Pinellas County Suggestion for Saving Water: "Avoid Bathing"
The most recent water-saving tip on the county's "Green Pinellas" website - "Avoid Bathing." What it really means is to replace a bath with a shower, which uses far less water.
For those who want to do something sustainable, there are many ways to "go green."
Everybody seems to have a different way to save the planet. Some are obvious; others are a little… out there.
One of the suggestions to conserve water on the Green Pinellas website might be one of those that seems strange.
"Avoid bathing."
Of course, Pinellas County is not lowering cleanliness expectations for residents. The water conservation tip goes to inform residents a terrific way to save water is to replace a bath, which can use up to 70 gallons of water at a time, with a shower.
In contrast, an average five-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons of water. To try this tip, the website suggests residents take a shower with the plug in the bathtub. If there is less water in the tub than with a bath, a shower is the way to go.
Pinellas Green has several other tips for water consciousness:
- Do not accept complimentary water at restaurants, if you are not going to drink it.
- Do not wash dishes by hands if you have a dishwasher. A newer dishwasher can save up to 5,000 gallons of water in a year, compared to hand washing, according to the Energy Star website.
- Avoid using running water to defrost your food. Use the microwave or refrigerator. Do not just leave it to defrost on the kitchen counter—that can lead to bacteria growth.
- Keep a bucket in the shower to catch the water as it heats up. You can use it for flushing the toilet or watering plants.
Pinellas County is no stranger to conservation. Last year, the Florida Green Building Coalition named St. Petersburg as Florida's first "green city."
Stetson University also announced Monday that the school—including its law school campus in Gulfport—has adopted "water sustainability" as the theme this year as a "broader commitment to environmental responsibility."
In a press release released yesterday, Stetson officials say, "Many current academic courses at the College of Law in Gulfport/St. Petersburg relate to water conservation issues."
Green Pinellas offers many other tips for saving water, both inside and outside the home. Go to theGreen Pinellas webpage for more information on conservation. There are tips for transportation, energy and waste reduction.
One other suggestion—you can take a shower. Your friends, neighbors and the environment will thank you.
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