Conserving Water

My children and I are really concerned about the environment and, living in Israel, we are especially concerned about water. Israel has no water sources and very little rain, so every year we see our very important "water hole" the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) drying up. However, the need to conserve is not unique to Israel. Maintaining fresh drinking water is a global concern.

As part of our efforts to conserve water - which also saves us money - we sat down and made a list of things that we can do at home. We had a lot of fun brainstorming really silly ideas and I was really impressed with the kids' enthusiasm. I want to share with you our final list of 6 with you:

1. When drinking water, pour a 1/2 cup at a time.

2. When taking a shower, shut off the water while soaping your body and shampooing your hair.

3. Do the laundry only when the washing machine has a full load (the same rule holds true for the dishwasher).

4. Use the same cup to drink all day.

5. Leave a tub in the kitchen sink to collect the water that we use to wash various things (including our hands) and use the water in the tub to rinse the dishes that we put in the dishwasher (The dishwasher can then be programmed to a conservation/economy wash).

6. Collect run off water from the shower and use it to wash the floors and water the plants.

Are these conservation methods suitable for you and your household? Share with us your ideas for conserving water.

Mindy