By Nicky Price
I recently had a conversation with my best friend that inspired me so much I just had to write an article and share it with you all.
We are all aware of our current water situation and most of us are doing ‘our bit’ but there is always more we can do. My girlfriend recently received her water account which stated that their water consumption usage as a 4 person household is less than the water usage of a single person household. I was amazed by this and realised how much more we can all do to save water. Water is saved in their household by using many buckets for either scooping water out of baths and washing machines to use on gardens, clean water bucket for daily drinking, water bucket for daily hand washing, buckets for rinsing dishes etc. When we are fortunate enough to have rain many buckets are placed outside to catch as much water as possible.
What I find most inspiring about all this is the fact that water conservation in my friends house is not due to the current water crisis, it is how they live and have always lived. They have always known that water is one of our most precious resources and should be conserved. Why wait until the world is in trouble before we fix it, we should all be living to prevent such disasters from ever happening in the first place.
As this has always been their way of life, their children know no other way to live than to save water. As the children have never been shown how water can be wasted they automatically save water without any effort or thought as it is second nature to them. How wonderful it would be if all our children were brought up this way. Imagine living in a world where everybody only knows how to save water and not waste it. If we start teaching our children now the situation can only continue to improve for the future as they teach their children.
The best way our children will learn is if we lead by example and continue to educate them, no matter how repetitive we have to be on the subject. The more they hear us talking and showing them about conserving water the more chance we have of them leading by example one day.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
6 Ways to Save Water in 2007
by Ray Dobson
We all use more water than we realize. Every day, without thinking about it, we waste gallons of water--and wind up paying for it in our water bills. If saving water in 2007 is one of your New Years resolutions, you've come to the right place. Here are six tips for how to save water in the New Year.
Don't run the water constantly when washing dishes. Instead, scrub the dishes with a sponge or scrub brush, then turn the water on and rinse. Then shut it off. Kitchen sinks waste upwards of 2 to 3 gallons a minute--and you don't need that much water to get your dishes clean.
Careful how you wash your produce. To wash fruits and vegetables, fill a bowl half-full and use it to rinse them off. Don't rinse them under the sink. Anytime you run your tap and most of the water goes down the drain, you're wasting water and probably could do whatever you're doing more efficiently without running the water constantly.
Don't run the water while you're shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing your hands. The same principles apply here--you don't need that water on constantly. Do your washing up, and then run the water to rinse. You're not even using that running water when you're brushing your teeth--so don't let it flow down the drain.
Don't run water to make it cold. Ready for a nice, cold glass of water? Don't turn your faucet on and then wait for the water to run cold. Instead, keep a pitcher of water in your fridge. That way, your water is always cold and ready to drink--and you don't waste any water getting it that way.
Take more showers. In most cases, you'll use less water in a shower than in a bath. Don't believe it? Next time you take a shower, plug the drain and see how much water accumulates. Usually, it'll be a lot less than you'd use to fill a bathtub. If it's equal or more, you should take shorter showers. You can also buy water-saving showerheads.
Plug the drain in your bath. If you must take baths, plug the drain before turning the water on. Also, when the water starts to get cooler, don't drain the tub partway and then turn on the hot water again--get out of the tub. You'll save 10 to 15 gallons of water a minute if you do.
Don't wash small loads. If you have a washing machine--or even if you go to the Laundromat--don't put laundry in unless you can wash a full load. To save even more water, use the shortest cycle. Your clothes will get just as clean, and you'll save about 1,000 gallons in a month.
Buy water-saving appliances. You can find water-conserving washing machines, dishwashers, and more at hardware stores--ask the salespeople to show you the most water-efficient machines.
Check for a leaky toilet. Toilet leaks cause a lot of water waste--and most people don't even realize they have a leaky toilet. To check yours, just put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl, your flush valve is leaking. Getting this fixed can save you gallons of water per year.
Your toilet isn't a wastebasket. Many people throw tissues, dental floss, or other bathroom garbage in the toilet and dispose of it with a flush. Don't make that mistake. It wastes water needlessly, and your garbage is just as gone if you throw it in the bin.
