Frugal Living Tips - Saving Water
This hub contains tips about living a frugal life. Remember that living frugally does not mean you have to change your way of life or lower your standard of living. It is simply about changing some bad habits and maximizing the resources that you have. The focus in this hub is saving water.
Water Thimble
A water thimble is a small disc with a few holes that fits inside your tap. You can probably buy it from the hardware store for less than a dollar. There is a little bit of installation needed as you need to unscrew the end of the tap, put in the thimble and screw it back on. Once installed, the holes in the thimble will serve to restrict the flow of water, so that it will save water for you.
I’m not a plumber so I’m not sure if all taps can be unscrewed. Do check your tap before getting the thimble. An example of the installation of the water thimble can be found here.
Washing Machine
It wasn’t too long ago that the women folk went down to the riverside to wash clothes. And now we have the washing machine. It’s a great labor saving device but it does use a lot of water. So, as far as possible, run it on a full load. That way, you maximize the use of water. And on those occasions when you have only a few clothes that you need to be washed there and then, there is no reason why you can’t do it by hand.
Reuse If Possible
Where possible, reuse water. The water from your washing machine can be used to flush the toilet. Or the water from washing fruits and vegetables can be used to water your plants or your lawn. Or, if it is feasible where you stay, you can also consider collecting rainwater for various uses.
Washing Your Car
Use a pail of water and a sponge to wash your car instead of simply hosing down your car. And that goes for anything else that you need to wash including your floor, dishes, clothes and other stuff. Use a pail or basin of water and not wash them under a running tap or a hose. And if the used water is not too dirty, don’t forget to use it to flush the toilet.
The Water Cistern
The water level in the water cistern used for flushing your toilet can probably be adjusted so that less water will be used per flush. This is usually by means of a small screw which you can turn by hand or using a screwdriver. For those less mechanically inclined, a simple way would be to fill up a small plastic bottle and drop it into the cistern. And if you are in the market for a new one, see if you can get one with a half flush/full flush feature.
Regular Maintenance
If you have any leaky faucets or pipes, get them replaced or repaired. There is no point in delaying as it is a matter of time before you need to do it and you are paying for each drop that goes down the drain. If you want to save money, don’t call the plumber but try to do it yourself. Or if you are a disaster around anything mechanical, get a friend who’s handy around such stuff to do it for you.
Mosquitoes
As I was writing this, there was a knock on my door from an officer from the National Environment Agency. It seemed that there was a case of dengue fever in the vicinity and they were performing a check on all the apartments.
So, do spare a thought about the possibility of breeding mosquitoes. When you are trying to save water, you would probably have some pails of water in the garden or the bathroom. If you are going to be leaving them alone for a period of time, make sure they are properly covered. You certainly do not want to be solving one problem but creating another.
