Bathrooms

Spa Treatments

Mary Teresa Bitti, eco options, Fall 2007

The bathroom in your home should be a soothing, peaceful place.  However, if you think about how much water you use in your bathroom, you might not feel quite so relaxed.  Consider these facts:

• Even though almost 80% of the earth is covered with water, less than 1% can be used for human consumption.

• Each Canadian uses 75 gallons (340 L) of drinkable water a day, more than twice the European average.

• We flush 30% of that down the toilet.

• The bathroom is the biggest water guzzler in the home, accounting for 65% of all indoor water use.

Although Canada has the largest per capita water supply in the world (9% of the world/s accessible fresh water is within Canada’s borders, the supply is far from infinite.  It’s a particular concern for western Canada, where many of the large rivers are fed by glaciers that are melting due to climate change.  And Canadians are using more water every year: in 2001, the Great Lakes fell to their lowest levels in 30 years.

There are also other, “invisible” aspects of using too much water.” What people don’t realize, “says Christopher Hilkene, president of the Toronto-based Clean Water Foundation, “is that the more water we get out of our taps, the more dirty water has be process, and the more we contribute to smog and climate change.”  And the cost to clean up all the dirty water? Environment Canada estimates that treating and maintaining municipal water will cost $23-billion in the next decade.  Ouch.

But there’s no need to panic.  The best and simplest solution is for every household to conserve water, and happily, that’s easy to do.  In fact, simply trading in your old toilet for a low-flush version can cut your household’s water use by up to 50%.  Low-flow shower heads can cut consumption up to 50%.  And no, you don’t have to sacrifice performance or good looks.

THE LOWDOWN ON LOW-FLOW TOILETS

• Toilet flushing is the largest single use of water in your home.

• New low-flush toilets, like ones made by Kohler (left), use as little as 1.5 gallons (6L) per flush, while older ones can use as much as 5 gallons (20 L) per flush.  With a low-flush toilet, you can save up to 30 gallons (140 L) a day, or $100 on your yearly water bill.

• Ultra low-flush toilets use specially designed bowls and tanks to give you the same flush power with much less water. Some make the most of gravity with water-supply line pressure, compressed air or a vacuum pump to boost efficiency.

• Many municipalities offer rebates worth anywhere from $40 to $125 to residents who buy a new, water-efficient toilet

CONTROL THE FLOW

• Why is low-flow the way to go?  Older shower heads use between 3 and 6 gallons (15 and 30 L) of water per minute, whereas newer, low-flow ones use less than 2 gallons (10 L) per minute – and you won’t even notice the difference in water pressure.

• What you will notice, though, is that your hot-water use will be reduced by up to 50%, which will cut both your electricity and water bills in the process.  A family of three could save between $175 and $190 per year (depending on whether they use electricity or natural gas to heat the water) just by switching to a flow-flow shower head.

Which shower head is best for your needs?

• Aerating shower heads mix air into the water stream.  This maintains steady pressure so that the flow has an even, full shower spray while using less water

• Non-aerating shower heads deliver a strong spray minus the air.  The water flow pulses, giving you a massaging effect.

• Multiple-flow shower heads allow you to set the spray from fine to course.  Some even feature a pause setting, which allows you to stop the water while soaping up, saving even more.  The big tip here?  Remember to use it!

REPAIR, RETROFIT AND REUSE

• Check for leaks.  Aren’t sure if you have any? Find a two-hour period when on one will be using water. Check the water meter at the beginning and end of the two-hour period.  Any changes means something is leaking.

• Even a slightly leaking toilet can waste as much as 165 gallons (750 L) of water a day – more than 59,400 gallons (270,000 L) a year, and enough to fill your backyard pool.  An old trick is to put food dye in the tank and check the bowl 30 minutes later.  If the water changes colour without flushing, you have a leak.  Word to the wise: never use chlorine pucks in the tank.  They will wear away at the seal and promote leaks.

• Replace that washer in your leaky faucet.  A tap that leaks even one drop per second can amount to 5.5 gallons (25L) per day and over 1,980 gallons (9,000 L) per year.

• Hot water will reach taps much faster if the pipes that carry it are properly insulated.  This shortens the time you have to leave the tap running before you get hot water.

• Retrofit existing taps with aerators or floor restrictors for between $4 and $11.  You can even retrofit your toilet. Water-displacement devices such as toilet dams will reduce the amount of water used in each flush cycle.

• Don’t let cold water run down the drain while you’re waiting for your shower to heat up.  Instead, capture the water in a bucket and use it to water your plants.

• Turn off the tap while you’re washing, shaving or brushing your teeth.  Instead, partially fill the sink basin with a few inches of water.  This small act will cut the amount of water going down the drain by up to 60%, while also filling a glass to rinse your mouth while brushing your teeth cuts water consumption by up to 80%.

• Rinse your toothbrush in a glass of water  just doing that can save about 880 gallons (4,000 L) of water a year.

• Baths and showers account for 35% of indoor water use.  A typical bath uses approximately 16.5 gallons (75 L) of hot water, while a five-minute shower with an efficient showerhead uses about half that.  If you still prefer bathing, avoid overfilling the tub – half full should be enough.

Naturally clean

• It isn’t necessary to use chemical cleansers to keep your bathrooms sparkling.  Far better to use basic household items that rare inexpensive and that won’t harm you or your family.

• Vinegar is a great natural cleaner and disinfectant.  It’s safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being a bargain at the checkout.  Pure white vinegar in the toilet bowl gets rid of rings.  Mop the floor with a vinegar/water solution.

• Baking soda cleans, scours and softens water.

• Microfiber cloths are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt, grease and dust without any cleaning chemicals.  A good-quality cloth can last for several years.

• Deodoroc occur-control products are non-toxic, unscented, environmentally friendly deodorizers.  Derived from a naturally occurring mineral, they attract and absorb odours and are reusable.  They come in pucks (for smaller areas) and blocks (for larger ones)  and can simply rest on the counter. Once the product is saturated (usually after three months(simply place it outside for several weeks and then reuse)