It seemed fitting that I research what to do when you live in an area where water cant be scarce. Since Bocas Del Toro relies on rain water there are times when the whole town is doing the “rain dance”. When there is a shortage of rain the town gets a little creative and a little funky (if you know what I mean).
I personally showered with a gallon jug that we saved under our sink in times like this, and I must say…It was fabulous and I only used half the gallon to fully shower (not wash my hair) but I soaped and shaved.
With increasing problems of water supply in many parts of the world, thrifty use of water has become an essential trait for all of us. Even if water is gushing out in your part of the world now, it may not always stay that way. Here are some tips for making the most of very little water.
8 Simple Yet Essential Steps To Take When Water Is Scarce
instead of a bath. A bath uses a lot more water than a short shower. Considering that each minute under the average shower uses 2.5 gallons (9.5 L) of water and an average full bath tub takes 35 gallons (130 L) of water, a five minute shower will use 12.5 gallons (47 L) instead of the average bath’s 35 gallons (130 L). Make the shower even shorter and you’re saving a lot more. You don’t need more than 10 minutes under a shower to get properly clean – the rest of the stay is enjoyment.
2. Research low-flow shower heads.
The technology has gotten far beyond the drip-drip-drip of earlier days. Most current shower heads use 2.5 gallons per minute, but you can find and purchase shower heads that use as little as 0.5 gallons per minute without dramatically sacrificing the shower experience. These shower heads are also perfect for areas with low water pressure.
3. Only fill the bathtub a quarter or half way.
Doing this will lessen the water usage. It will also make you colder in colder weather, so the shower is again preferable for colder days. When it’s a warmer day, fill bottles with water and put them in your half filled bath to increase the water level but not the water usage. Keep these filled bottles for reuse. It will also make the water get colder sooner. However, this is usually fine for small kids in any weather. A good rule of thumb is to fill no more than five inches (125 mm) for small kids, and ten inches (250 mm) for adults and older children.
4. Share a bath.
You and your beloved can hop into the bath together rather than filling it up again. Children can share one bath, or at least one after the other can use the same bathwater but there will be complaints from the children following that the bathwater is cold.
5. Have a sponge bath.
If you’ve ever been in the Armed Forces, or camped rough, you’ll know this one. You simply put water into the basin (you at least have the luxury of warm water!), dip a sponge or washcloth into it, soap up the sponge and then wash over your body. Pay particular attention to underarms, genital region and feet. Your face should be washed separately with a softer cloth. Rinse the soap off of the sponge (put clean water on the sponge) and use the sponge to rinse the soap off yourself. It may sound icky but it works just as well as a shower to remove dirt and germs,– it is just that we’ve become accustomed to sheer luxury in our bathroom habits.
6. Take a Navy Shower. In a dire water emergency, use this to save on water and still get a clean feeling. Turn on the shower and jump under it and wet yourself. Turn it off, soap up. Then jump in and rinse off the soap quickly. Turn off shower and dry yourself.
- Try installing a valve behind your shower head. You turn the water on and get wet, then turn it off with the valve at the shower head. The valve keeps the water temperature consistent so you don’t have to readjust it for the rinse.
7. When its yellow, keep it mellow. When its brown flush it down. A good habit to get into is to be responsible flushers. Even when water is plentiful, we practice the 3:1 ratio of flushing to conserve water. Did you know that you can save 1188 gallons of water a year by peeing in the shower???? Who would have known.
8.Use Hand Sanitizer Medical supply stores carry various brands of hair and body cleaners that don’t require rinsing, and use very little water. As an additional bonus, it is usually faster to clean up this way than taking a bath or shower
I hope this educates you to not only plan for water shortages, but to also conserve water whether it is plentiful or not.
Conservation of water is being UNSTOPPABLE!!