Water at the right times. Water your outdoor plants before 7 in the morning or after 5 at night. This will keep your water from evaporating under the sun before it soaks into the soil.
Put your sprinklers in the right place. Many people place sprinklers in a place where part of the flow hits a sidewalk or paved driveway. This is a huge waste of water over time. Instead, make sure your sprinkler jets are hitting ground all the way 'round.
Use a rain barrel. Put a barrel or other watertight container under your gutters to catch rainwater. You can then use this water on your garden and plants without taxing your water bill.
Saving water is a worthy goal for 2007--and once you get into the habit of conserving water, these tasks are surprisingly easy to do. In most cases, people don't notice that they're using less water once they've gotten into a few simple water-saving habits--until they see the difference in their water bill, that is.
About the Author
Ray Dobson is CEO of WD Bathrooms http://www.wdbathrooms.co.uk For more information on shower units and shower enclosures visit http://www.wdbathrooms.co.uk/acatalog/Shower_Cubicles.html
We all use more water than we realize. Every day, without thinking about it, we waste gallons of water--and wind up paying for it in our water bills. If saving water in 2007 is one of your New Years resolutions, you've come to the right place. Here are six tips for how to save water in the New Year.
Don't run the water constantly when washing dishes. Instead, scrub the dishes with a sponge or scrub brush, then turn the water on and rinse. Then shut it off. Kitchen sinks waste upwards of 2 to 3 gallons a minute--and you don't need that much water to get your dishes clean.
Careful how you wash your produce. To wash fruits and vegetables, fill a bowl half-full and use it to rinse them off. Don't rinse them under the sink. Anytime you run your tap and most of the water goes down the drain, you're wasting water and probably could do whatever you're doing more efficiently without running the water constantly.
Don't run the water while you're shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing your hands. The same principles apply here--you don't need that water on constantly. Do your washing up, and then run the water to rinse. You're not even using that running water when you're brushing your teeth--so don't let it flow down the drain.
Don't run water to make it cold. Ready for a nice, cold glass of water? Don't turn your faucet on and then wait for the water to run cold. Instead, keep a pitcher of water in your fridge. That way, your water is always cold and ready to drink--and you don't waste any water getting it that way.
Take more showers. In most cases, you'll use less water in a shower than in a bath. Don't believe it? Next time you take a shower, plug the drain and see how much water accumulates. Usually, it'll be a lot less than you'd use to fill a bathtub. If it's equal or more, you should take shorter showers. You can also buy water-saving showerheads.
Plug the drain in your bath. If you must take baths, plug the drain before turning the water on. Also, when the water starts to get cooler, don't drain the tub partway and then turn on the hot water again--get out of the tub. You'll save 10 to 15 gallons of water a minute if you do.
Don't wash small loads. If you have a washing machine--or even if you go to the Laundromat--don't put laundry in unless you can wash a full load. To save even more water, use the shortest cycle. Your clothes will get just as clean, and you'll save about 1,000 gallons in a month.
Buy water-saving appliances. You can find water-conserving washing machines, dishwashers, and more at hardware stores--ask the salespeople to show you the most water-efficient machines.
Check for a leaky toilet. Toilet leaks cause a lot of water waste--and most people don't even realize they have a leaky toilet. To check yours, just put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl, your flush valve is leaking. Getting this fixed can save you gallons of water per year.
Your toilet isn't a wastebasket. Many people throw tissues, dental floss, or other bathroom garbage in the toilet and dispose of it with a flush. Don't make that mistake. It wastes water needlessly, and your garbage is just as gone if you throw it in the bin.
Water at the right times. Water your outdoor plants before 7 in the morning or after 5 at night. This will keep your water from evaporating under the sun before it soaks into the soil.
Put your sprinklers in the right place. Many people place sprinklers in a place where part of the flow hits a sidewalk or paved driveway. This is a huge waste of water over time. Instead, make sure your sprinkler jets are hitting ground all the way 'round.
