Apparently when it comes to water usage, we Canadians are the second highest per capita in the world!
Why should we let all that water go to waste? One way of saving is through recycling grey water - i.e. used water from non-toilet sources. There are numerous and easy ways to do it. Place a large bowl in the sink when you rinse out all your veggies. Or place a bucket in the shower next to you, to capture your bath water. I know, it sounds a bit tedious. But think of the amount of water you’ll be saving each day. Water, which in turn can be reused to wash your car, water your plants and garden, or, to flush your toilets.
Envirosink produces cool grey water gadgets that allow you to pour any water collected into a storage tank, to be used at your convenience. You can also purchase more complicated gadgets with filters and pumps that make saving and storing water a breeze.
Remember though, that you do need to take care of what’s in your grey water. It should not contain too many chemicals, especially if you’re going to be reusing it in your garden. Using natural bath products is one way of getting around this. Don’t spray veggies or fruit directly with it and keep in mind, that you don’t want anything in your grey water, that you’re not happy spraying your soil with.
For more information, and to get all your questions answered, visit www.greywater.net
Some cool trivia:
How much of the earth’s water is suitable for drinking water?
1%
Is it possible for me to drink water that was part of the dinosaur era?
Yes - water is constantly recycled
What is the most common substance found on earth?
Water
How much water does the average residence use during a year?
Over 100,000 gallons (indoors and outside)
How much water does an individual use daily?
Over 100 gallons (all uses)
How many miles of pipeline and aqueducts are in the United States and Canada?
Approximately one million miles, or enough to circle the earth 40 times
For more water trivia, visit this interesting site- www.epa.gov and click on kids/water trivia
How much water does an average person use each day?
An average person uses about 123 gallons (466 liters) of water daily. Some individual household activities and the amount of water they consume are listed below:
|
Activity |
Water used |
Shower |
15-30 gallons (57-114 liters) |
|
Brushing teeth (water running) |
1-2 gallons (3.75-7.51 liters) |
|
Shaving (water running) |
10-15 gallons (38-57 liters) |
|
Washing dishes by hand |
20 gallons (75 liters) |
|
Washing dishes in dishwasher |
9-12 gallons (34-45 liters) |
|
Flushing toilet |
5-7 gallons (19-26 liters) |
Sources: Famighetti, Robert, ed.The World Almanac Book…
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