for this month is all about water conservation and considering the installation of a rain barrel. From this helpful website, Water Use It Wisely, I added their Daily Tip Widget to the sidebar to the right to help get us started.
Quick Facts:
- The average home uses 200 gallons of water per day.
- 8% of water wasted is through leaks.
Before we venture outside, let’s double check our basic actions inside to see how much water we can save:
- Turning off the water when brushing your teeth = 4 gallons a water a minute saved.
- Using a timer for a five minute shower or at least striving to reduce your current time in = up to a 1000 gallons a month saved.
- Running the dishwasher and washing machine when completely full = up to 1000 gallons a month saved.
- Fixing leaks and replacing any faucets and toilets with low-flow models = 500 gallons a week saved.
Once outside, consider this for additional water savings:
- Select low water use plants and shrubs = 500 gallons a year saved.
- Using a hose nozzle and turning off when you wash your car = 100 gallons of water saved.
- Watering in the morning = water savings due to evaporation in late, hot afternoons.
- Installing a rain barrel = 600 gallons of water collected after only an inch of rain that falls on a 1000 square foot roof!
Residential irrigation can account for almost 40% of total water usage. Collecting water via a rain barrel is a relatively easy way to offset 
this consumption and reduce your water bill at the same time . We installed ours over a year or so ago. It’s connected to the downspout, has a screen on the top to keep debris, bugs and mosquitoes out, and a spigot at the bottom to quickly fill up our watering can. Plants and gardens appreciate the non-treated or chlorinated water and during those hot, dry spells it is a wonderful, resourceful feeling to be able to water when you need. Get your kids involved too by holding a raindrop collection contest to see who can collect the most with containers they gather up around the house.
Water Use It Wisely also offers additional tips on indoor and outdoor conservation, resources and links to other good sites and a cute Tip Tank Game for kids to begin learning how they can conserve too. We are all in this together and every drop counts. Happy Summer!
