LETTER: How I conserve water

I have been conserving fresh water all my adult life, without feeling like my quality of living is being sacrificed.

If we are in a phase 3 water shortage, or even if not, here are some things we can do to save many millions of gallons:

Males, while at home pee in a large sturdy plastic store bought juice jug with a handle.

When full, empty into the toilet and flush then rinse the jug.

Place a large bowl in the kitchen sink; whenever you wash/rinse your hands or rinse not so dirty dishes before placing in the dishwasher, this bowl of collected water is used to rinse future dishes, rather than using more tap water until necessary.

Install rain barrels like a large plastic garbage can at your downspouts to catch rain water off your roof for watering plants, lawn, vegetable garden, etc.

Don’t use chemicals on your roof such as moss killer which goes directly into the ocean without treatment.

I only shower once a week at most unless I am especially dirty or sweaty, otherwise I use wash cloths and wet wipes.

If everyone showered only once a week, at 10-20 gallons per shower, that would be a huge mega-savings in fresh water.

Wear shirts, pants and socks more than one day before putting in the dirty clothes.

Richard Lord

Port Angeles