Some gizmos are
right as rain for saving water
HOME CONSERVATION | As the region faces a drought, experts take a look at innovations designed to help homeowners use less water
By Jolayne Houtz
Seattle Times consumer-affairs Reporter
Soggy weather notwithstanding, the drought is still on.
The recent run of rain has helped, but with mountain snowpacks still at less than one-third of normal, you'd be doing yourself — and your community — a favor by looking at new ways to cut water use.
How about a dual-flush toilet that uses half the water to flush No. 1?
Pressure-activated pedals to turn your faucet on and off with your foot?
A motion-detecting hot-water system (no waiting for a hot shower)?
Or an irrigation system fed data from satellites to adjust automatically to the weather in your back yard? "I hear this question a lot: Why conserve in a rainy city?" said Allan Dietemann, research analyst for Seattle Public Utilities.
The answer: It's the smart thing to do for your wallet and the right thing to do for your neighbors and the environment. There's nothing like the specter of a drought to underscore that message. "Why waste something if you don't have to?" Dietemann said. While you're considering these flashier water-saving gadgets, don't overlook the old standbys. You'll get the biggest payoff by doing four things first, Seattle Public Utilities says:
Replace your old (pre-1994) toilet with a newer, more efficient model. (And check regularly for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, then checking the bowl for color 15 minutes later.) Get a more efficient clothes washer (and, maybe, qualify for a rebate). Install a low-flow showerhead. And attach an aerator to the tip of the faucet nozzles in your kitchen and bathroom to restrict the flow of water.
By installing more-efficient water fixtures and regularly checking for leaks, households can reduce their daily water use by about one-third, to about 40 to 45 gallons a day for each person, according to the American Water Works Association.
Then consider some of the high- and low-tech innovations below to wring out more savings. (Estimated prices listed here generally don't include installation or labor costs.)
Information Online:
The California Urban Water Conservation Council compiles information and research on water-saving products. It also offers a "virtual home tour" with water-saving ideas for homeowners and a water-use calculator: www.h2ouse.net
Seattle Public Utilities serves most of King County, and its Web site includes information about rebate programs and a list of recommended toilets in its "FlushStar" program: www.savingwater.org
For more potty talk, check out the toilet recommendations listed on the Web site of Bellevue plumber Terry Love: www.terrylove.com
Our experts:
John Koeller, water-conservation expert and technical adviser to the California Urban Water Conservation Council, Seattle Public Utilities and water agencies nationwide
Allan Dietemann, research analyst for Seattle Public Utilities; former technology chairman for the American Water Works Association
David Broustis, conservation program manager, Seattle Public Utilities
Terry Love, owner of Love Plumbing and Remodel, Bellevue
Tom Watson, project manager, recycling and environmental services, King County Solid Waste Division
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This attaches to your hose and uses a combination of water and air pressure to clean decks, patios, driveways and other hard surfaces. Made by JV Manufacturing (www.watermiser.com)
Price: $179.95 and up
Experts say: This is better than using a garden hose or pressure washer, but many water-conservation advocates say using any water to clean hard outdoor surfaces is a waste. Koeller has one, though, and admits it can be fun to use — maybe too much so. "When I use it, man, I just clean everything!" he said. "It's my downfall."
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APRIL 17, 2005
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