Use a rain barrel. Put a barrel or other watertight container under your gutters to catch rainwater. You can then use this water on your garden and plants without taxing your water bill.
Saving water is a worthy goal for 2007--and once you get into the habit of conserving water, these tasks are surprisingly easy to do. In most cases, people don't notice that they're using less water once they've gotten into a few simple water-saving habits--until they see the difference in their water bill, that is.
About the Author
Ray Dobson is CEO of WD Bathrooms http://www.wdbathrooms.co.uk For more information on shower units and shower enclosures visit http://www.wdbathrooms.co.uk/acatalog/Shower_Cubicles.html
Saturday, May 19, 2007
WATER WASTAGE
The Scoop on Water Waste
By John Mayer
Most people make little thought to water waste from sprinkler leaks, pipe leaks and other leakage in and around their homes. However, it is a water conservation and environmental issue.
Waste water can have chemicals and other debris mixed in with it and thus can be harmful to the environment. For example, water waste from commodes. If this ran off into lawns and sewers, it could travel directly to water sources like nearby ponds and contaminate them, harming fish, ducks and other wildlife and as well as plant life.
In a similar manner, waste water passing through yards sprayed with chemicals or falling off of roofs that may have harsh chemicals on the shingles or other roofing materials may also house contaminants. And these can be passed along to sewers, ponds, wildlife, plant life and more, too.
Helpful Solutions
Main ways to help work towards improving water waste scenarios include preventative solutions, maintenance and repair work. Practice water conservation, too, so that there is plenty of good water around for all animals, plants and mankind. Here are some helpful tips:
Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back, when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. So set your sprinklers for more days in between watering. Saves 750-1,500 gallons per month. Better yet, especially in times of drought, water with a hose.
1. Repair any leaky plumbing fixtures, joints and faucets and plumbing joints as soon as you detect them and check regularly to make sure you have no more leaks.
3. When using your outdoor hose, use it sparingly. For example, if you are washing your siding, turn off the water while you scrub any tough areas with a soft soap, instead of leaving the water run off in the yard the entire time.
4. Stop taking full force showers every day. Use a lighter spraying head and take shorter showers.
5. You can and should wash some dishes by hand and stop using the dishwasher all the time. If it’s full, fine. If not, run a half sink or less of water, wash the few dishes, and call it quits.
6. Install commodes with conservation flushing modes that don’t use as much water per flush. Check with hardware / plumbing stores for these.
7. Stop watering your driveway along with your lawn. Adjust the spraying mechanism. And use a broom to sweep your drive.
John Mayer owns FloodCheck USA which can help you prevent water waste. You can see a full line of Water Leak Detection Devices at Floodcheckusa.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Mayer
By John Mayer
Most people make little thought to water waste from sprinkler leaks, pipe leaks and other leakage in and around their homes. However, it is a water conservation and environmental issue.
Waste water can have chemicals and other debris mixed in with it and thus can be harmful to the environment. For example, water waste from commodes. If this ran off into lawns and sewers, it could travel directly to water sources like nearby ponds and contaminate them, harming fish, ducks and other wildlife and as well as plant life.
In a similar manner, waste water passing through yards sprayed with chemicals or falling off of roofs that may have harsh chemicals on the shingles or other roofing materials may also house contaminants. And these can be passed along to sewers, ponds, wildlife, plant life and more, too.
Helpful Solutions
Main ways to help work towards improving water waste scenarios include preventative solutions, maintenance and repair work. Practice water conservation, too, so that there is plenty of good water around for all animals, plants and mankind. Here are some helpful tips:
Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back, when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. So set your sprinklers for more days in between watering. Saves 750-1,500 gallons per month. Better yet, especially in times of drought, water with a hose.
1. Repair any leaky plumbing fixtures, joints and faucets and plumbing joints as soon as you detect them and check regularly to make sure you have no more leaks.
3. When using your outdoor hose, use it sparingly. For example, if you are washing your siding, turn off the water while you scrub any tough areas with a soft soap, instead of leaving the water run off in the yard the entire time.
