It's times like these when water's value and power over life is realized. Water's availability to me is so expected that I often forget that it has such influence over my actions and can hinder what I want to do. For some reason, a power outage, while equally as annoying and frustrating, doesn't seem to surprise me nearly as much as when the water goes off. I should be able to shower, wash my hands, get a cup of water, flush the toilet, and use the hose whenever I want, right?... Guess not!
This got me thinking about how precious the water I take for granted is, so I looked into some facts on The City of Fort Worth's water conservation site.
- "Studies show that leaking faucets and toilets account for as much as 14% of indoor water use, wasting up to 170 gallons of water each day."
The website also listed some interesting facts and tips about water usage in the bathroom.
"About 75% of indoor water use is in the bathroom. We all know we can save about 2 gallons of water by turning off the water while brushing our teeth, but check out some other water wise tips that include retrofitting.
- Take a 10 minute shower instead of a bath to save water.
- Toilets manufactured before 1992 use between 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. A displacement device can save up to 20% of water used.
- Use the sink stopper when shaving, instead of letting the water run.
- Install faucet aerators to cut water consumption."
Thanks for posting this information. We do forget how precious water is.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your issues with your house. The fact about the amount of water wasted was very surprising to read. I feel that effect is stronger if one says it aloud. You should try it. I'm going to strive for the ten minute suggestion when it comes to showering. That will be alot better than a 30 minute shower every day. You've also sparked my interest with the toilets. Now, I want to look into the efficiency of current toilets compared to the early 90s.
ReplyDeleteKyndra - I loved the comment you made about how a power outage doesn't surprise you as much as when the water is turned off. When I think about it, I completely agree with you. I believe that society has a better respect for technology and electricity because we consider them privileges and understand that they can be taken away at any time, however we are so accustomed to having constant access to water that when it is taken away from us, we don't know what to do. When the water goes off in my house, I feel like it is a shock to my system. No matter how many times I try to turn on the sink with no luck, I keet returning to it because I can't comprehend that water isn't available to me at that very moment. When the power goes out, I know that I can't turn on the TV, the home phone doesn't work, and I can't use the oven. But losing immediate access to water puts me in a daze and I can't grasp the concept. It makes me realize how greedy we are with our water and how we need to have a greater respect and appreciation for it.
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