How Earth Friendly Are You?
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, lowly, precious and pure.
— Canticle of the Creatures, St. Francis of Assisi
Water and Wastewater
Each of the ten statements below is a statement related to our use of water and waste water. Try to describe your current choices.
Answers range from:
| 1 | 5 | 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Never | Sometimes | Always |
Read the 10 statements below. In the adjacent box, write the number corresponding to your answer. E.g. ‚ 1= Never. When you finish, add the numbers to get a score.
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| I run the washing machine and dishwasher only when full. | 1. _____________ |
| I spend less than 5 minutes taking my shower. | 2. _____________ |
| I plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature. | 3. _____________ |
| I direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees. | 4. _____________ |
| I designate one glass for drinking water each day. | 5. _____________ |
| I use the “small load” on the washer whenever possible | 6. _____________ |
| I drink filtered water from the tap instead of buying bottled water. | 7. _____________ |
| I turn the water off while shampooing and conditioning my hair. | 8. _____________ |
| I am careful to turn off faucets, keeping them from dripping. | 9. _____________ |
| I keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up and use the water to flush the toilet or water plants. | 10. _____________ |
Score of 20 -69? See tips.
Score of 70+? See resources for ongoing learning.
Tips for Living More Lightly
- By turning of the water while brushing, you save approximately 4 gallons of water for each minute you brush.
- Taking a shower less than 5 minutes will save up to 1,000 gallons of water each month.
- If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient showerhead.
- Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save gallons every time.
- If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
- While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.
- Avoid running water to thaw food.
- Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.
- Avoid pouring toxic substances or unknown chemicals down the drain.
- Use phosphate free detergents.