4. Stop taking full force showers every day. Use a lighter spraying head and take shorter showers.
5. You can and should wash some dishes by hand and stop using the dishwasher all the time. If it’s full, fine. If not, run a half sink or less of water, wash the few dishes, and call it quits.
6. Install commodes with conservation flushing modes that don’t use as much water per flush. Check with hardware / plumbing stores for these.
7. Stop watering your driveway along with your lawn. Adjust the spraying mechanism. And use a broom to sweep your drive.
John Mayer owns FloodCheck USA which can help you prevent water waste. You can see a full line of Water Leak Detection Devices at Floodcheckusa.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Mayer
Sunday, May 6, 2007
CONSERVING WATER
Conserving Water
By now, we are all educated enough to know there is a serious water crisis at hand. Living in Australia the majority of the population is either living in drought stricken areas or residing where water restrictions of various levels apply. Water conservation is one way that all of us can partake in to help relieve this problem.
On a daily basis most of us have the potential to save many litres of water just around the home alone. Little or no effort at all is required when trying to conserve water therefore the combination of all of us doing ‘a little’ means ‘a lot.’ Research currently shows that we are all becoming more ‘water aware’ which is a great sign, but there is still so much more we can do.
Water Saving Ideas
Take time stop and think how you and your family can save our precious water.
For example:
Is the tap left running when you brush your teeth? This is a definite no no. Thousands of litres of water are wasted every day just by this practise alone. Only turn on the tap when you need to.
How much water do you waste running down the sink whilst waiting for the cold water to run hot. Many of us a guilty of this but there are ways around it. Use the cold water to refill water jugs in fridge, pour on plants or fill the dog bowl!
Check your water metre count and do not use any water for about three hours. Re- check the water metre to determine if the count has gone up. If this occurs you know you have water leaks. All it probably is are leaking taps that may only need a washer replaced to resolve the problem.
Most water that can be recycled comes from the family bathroom. Keep buckets in the shower to catch excess water that would normally just run down the drain. Water collected in the buckets can be used for cleaning your bathroom or for watering your garden.
Essential Tips
The current water situation is in a crisis and has been for some time now. Water is essential for the survival of ourselves and our planet. There is much information out there on water conservation and water recycling. All it takes is a little reading to become more educated and excited to fight for the cause.
Many products are available to help save water such as slow flow shower heads, water-free car cleaning products and shower timers which are provided by your local council. One of the best Water Saving products on the market is the Rainwater Tank. The tanks come in all shapes and sizes to suit all homes. Many local councils offer rebates on the purchase of rainwater tanks. This is to help encourage us all to install water tanks
Nicky Price writes on water conservation, water recycling and rainwater tanks etc. You can learn more by visiting my blog Water Conservation Tips and Techniques.
http://watersavingsblogspot.com
By now, we are all educated enough to know there is a serious water crisis at hand. Living in Australia the majority of the population is either living in drought stricken areas or residing where water restrictions of various levels apply. Water conservation is one way that all of us can partake in to help relieve this problem.
On a daily basis most of us have the potential to save many litres of water just around the home alone. Little or no effort at all is required when trying to conserve water therefore the combination of all of us doing ‘a little’ means ‘a lot.’ Research currently shows that we are all becoming more ‘water aware’ which is a great sign, but there is still so much more we can do.
Water Saving Ideas
Take time stop and think how you and your family can save our precious water.
For example:
Is the tap left running when you brush your teeth? This is a definite no no. Thousands of litres of water are wasted every day just by this practise alone. Only turn on the tap when you need to.
How much water do you waste running down the sink whilst waiting for the cold water to run hot. Many of us a guilty of this but there are ways around it. Use the cold water to refill water jugs in fridge, pour on plants or fill the dog bowl!
Check your water metre count and do not use any water for about three hours. Re- check the water metre to determine if the count has gone up. If this occurs you know you have water leaks. All it probably is are leaking taps that may only need a washer replaced to resolve the problem.
Most water that can be recycled comes from the family bathroom. Keep buckets in the shower to catch excess water that would normally just run down the drain. Water collected in the buckets can be used for cleaning your bathroom or for watering your garden.
