Think Water

Hi! It's Chrissy. Just thought I'd say hi and see how everyone's doing. I'd also like to tell you about a neat website I found. If you live in Ontario, you've probably seen the ads on TV for the ThinkWater.Ca website. More on that later though! I want to tell you a quick story first.

A few months ago, I was at my mother-in-law's for dinner. After our meal, I proceeded to wash the dishes, as I always do. My mother-in-law politely told me to leave them...because she felt that I waste water. Now, I was really shocked because I always thought my method of washing dishes was pretty efficient and not wasteful.

After observing her, I noticed some of the differences in the way we wash dishes. Though I still don't think my way is very wasteful, I have grown to understand her thinking and her methods of doing things. She has always lived in the countryside and has always known just how precious water is. Her way did save more water than the way I did things.

Though I have known since very young that water is important and that it is not in abundance, many people are unaware of this.

There are quite a few things you can do in your own home to conserve water.
1) Don't leave the water running while you're brushing your teeth.
2) Use soapy dish water (after you've washed your dishes) and water your plants in your garden instead of letting it go down the drain. The soapy water will also help control the bugs and will help prevent them from eating your plants. I just wouldn't do this if your water is greasy.
3) Purchase high-efficiency washers instead of the conventional washers. We don't have one yet, but I am waiting to buy myself a high-efficiency front-loading washer!
4) Save your rain water and use it to water plants, wash your car, bathe your dog...whatever.
5) Use earth-friendly soaps and detergents.

I checked out the ThinkWater.Ca site and it says that in the City of Toronto, residents are offered a $60 or $75 cash incentive to replace their "water-guzzling" toilets with a City-selected-water-efficient model. Isn't that cool? Help save the environment and save money! Brilliant!

The City of Toronto also offers a $60 cash back on the purchase of the front-loading energy efficient washers that I mentioned earlier. Wow! I'd LOVE to live in Toronto again, if only to receive cash back for something that I already want in the first place! The new washers use 40% less water and 60% less energy.

Check out the website to find out other things you can do to help improve water quality and tread lightly on the earth.