a checklist of conservation ideas for the home

wise water habits

shaving & brushing teeth

If you leave the water running while you shave or brush your teeth, you are wasting a gallon a minute! Stopper the sink and fill the basin half way when you shave, and you use just ? a gallon! Turn off the water while brushing your teeth!

bathing & showering

Which uses more water, a shower or a tub bath? That depends! A partially filled tub uses less water than a long shower, but a short shower with a low flow showerhead uses much less than a brimful tub! You can compare for yourself. Try plugging the tub while you shower and see how high the water gets. Make a habit of showering quickly or using a partially filled tub. Or try the "navy shower." Turn on the water to get wet, turn it off to soap up, and turn it back on to rinse off. It's a great conservation technique, especially in drought emergencies.

house plants & fish tanks

If you have a fish tank, you probably clean it regularly. Use the dirty water to water your house plants. It saves using the same water twice, and the plants love the water, which is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous!

washing smart

Some washing machines use 40 or more gallons whether you're washing a full load, or only a few pairs of socks. Use full washloads, especially for older machines. If your machine is adjustable, use the proper setting. You'll save electricity as well as water.

food prep

If you like to rinse off vegetables and fruits, stopper the sink instead of using running water. And when you're finished, turn on the garbage disposal as you pull the plug, rather than running water just for the disposal.

doing dishes

Which is more efficient, washing dishes in the sink or in a dishwasher? You can check by testing how much water your full sink basin holds compared with the 9.5 to 12 gallons dishwashers use during a regular cycle. Either way, it is more water efficient to wash full loads. If you do wash dishes by hand, stopper the sink and run the disposal as you pull the plug.

washing the car

Do you wash your car at home? Use a bucket, or a hose with a trigger nozzle to avoid wasting water. Wet the car thoroughly, and then turn off the hose while you wash the car! Swab the car with soapy water from a bucket. You can use the hose again for a final rinse. Better still, take your car to a car wash. Most of the car washes on Maui are fitted with recirculating water.

for a cold glass of water

Keep a pitcher of cool water in the refrigerator. Running the water until it turns cool can waste a gallon for each glass. Letting the water sit in the fridge can also allow any chlorine to dissipate, and improve the taste.

don't use the toilet for trash

Some people toss and flush away tissues, cigarettes or bits of trash in the toilet. Use a wastebasket instead. If everyone in the U.S. flushed just once less per day, we could save a sea full of water a mile wide, a mile long, and four feet deep, every day!