Essential Tips
The current water situation is in a crisis and has been for some time now. Water is essential for the survival of ourselves and our planet. There is much information out there on water conservation and water recycling. All it takes is a little reading to become more educated and excited to fight for the cause.
Many products are available to help save water such as slow flow shower heads, water-free car cleaning products and shower timers which are provided by your local council. One of the best Water Saving products on the market is the Rainwater Tank. The tanks come in all shapes and sizes to suit all homes. Many local councils offer rebates on the purchase of rainwater tanks. This is to help encourage us all to install water tanks
Nicky Price writes on water conservation, water recycling and rainwater tanks etc. You can learn more by visiting my blog Water Conservation Tips and Techniques.
http://watersavingsblogspot.com
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Saving Water In The Home
Water Conservation in the Kitchen
By Dave Brummet and Lillian Brummet Platinum Quality Author
It can sometimes be difficult to visualize the importance and direct effect simple conservation efforts can have when we are bombarded with negative information regularly. Lets take a look at what a few changes in the activities around the kitchen sink can do.
Rather than running the tap when cleaning vegetables, use a bowl of water. Later, reuse it to water outdoor plants. Reusing water from rinsing out the coffeepot for outdoor plants, the compost or lawn is something we do all the time. Rich in nitrogen as well as some trace minerals, coffeepots should be diluted with water before using. Choose a different group of plants every day and you may find you no longer have to water or fertilize them very often at all.
Cooking water (pasta, steamed vegetables, boiled potatoes etc.) can be used in the same way – just let it cool first. All of these water sources contain extra nutrients that will aid your gardens immensely. Very hot cooking water can be used to kill weeds – simply pour it directly on the weed and around its roots.
After meals, scrape your dishes into the compost bucket before rinsing. While rinsing, place other soiled dishes, jars and utensils underneath while you work; it will begin the presoaking process – reducing labor and water use. Anything caught in the sink basket can be contributed to the compost, too.
Save about 5 gallons of water per washing by doing dishes in a few inches of hot soapy water. It may seem funny to do this - but by turning the hot water tap on to rinse the dishes into the sink the level will slowly increase and will maintain a hot temperature. This way, another sink full of water solely for rinsing is no longer necessary. We sometimes use rinse water to pre-soak stuck on dishes as well.
In the winter, the water from washing or soaking dishes should be left to cool. This way it releases its valuable heat into the home, rather than the sewer. Dishwashers, that are not built-in, allow reuse of the water for pre-rinsing heavily soiled dishes because they drain into the sink. The water can be trapped in the sink, or a soiled pot, where the heat is slowly released into the home, saving energy costs in the winter. Of course, the opposite applies in the summer, when extra heat is not desirable.
Very hot water is not always necessary for all washing and rinsing needs. Usually, by the time we are finished washing our hands, the water is just beginning to warm up – so really, all we have done is heat up our pipes. We can conserve water easily by turning off the tap while lathering hands. The running water is really only necessary for initial wetting, then rinsing – so running water in between is really a waste.
Now, if you measured the amount of water saved each day by those simple methods we just described - there would be dozens of gallons of pure, drinkable water left untouched in the reservoir. By reducing hot water consumption, our energy bills are a little bit smaller. All this, just from the kitchen sink!
-- Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept of their book, Trash Talk. The book offers useful solutions for the individual to reduce waste and better manage resources. A guide for anyone concerned about their impact on the environment. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Brummet
By Dave Brummet and Lillian Brummet Platinum Quality Author
It can sometimes be difficult to visualize the importance and direct effect simple conservation efforts can have when we are bombarded with negative information regularly. Lets take a look at what a few changes in the activities around the kitchen sink can do.
Rather than running the tap when cleaning vegetables, use a bowl of water. Later, reuse it to water outdoor plants. Reusing water from rinsing out the coffeepot for outdoor plants, the compost or lawn is something we do all the time. Rich in nitrogen as well as some trace minerals, coffeepots should be diluted with water before using. Choose a different group of plants every day and you may find you no longer have to water or fertilize them very often at all.
