Emergency Water Conservation

A winter storm hit Southeast Texas in January 2018 causing prolonged sub-freezing temperatures. The extremely high number of broken pipes on Galveston Island caused water reserves to drop below 60% and prompted officials to call for mandatory water rationing and conservation.

Water conservation should be practiced during emergency water shortages, when there is sporadic service, or when there is water pressure loss due to natural disasters, drought, pipeline breaks, or extended power loss to water purification plants. When you do not have water or don’t know how much you will have, use as little water as possible but use enough to be safe and healthy.

Never ration drinking water. Drink what you need for today and try to find more for tomorrow. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool.

IN THE KITCHEN

  • Use disposable paper plates, bowls, and cups.
  • Reuse cups for drinking water and have one for each person in the household.
  • Use disposable plastic cutlery.
  • Use paper towels and disposable dish cloths.
  • Don’t leave water running while cleaning the sink or washing hands.
  • Use anti-bacterial wipes to clean sinks and counters.
  • Scrape or wipe dishes with paper towels instead of rinsing before washing.
  • Compost instead of running the garbage disposal.
  • Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running water until it is cold enough to drink.
  • Heat water instead of running water until it comes out of the faucet hot enough to use.
  • When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with wash water.  Plug the other sink to catch rinse water.  You will accumulate enough water rinsing large items under running water to rinse small items by immersing them and will almost always use less water than you would by filling the second sink with rinse water or washing dishes with the water running.
  • Use a minimum amount of soap to wash dishes so less rinse water is needed.
  • Do not run the dishwasher unless it is completely full.
  • Microwave, roast, bake, steam, or pressure cook food instead of boiling it.
  • Avoid heavy frying of foods to avoid having to use extra water and soap to clean pans, utensils, and counters.
  • Prepare one-dish meals to minimize the number of utensils and cookware that are used.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin of water and use the water to flush toilets or water plants.
  • Use pasta cooking water to rinse cooked dry beans or other foods, to cook oatmeal or other hot cereals, or to reconstitute condensed soups.
  • Use canned fruit syrup in pancake batter or to cook oatmeal.
  • Drink fruit juice from canned fruit, use it to make gelatin salads and desserts, or to reconstitute dried fruit.
  • Use liquid from canned vegetables to cook pasta, cook rice or other grains, as a base for homemade soup, to reconstitute dried vegetables, or to prepare condensed soups.
  • Avoid high protein meals.  Proteins require more water to digest.
  • Avoid eating dehydrated foods when there is a shortage of drinking water.
  • Repair leaky faucets.

IN THE BATHROOM

  • Use hand wipes or hand sanitizers, when possible.
  • Use anti-bacterial wipes to clean the bathroom.
  • Don’t flush toilets after every use.
  • Don’t leave water running while brushing teeth, shaving, washing hands, or cleaning sinks and bathtubs.
  • Use a glass of water to rinse your mouth after brushing instead of running tap water.
  • Take short showers instead of bathing and use a minimum amount of soap.
  • Catch running water before it heats up for showers and use it to water plants or flush toilets.
  • Use dry shampoo every other shampooing (available in drugstores).
  • When water is available, fill bathtubs with water to use to flush toilets when there isn’t water available.
  • Repair leaky faucets, toilets, and shower heads.

IN THE LAUNDRY

  • Wash clothes less often.  Wear them more before washing them.
  • Reuse towels instead of washing them after each shower/bath.
  • Wash full loads or match the water level to the load size.
  • Repair leaky faucets.

OUTSIDE

  • Use rain barrels and catch basins to accumulate and store water to water plants and gardens, flush toilets, and use for cleaning.
  • Avoid running lawn sprinklers.
  • Repair leaky faucets.
  • Use a broom to clean driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing them off.

100+ Water-Saving Tips http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/

NOTE: If you do not normally use paper goods or plastic cutlery, purchase a supply for emergency use and store them in a plastic tote in the attic or a storage closet.