Leaky credibility: When it comes to water conservation, I've got my own issues
This week's column.
You would think that a record of what you've used and what you owe for your monthly water consumption would be as clear as H2O.
And you would be wrong.
In many communities water statements seem more suited to hydraulic engineers than washers of dishes and waterers of lawns.
For example, bills in Raleigh measure water use in hundreds of cubic feet, not gallons (which seems about as intuitive as measuring gasoline consumption in pounds and inches). Realizing, at last, that such measures mean zilch to average consumers, Raleigh intends to change its statements to more decipherable lingo. But it may take as long as two years to install the requisite meters and software, a city official told the News & Observer.
Despite its well-earned reputation as a paragon of water management, Greensboro doesn't use gallons in water bills either. It prefers something called "units." But the back of the bill does at least explain that one unit equals 748 gallons. It also offers a detailed explanation of how city services are billed and the tiered rate structure, most of it, thankfully, in plain English.
Nowhere, however, does the Greensboro statement tell you how much water you consumed during the previous billing cycle. That's too bad, given the city's sustained emphasis on conservation in light of the ongoing drought. A helpful city services representative said customers may request water consumption histories by telephone. But why not incorporate bill-to-bill comparisons into the standard statement as well?
While they're at it, more frequent bills also would make sense. That way consumers could more closely and more frequently monitor their water use.
City Water Conservation Manager Kristine Williams says monthly bills are in the works and will be phased in beginning next spring. Good. In a community (and a state and a region) that's already thirsting for rain, why make us thirst for information that might help us become better stewards of the water we use?
That said, the service rep also took time to discuss my personal bill and consumption patterns. As it turns out, I, uh, have some issues of my own.
My water use is above average for a Greensboro household (12 units, or 99 gallons a day) between July and October versus the city average of seven units (60 gallons a day) per person per billing cycle, even though there are typically only two occupants in the house: me and a 10-pound dog.
I never use a sprinkler to water my lawn (not even when it was legal). I have not washed my car in ages. I do not run the water while shaving or brushing my teeth. So either my doggie is hosting wild pool parties while I'm away, or I need to take a closer look at where my water is going.
The city employee tried to be charitable as he discussed my leaky credibility on water conservation. "You sound like a very clean person," he said. Yeah, but I'm not that clean.
But I could take shorter showers. I tend to think too much in the shower ... about the day ahead at work ... whether this week's Packer game has a 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. kickoff. (The rep suggested a "navy shower," during which you wet your body, turn off the shower, lather up, then turn the water on again to rinse.)
I also sometimes re-wash loads of laundry because I forget to put them in the dryer and they turn sour.
And I have this thing about flushing. I know one flush consumes as many as five gallons. Yet, as many times as I've heard the nifty rhyme that "if it's yellow, let it mellow," not in my house.
The representative suggested that the problem could be a leak and advised me to check the commodes by placing dye in the tank and seeing if it seeps into the bowl over time. I told him I'd do that, and I will. As much as I keep harping on water conservation, I'd do well to practice what I preach. (Remember, I'm the guy who considered ratting out a neighbor to the Water Police for running an unattended sprinkler one rainy morning.)
If I'm not willing to do my own part, I'm all wet (figuratively speaking, at least).
Comments (9)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
Now you have solved the water issue. Answer this for me the Sunday paper cost more, yet the only difference I see is it has more ads. The Monday paper cost the same as the Tuesday paper. Yet the Monday paper has more news than the Tuesday paper.
Merry Christmas
Posted on December 23, 2007 6:09 AM
Agreed.
Also, place a bowl under each faucet before you go to bed and see if they contain water the next morning. I recently did this in my house and found the bowl full of water the next morning even though I never saw any evidence of a leak before. I've also spent a lot of time crawling under the house to look for leaks. Thankfully the faucet was all I found.
And if you have the right tools to open your meter you can read it before you leave and after you return home and if you've any big leaks they'll be reflected in the meter readings.
And yes, I've been known to be a water Nazi as well.
Posted on December 23, 2007 6:15 PM
I'm on the lookout for low pressure shower heads to replace the current wasteful models. We did it with toilets, so it's only a matter of time before some government pinhead sees the opportunity. We'll save the planet one weak dribble at a time. But we'll be dirtier people for it.
Posted on December 24, 2007 11:15 AM
So, I'm guessing yout think such requirements will be a good thing?
Posted on December 24, 2007 11:31 AM
Me? Heck no. I hate nature. I'd like to see it all paved or turned into golf courses. I'm just predicting.
Posted on December 24, 2007 2:38 PM
Yeah, right.
Posted on December 24, 2007 2:40 PM
Golf Course yes, pavement no way.
Go to a hardware store tell them what you want.
At one time you could buy a washer that reduced water flow. Not had to have one since kids moved out.
Posted on December 24, 2007 7:30 PM
I would get one, but when I think about the rich folks in Irving Park with their sunflower-sized shower heads, I just can't bring myself to do it.
Posted on December 24, 2007 8:59 PM
I like rich people, I have never received a pay check from a poor person yet!
Posted on December 26, 2007 10:39 PM