Cooking water (pasta, steamed vegetables, boiled potatoes etc.) can be used in the same way – just let it cool first. All of these water sources contain extra nutrients that will aid your gardens immensely. Very hot cooking water can be used to kill weeds – simply pour it directly on the weed and around its roots.
After meals, scrape your dishes into the compost bucket before rinsing. While rinsing, place other soiled dishes, jars and utensils underneath while you work; it will begin the presoaking process – reducing labor and water use. Anything caught in the sink basket can be contributed to the compost, too.
Save about 5 gallons of water per washing by doing dishes in a few inches of hot soapy water. It may seem funny to do this - but by turning the hot water tap on to rinse the dishes into the sink the level will slowly increase and will maintain a hot temperature. This way, another sink full of water solely for rinsing is no longer necessary. We sometimes use rinse water to pre-soak stuck on dishes as well.
In the winter, the water from washing or soaking dishes should be left to cool. This way it releases its valuable heat into the home, rather than the sewer. Dishwashers, that are not built-in, allow reuse of the water for pre-rinsing heavily soiled dishes because they drain into the sink. The water can be trapped in the sink, or a soiled pot, where the heat is slowly released into the home, saving energy costs in the winter. Of course, the opposite applies in the summer, when extra heat is not desirable.
Very hot water is not always necessary for all washing and rinsing needs. Usually, by the time we are finished washing our hands, the water is just beginning to warm up – so really, all we have done is heat up our pipes. We can conserve water easily by turning off the tap while lathering hands. The running water is really only necessary for initial wetting, then rinsing – so running water in between is really a waste.
Now, if you measured the amount of water saved each day by those simple methods we just described - there would be dozens of gallons of pure, drinkable water left untouched in the reservoir. By reducing hot water consumption, our energy bills are a little bit smaller. All this, just from the kitchen sink!
-- Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept of their book, Trash Talk. The book offers useful solutions for the individual to reduce waste and better manage resources. A guide for anyone concerned about their impact on the environment. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Brummet
Monday, April 23, 2007
Water Tanks
Australia's Ongoing Drought
By Alastair Harris
Whilst typing this in Australia I am watching the rain fall, yet in the Brisbane area consumers continue to face tightening water restrictions.
For those who live in wetter places in the world you probably have never had to deal with watching plant after plant die. Having a lawn turn brown and having to mow to kept the weeds down as there is no grass left. You can't help but be depressed. Whilst the media, politicians and others argue about whether it is the worse drought Australia has faced (on an already dry continent) or not the fact it from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - the main metropolitan areas - the dams just keep falling. Its not that there is no rain. Its that the rain is not falling in the dam catchment areas. What makes the situation worse it that the all the state governments have failed to invest in building new dams and water infrastructure. So now a race is on to build new pipelines and dams to fix the problem. However plain old common sense says a building a dam in a record dry is a stupid idea. You need dams built when rain is plentiful. So for awhile we might have large areas of land call 'dams' that are totally dry! Typical political solution.
In light of this many politicians have looked for the easy answer of using recycled water. It is true that while water from sewage can be cleaned this isn't always 100% effective. Knowing how other government departments have recently been experienced huge problems that have been very well publicized e.g. health, the average Australian is very skeptical that they can trust a government department with being 100% safe in recycled water processes. They fear they will end up with sewage spills, leaks, missed chemicals or hormones (as experienced in London) or any number of possible stuff ups.
Desalinated water seems to be a better answer and some plants are being built. But the real truth of the matter is the only real solution is rain and lots of it in flood proportions. A couple of wayward cyclones may be the best answer. However even if the rain comes many are starting to become more water wise with better water practices at home and the installation of water tanks to catch roof runoff. Gigalitres of water are lost down the storm drains of Australian cities and this is the first place governments should be looking to answer some of the water problems. But even here the economy is not prepared with a min. three month wait to have a water tank installed.
The simple truth of the drought is this - prepare for the dry when its raining. This is a simple truth in life prepare for the hard times in the good.
