This month our family is working hard at reducing the amount of water that we use. This is tough for us as it seems that our little one’s (well, make that one of our little one’s who will remain anonymous) have a difficult time understanding that when they wash their hands and teeth, the water really does not need to run FULL BORE to get them clean. We have even been trying the “if it’s yellow, let it mellow” thing in the bathroom.
You’d think that our 5 year old was staring at flippin’ Bigfoot when he goes in to sit down. He adamentely refuses to “go” on top of anything other than 100% transparent water. The yellow never has time to mellow with his non-compliant attitude. Geeesh. He literally FREAKS at anyone who has the audacity to NOT flush. So – he is also a work in progress.
He was however, very proud of himself the other night when he declared that now that he is five, he knows exactly where his poop goes. “Oh yeah” I answered enthusiastically.
Yes, down the pipes.
I couldn’t help myself, really. My husband has officially “rubbed off” on me and I quickly turned my back to him (to hide my smirk) and said. “YAY, buddy! That’s right! And when the poopy goes down the pipes it travels aaaaaall the way down those pipes and straight to the chocolate factories so we can have candy bars”!!!!! *secretly laughing hysterically*
You should have heard his response. OMGOSH – it was priceless. I know, terrible parenting. But it was really funny 
So here’s our goals for this month on reducing our water.
1. We are installing a new toilet! Yep, hubs figured out that our current toilet flushed 3.5 gallons whereas a new one with dual flush would be 1.0 gallons for the low flush and 1.6 for the high – because he’s smart like that.
2. Hubs added a low flow faucet head to our kitchen sink and it has been awesome. So we want one for each bathroom now.
3. Taking less baths for pleasure and doing the ol’ get in – clean – get out.
4. While we are in the shower, we are not turning the handle to full-blast, but instead we are only using half the pressure.
5. We are making sure that our dishwasher and washing machine are full loads before running.
So off we go on this month’s water mission! “Houston, we have lift off” 
I am so anxious to hear about everyone’s changes – what are you doing this month, this year or what have you been doing to conserve and make changes?
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My youngest doesn’t flush after going pee…..so, when we go to parent-teacher meeting….Mrs. Green mentions it to us…..he was conserving water all this time and I never taught him that!! He still doesn’t flush at home, but I think he does at school!
LOL!
Oh that is just too funny! If I remember correctly – those toilets are SOOOOO LOUD!!!!!! It is crazy and scares the bajeebers out of even some adults lol
Could be one reason! Glad to hear from you – how have you been?http://smilinggreenmom.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?comment_status=spam
lmao! I don’t think I saw anything after the chocolate bar comment! Does all that brain washing waste water?
Dh and I have his and hers bathrooms, and only two of us at home, so I do the yellow/mellow thing, but it’d freak me out to pee in someone else’s pee too. Like you said: a work in progress. Oh, and we have low-flow everything in our place!
I am putting a half gallon jug filled with water in the toilet tank.
Oh Sheri – that is so great! That was my suggestion too for our home but we really do need to get a new toilet so it just makes sense. Nice work
LOL- I know, so awful right? Not to worry, I told him I was kidding and then we even played a joke on his sissy! You sound so green Monny – that is awesome. Kudos
Wow … you and your family are doing so much to conserve water … that is so great!! We’ve cut way back on our water use doing some of the same things you’re doing. Our newest change is to take less showers. I’ve always been a shower-a-day person but realized that, unless I’m having a very physical day, it really isn’t necessary. So we’ve switched to showers every-other-day. Since we turn off our water heater except for an hour before our showers, we’re also saving electricity. Yay!
Thank you for this post and for sharing your water-saving ideas!
xoxo – you are awesome! Thanks for the kind and encouraging words
Great job to you too!!
We have been working hard at the low water consumption thing. We don’t water our acre of land, had 2 low flow toilets put in 2 yrs ago. Got an HE washer 2 yrs ago, that’s a huge water saver. We also let it mellow, when it’s yellow. That’s a tough one on summer days, we don’t use AC, and sometimes the upstairs bathroom can start to smell like, well – a urinal. But I just throw some vinegar in and swish around the scrub brush and it’s fine. We also use an outdoor shower in the summer, we can get both kids washed & done in about 3 minutes!
You GO, water saving girl, you!
This sounds so great! My 3 yr old had a hard time with the peeing on pee thing for a while, but she eventually got used to it after time and time again of explaining why we are doing it. But I tell you, not flushing the toilet every time has been (in my opinion) the biggest water saving in our household.
good luck with everything! I am excited to hear how it affects your water bill!
Feel free to stop by any time this month and let us know how it is going! http://1smallchangeblog.blogspot.com/
~Suzy
Hey Mama! I hope everything is going great for you this month!!
Make sure to stop by the One Small Change blog to enter into our latest giveaway and see what the community is up to!
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Thanks!
Suzy
Great blog you got on water saving.
Thank You!