Member
SE NH
The northeastern US states are experiencing a drought. We have a small stream out back. It dried up completely 4 weeks ago. Last year it ran all summer.
Our grass crunches when you walk on it. ML has not cut the yard in 6 weeks. She misses her zero turn mower.
We moved in last summer. For half the summer I was the sole occupant of the house. With only one and a partial summer in this house we lack a history on the abilities of the well.
Some of my work colleagues have had their wells run dry. The local fire department can deliver water if you have a containment vessel.
We have been using water conservation methods. Since we have no history with the well we are bring extra cautious. We use the dish washer almost exclusively. With only two of us we often hand washed the dishes after a light meal. The dishwasher ONLY uses 6 gallons of water for a full cycle. Amazing. Much more efficient than washing by hand. So we stuff it full. Everything comes out clean. Pots and pans are still washed by hand.
We have a high efficiency washing machine. It is huge. ML is putting more clothes in to reduce the number of loads washed.
I think most of our gains are in the bathroom. Nocturnal pee visits to the toilet are left until after the morning use. Saving 1 or more flush a night.
For shaving I favor tallow soaps. With our hard NH water it is hard to clean the brush, scuttle, razor and sink. I have switched to a glycerin soap. All my shave gear rinses clean with minimal water. I also use an electric tea kettle to heat water for my shave. I used to let it boil and add it to cold tap water in the sink to reach an appropriate temperature. No I use the kettle volume alone and shave before the kettle simmers.
In the shower I take advantage of the shower head's shut off valve. This reduces flow to a mere trickle. I wet my body and hair with a full pressure water flow. Then I use the shut off valve. I wash my hair and leave the lather on my head. Using the trickle flow I wet the soap bar and lather up directly on my skin. No wash clothe to rinse out when done. Once lathered and cleaned I activate the full pressure flow and rinse from head to toe. I am taking 3 minute showers - yes I timed it
While not a relaxing full pressure show I am getting cleaned so I am happy with that.
ML and I have stopped taking weekend showers together. For some reason those took longer than normal
.
That whole "save water. Shower with a friend" idea is obviously false!!
Phil
Our grass crunches when you walk on it. ML has not cut the yard in 6 weeks. She misses her zero turn mower.
We moved in last summer. For half the summer I was the sole occupant of the house. With only one and a partial summer in this house we lack a history on the abilities of the well.
Some of my work colleagues have had their wells run dry. The local fire department can deliver water if you have a containment vessel.
We have been using water conservation methods. Since we have no history with the well we are bring extra cautious. We use the dish washer almost exclusively. With only two of us we often hand washed the dishes after a light meal. The dishwasher ONLY uses 6 gallons of water for a full cycle. Amazing. Much more efficient than washing by hand. So we stuff it full. Everything comes out clean. Pots and pans are still washed by hand.
We have a high efficiency washing machine. It is huge. ML is putting more clothes in to reduce the number of loads washed.
I think most of our gains are in the bathroom. Nocturnal pee visits to the toilet are left until after the morning use. Saving 1 or more flush a night.
For shaving I favor tallow soaps. With our hard NH water it is hard to clean the brush, scuttle, razor and sink. I have switched to a glycerin soap. All my shave gear rinses clean with minimal water. I also use an electric tea kettle to heat water for my shave. I used to let it boil and add it to cold tap water in the sink to reach an appropriate temperature. No I use the kettle volume alone and shave before the kettle simmers.
In the shower I take advantage of the shower head's shut off valve. This reduces flow to a mere trickle. I wet my body and hair with a full pressure water flow. Then I use the shut off valve. I wash my hair and leave the lather on my head. Using the trickle flow I wet the soap bar and lather up directly on my skin. No wash clothe to rinse out when done. Once lathered and cleaned I activate the full pressure flow and rinse from head to toe. I am taking 3 minute showers - yes I timed it
While not a relaxing full pressure show I am getting cleaned so I am happy with that.
ML and I have stopped taking weekend showers together. For some reason those took longer than normal
.That whole "save water. Shower with a friend" idea is obviously false!!
Phil