What are you doing to protect your family from a financial drought? visit http://getfinancialfreedomu4.ws
This article is the property of Alastair HARRIS and his immediate family. It may be freely republished over the internet but must include original links.
Alastair HARRIS is the main promoter for article-gems.com article directory (visit http://www.article-gems.com) and the getfinancialfreedom4u family of websites, blogs and projects (visit http://getfinancialfreedom4u.ws) specializing in online business opportunities and education, income being generated by affiliate marketing, google, GDI, eBay, ebooks, clip flipping and more. Alastair is rated as an expert author on numerous article directories and is very open to assisting others on the internet
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alastair_Harris
By Alastair Harris
Whilst typing this in Australia I am watching the rain fall, yet in the Brisbane area consumers continue to face tightening water restrictions.
For those who live in wetter places in the world you probably have never had to deal with watching plant after plant die. Having a lawn turn brown and having to mow to kept the weeds down as there is no grass left. You can't help but be depressed. Whilst the media, politicians and others argue about whether it is the worse drought Australia has faced (on an already dry continent) or not the fact it from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - the main metropolitan areas - the dams just keep falling. Its not that there is no rain. Its that the rain is not falling in the dam catchment areas. What makes the situation worse it that the all the state governments have failed to invest in building new dams and water infrastructure. So now a race is on to build new pipelines and dams to fix the problem. However plain old common sense says a building a dam in a record dry is a stupid idea. You need dams built when rain is plentiful. So for awhile we might have large areas of land call 'dams' that are totally dry! Typical political solution.
In light of this many politicians have looked for the easy answer of using recycled water. It is true that while water from sewage can be cleaned this isn't always 100% effective. Knowing how other government departments have recently been experienced huge problems that have been very well publicized e.g. health, the average Australian is very skeptical that they can trust a government department with being 100% safe in recycled water processes. They fear they will end up with sewage spills, leaks, missed chemicals or hormones (as experienced in London) or any number of possible stuff ups.
Desalinated water seems to be a better answer and some plants are being built. But the real truth of the matter is the only real solution is rain and lots of it in flood proportions. A couple of wayward cyclones may be the best answer. However even if the rain comes many are starting to become more water wise with better water practices at home and the installation of water tanks to catch roof runoff. Gigalitres of water are lost down the storm drains of Australian cities and this is the first place governments should be looking to answer some of the water problems. But even here the economy is not prepared with a min. three month wait to have a water tank installed.
The simple truth of the drought is this - prepare for the dry when its raining. This is a simple truth in life prepare for the hard times in the good.
What are you doing to protect your family from a financial drought? visit http://getfinancialfreedomu4.ws
This article is the property of Alastair HARRIS and his immediate family. It may be freely republished over the internet but must include original links.
Alastair HARRIS is the main promoter for article-gems.com article directory (visit http://www.article-gems.com) and the getfinancialfreedom4u family of websites, blogs and projects (visit http://getfinancialfreedom4u.ws) specializing in online business opportunities and education, income being generated by affiliate marketing, google, GDI, eBay, ebooks, clip flipping and more. Alastair is rated as an expert author on numerous article directories and is very open to assisting others on the internet
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alastair_Harris
Rain Water Recycling
Rain Barrel Water Recycling
By Michael Russell
Most of us take water for granted until it doesn't rain for a month or two and the city asks you to stop watering your lawn and garden. One of the best ways to help guard against this is by recycling rainwater. There are many ways to collect and recycle rainwater but one of the best and most cost effective is to setup a simple rain barrel.
It is estimated that an inexpensive rain barrel can save you as much as 1000 gallons of water over the course of a normal summer by simply recycling rainwater. Of course, the exact amount will vary depending on the amount of rainfall in your area but the savings from recycling rainwater in most cases will be substantial. The idea is to position the rain barrel under a roof drain downspout so that it collects rain running off the roof of your house and recycling the rainwater on your plants and lawn as needed. You can buy a ready-made rain barrel but it is also very easy and inexpensive to build your own.
