While I'm at Mom's in Annapolis for the next couple of days, I am experiencing a novel Christmas treat - I am able to indulge in long hot showers. Since the drought in Durham is so bad right now (to the point where the papers have been reporting that we'll probably go to Stage V water restrictions in January), I have been taking only a 4 minute (on average) shower. I do this by turning on the radio and jumping into the shower at the beginning of a song, then making sure to get out by the time the song ends. This doesn't leave much time for getting the necessities done, and doesn't leave any time at all for thoughtful reflection, which was my previous tendency when showering.

I have so missed my showers. This is far and away the biggest sacrifice I've had to make in order to cut my water usage by 50%.

Which is why this morning was so wonderful. It took me about a minute to realize that there was no need to rush, at which point I indulged in a wonderful, peaceful showering experience where I took the time to cleanse every inch of my poor, neglected, parched hide. And I get to have two more days of this. Sigh.

Then it's back to the usual showering crunch back in the desert of Durham. Someone needs to organize a rain dance.

I have successfully reduced my water usage by 50%. I went from using 2 units (1496 gal.) a month to using 1 unit (798 gal.) a month over the past two months. That's going from ~50 gallons/day to ~25 gallons/day. Granted, it only saved me $9.68 on my water bill, but that's beside the point.

I'm proud of myself.

So since North Carolina is currently experiencing the worst drought in recorded history, we've all been trying to conserve as much water as possible. I personally have cut my laundry to one load per week, although I think it will have to be two this coming week, do 2 loads of dishes a week, take a 4-minute shower (and have started turning off the water while soaping), catch the water as it's warming up in a bucket which I'm using to try to save my azaleas, and don't use much when I'm brushing my teeth. But there are still times when I use water in the sink like I normally would, to wash my hands, clean off things, fill the ice-tea maker which is my main form of beverage these days, use it for cooking or rinsing out a pot or something, etc. I'm hoping to get my usage to 1 unit (748 gallons) per month. It was at 2 before I started these measures. So that would be going from ~50 gallons/day to ~25 gallons/day.

Still, one has to be careful how one re-uses household water, which is considered gray water as Michael described in this post. So I thought of a bunch of silly ways to conserve water that don't involve use of gray water.

Note: These methods are unwise, probably illegal, and most likely detrimental to your health. It is not recommended that anyone do any of the following at any time. On your own head be it.

• Drink from the jug. Why waste water on cleaning a glass?
• Wash your entire body with Purell. Including your hair.
• Swallow your toothpaste. Then you don't have to turn on the faucet at all.
• Stink. Saves on those showers.
• Pee outdoors. That compost pile could use more nitrogen, anyways.
• Don't worry about the 3 minutes you are advised to run your tap to reduce lead contamination. Injest that lead!
• Use hand wipes such as these to clean your entire house, including hardwood floors.
• Have one set of biodegradable plate/utensils which you carry everywhere with you. Clean them with hand wipes. When they degrade during one of your meals, get new ones. Repeat.
• Throw your clothes away when they get dirty. Buy new ones that are clean. Saves a ton of water on laundry.

My rhododendron, saucer magnolia, and two azaleas are doomed, now that no lawn watering is allowed in Durham. Sigh.

(Link is not updated yet as the news went out at 8:15 pm Monday, but I expect it will be by morning.)