Indoor Solutions - Shower/Bath
Shower head efficiencies have drastically improved over the years and installing low flow heads can help reduce the water you use during each shower. But behavioral changes offer an even greater potential for reduced water consumption. The first major recommendation is to avoid taking baths entirely. On average bathtubs require 50-70 gallons of water to fill up while a five-minute shower uses 10-25 gallons of water, so unless you take 15-20 minute showers then a bath uses substantially more water.
While showers and baths can be quite relaxing and enjoyable it is important to adjust your water usage due to the severity of the drought. Responsible shower usage can significantly reduce your water consumption and can be easily achieved without sacrificing cleanliness. Showers should only last as long as they need to and time that is not spent washing oneself should be eliminated. The extreme example of this is the "navy shower" and uses as little as 3 gallons of water allowing a single person to save as much as 15,000 gallons of water each year. The idea is to get yourself completely wet as soon as the water turns on, turn the water off to shampoo your hair and wash your body, and turn the water on once more to rinse yourself off. While this type of shower may not appeal to everyone you should at least make sure you turn off the water when shampooing your hair or shaving. If your shower takes a while to heat up then collect this cold water in a bucket and use it to water your garden or wash dishes.
While showers and baths can be quite relaxing and enjoyable it is important to adjust your water usage due to the severity of the drought. Responsible shower usage can significantly reduce your water consumption and can be easily achieved without sacrificing cleanliness. Showers should only last as long as they need to and time that is not spent washing oneself should be eliminated. The extreme example of this is the "navy shower" and uses as little as 3 gallons of water allowing a single person to save as much as 15,000 gallons of water each year. The idea is to get yourself completely wet as soon as the water turns on, turn the water off to shampoo your hair and wash your body, and turn the water on once more to rinse yourself off. While this type of shower may not appeal to everyone you should at least make sure you turn off the water when shampooing your hair or shaving. If your shower takes a while to heat up then collect this cold water in a bucket and use it to water your garden or wash dishes.