Almost all the materials are available at your local hardware store. The main item you will need is a large plastic drum. Getting one is not as difficult as it may seem. Most soft drink manufacturers around the world are willing to sell you an inexpensive 55 gallon plastic drum. Usually the plastic drum you get will have its top sealed so you will have to drill a hole in the middle top of the drum. Many people will put a screen or other type of filter over this hole so that leaves and other debris do not get into the rain barrel. If your roof gutter system already has grills or screens to keep leaves out then you won't need to worry about a filter for the barrel. Usually it is a good idea to raise the barrel up off the ground by putting it on cinder blocks. This will help protect the ground underneath and make it easier to recycle the rainwater you collect in the rain barrel. You will undoubtedly have to raise the height of your downspout as well so that it is slightly above the level of the top of the drum.
Now that we have the drum setup for collecting rainwater, we need to arrange a way to get it out. The simplest way is to drill a small hole in the lower side of the drum a couple inches up from the bottom and glue in a PVC male adaptor then attach a 3 to 4 foot length of plastic hose to this adaptor. Of course, it is important to keep the end of the hose above the top of the barrel so that the barrel doesn't drain. You can notch the top rim of the drum as a holder for the hose or alternately you can attach a plastic valve to the end of the hose. Finally, at the end of the hose you will want to attach a plastic adaptor that allows the attachment of a standard garden hose. This setup will use gravity to drain the drum. To use the rainwater collected simply put the end of the garden hose on the ground you intend to water, open the valve if you used one and the drum will self-drain out the end of the garden hose. To stop the flow either close the valve or raise the end of the garden hose above the top level of the drum.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Recycling
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
By Michael Russell
Most of us take water for granted until it doesn't rain for a month or two and the city asks you to stop watering your lawn and garden. One of the best ways to help guard against this is by recycling rainwater. There are many ways to collect and recycle rainwater but one of the best and most cost effective is to setup a simple rain barrel.
It is estimated that an inexpensive rain barrel can save you as much as 1000 gallons of water over the course of a normal summer by simply recycling rainwater. Of course, the exact amount will vary depending on the amount of rainfall in your area but the savings from recycling rainwater in most cases will be substantial. The idea is to position the rain barrel under a roof drain downspout so that it collects rain running off the roof of your house and recycling the rainwater on your plants and lawn as needed. You can buy a ready-made rain barrel but it is also very easy and inexpensive to build your own.
Almost all the materials are available at your local hardware store. The main item you will need is a large plastic drum. Getting one is not as difficult as it may seem. Most soft drink manufacturers around the world are willing to sell you an inexpensive 55 gallon plastic drum. Usually the plastic drum you get will have its top sealed so you will have to drill a hole in the middle top of the drum. Many people will put a screen or other type of filter over this hole so that leaves and other debris do not get into the rain barrel. If your roof gutter system already has grills or screens to keep leaves out then you won't need to worry about a filter for the barrel. Usually it is a good idea to raise the barrel up off the ground by putting it on cinder blocks. This will help protect the ground underneath and make it easier to recycle the rainwater you collect in the rain barrel. You will undoubtedly have to raise the height of your downspout as well so that it is slightly above the level of the top of the drum.
Now that we have the drum setup for collecting rainwater, we need to arrange a way to get it out. The simplest way is to drill a small hole in the lower side of the drum a couple inches up from the bottom and glue in a PVC male adaptor then attach a 3 to 4 foot length of plastic hose to this adaptor. Of course, it is important to keep the end of the hose above the top of the barrel so that the barrel doesn't drain. You can notch the top rim of the drum as a holder for the hose or alternately you can attach a plastic valve to the end of the hose. Finally, at the end of the hose you will want to attach a plastic adaptor that allows the attachment of a standard garden hose. This setup will use gravity to drain the drum. To use the rainwater collected simply put the end of the garden hose on the ground you intend to water, open the valve if you used one and the drum will self-drain out the end of the garden hose. To stop the flow either close the valve or raise the end of the garden hose above the top level of the drum.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Recycling
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
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