Water resources are already taxed in Oregon, and with population growth and climate change, those resources are only going to see more demand. But if you are already sticking to five-minute showers, turning off the water when you brush your teeth and forgoing car washes, how can you conserve more?
What if the water you use in the shower, the washing machine, and dish-washing could be used TWICE? Well, you may know that in the Oregon Legislative session that just ended last month, the legislature passed a bill that would it a lot easier to use "gray water" to water your lawn or garden.
An article in today's Statesman Journal explains how it works and gives some good stats showing how much water you could save:
Water use
Gallons of water used per person per day:
Toilet: 18.5 gallons
Clothes washer: 15 gallons
Shower: 11.6 gallons
Faucet: 10.9 gallons
Bath: 1.2 gallons
Dishwasher: 1 gallon
Other: 1.6 gallons
Leaks: 9.5
Outdoor: 100.8 gallons
Total: 170 gallons
Source: American Water Works Association Research Foundation
It is important to note that two OLCV-endorsed candidates helped this bill succeed: Sen. Jackie Dinglfelder and Rep. Ben Cannon. Just one more reason we need to keep electing pro-environment leaders.
Comments