To Flush or not to Flush

Published on July 16, 2004 By Phoenixboi In Blogging

Ok well we are having a major drought happening here in Oz. Acording to the statistics if we dont get 3 solid days of rain over the catchments we will be running out of water within two years. Now thats a major thing to consider for us aussies. The Bush fire season has been brought forward two months to start in August seeing it is so dry out there, believe me there is heaps of bush around where I live to burn that hasnt burnt out for over 30 years.

Now I wanna try and list some water saving practices so that we can all do our bit to save water so we dont run out as fast.

Dont flush the toilet if it aint necessary..by necessary i mean if you do number 2's I think its necessary.

Dont wash your cars, hose your houses or concrete..they aint gonna grow and it aint gonna matter if your car is dirty on the outside.

Try and have shorter showers.. there is an ad on the radio asking people to put buskets in their showers to collect the water for gardens... there has to be a better way than that, perhaps put the plug in the bathtub if you have one of those showers on the bath or install a grey water tank in your house to collect water from washing.

Simple things like not having the tap running when you clean your teeth.

Anyone think of anything else??

Lets see if we can do our bit,

Cheers!

Comments

kingbee

on Jul 16, 2004

plan a large, expensive outdoor event with a lotta water-vulnerable decorations in an area with no shelter from the weather?

dharmagrl

on Jul 17, 2004

As I recall, we had a similar circumstance in England in 1976. We used bath water for the garden, flushed every 3 or 4 pees (but every poo) and no-one washed their cars.

As far as suggestions...do the dishes by hand, automatic dishawashers use huge amounts of water...take showers together (naughty and eco-friendly too, what a combination!!!!)....I'm at a loss except to say that everyone has to do their bit. This is the whole country's issue, not just one person's.

trina_p

on Jul 17, 2004

plan a large, expensive outdoor event with a lotta water-vulnerable decorations in an area with no shelter from the weather?

I read this 5 times and I still don't get it.

kingbee

on Jul 17, 2004

I read this 5 times and I still don't get it.

tempt fate. 2 years ago we had no rain for 18 months. if id thought of this, it would have been my luck (or usual lack of it) vs unfavorable natural events. in other words, attendees would have been drowned in the deluge.

(we need a smiley under its personal permanent dark cloud)

trina_p

on Jul 17, 2004

Oh!!!

right - Thanks for clearing that one up - now I get it

kingbee

on Jul 17, 2004

now I get it

on Jul 17, 2004

I lived at California for 2 years, and we had a really bad drought there and lasted 2 years. I never even saw a cloud the entire time I lived there, other than the very last 2 days. Believe me, I was really stunned. It was really heavy rain too.

My parents never washed the car, neither did any other people.

Some apartments, like ours were stubborn and watered grass anyway, but there that didn't had dead grass that faded to almost purely soil by end of drought.

Manopeace

on Jul 17, 2004

Shower with a friend

Phoenixboi

on Jul 17, 2004

use paper plates

PAper plates hey.. hmm i just stack and wash at the end of the day,.. its easier..i dont use many plates anyhow.

Phoenixboi

on Jul 17, 2004

plan a large, expensive outdoor event with a lotta water-vulnerable decorations in an area with no shelter from the weather

Excellent!...btw its been raining this afternoon... it got really cold and rained a bit..but im on the coast and its not in the catchment..
But I like the idea.. its like do the washing hang it out to dry and see what happens!

Phoenixboi

on Jul 17, 2004

showers together (naughty and eco-friendly too, what a combination!!!!)....

Wish i had someone to have a shower with! But when I was in a relationship we did that anyhow.. it was more fun and quicker.

Phoenixboi

on Jul 17, 2004

Some apartments, like ours were stubborn and watered grass anyway,

We have water restrictions in place where if your caught doing this then you are fined. But people still do it.. there is a guy across from me in a house who has plastic flowers in his garden.. yeah believe it and he waters them .. i gotta get a pic of it.

Cab Driver

on Aug 04, 2004

use paper plates

hmmm. trade one resource for another? kill trees in oder to save them? (sorry - just struck me...)

Anyone think of anything else??

Put a brick in your toilet tank, or adjust the ball-cock to fill the tank with less water. It will still flush fine (provided you don't already own a special water-saving toilet...)

Extreme waterless survival (hope I'm never in the situation...):
I believe in dire circumstances (stranded in desert, etc.) people can save and drink thier own urine for a while. (eventually it becomes too toxic)

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