8 Ways to Save Water in the Kitchen
This is not a drill, folks. We’re using fresh water (read: water we can actually use) faster than it can be replenished. This has led to water shortages in many places, like Cape Town, which has already reached “day zero” for fresh water, and California, where they just got over a 7 year drought.
To avoid the full stop water wars that some have predicted, we need to be smarter about our own water use and tell our reps to push for more strict regulations for water use and pollution. In this post, I’ll arm you with my best tips for saving water in the kitchen.
Wash produce in a water bath
If you're only washing a veggie or two, simply rinsing it under a gently running faucet for a few seconds is the most water-efficient option. But, if you have a lot of produce to wash, it's usually more efficient to fill two bowls with water and wash using the "dip, scrub, rinse, dry" method. Just dunk your produce in one water bowl, gently scrub it, dunk it in the rinse bowl and dry with a towel. This way, you won’t need to keep the water running while you scrub your way through 5 bunches of kale.
Use Minimal Equipment
Whether you wash dishes with your paws or with a dishwasher, fewer dishes means less water (and less work - yay laziness). To cut down on equipment that needs to be washed, look out for dishes, bowls and utensils that you can reuse while cooking and baking.
For example, let's say you're making a spiced carrot loaf that calls for 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. That 1/2 teaspoon you used to measure salt can also be used to eyeball the 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg and measure the teaspoon of cinnamon. Just wipe your 1/2 teaspoon out with a towel between uses and you're Gucci.
This same logic can be applied to plates and utensils when eating. You really don't need a separate bowl for your fruit salad, a new plate and fork for your dessert, or a different knife for your butter. The less you use, the more water you save.
Know how much water you need
If you're only boiling a handful of pasta, you probably (read: definitely) don't need to fill your 5-quart pot to do the job. Rather than just filling your pot until it looks good enough, do a smidge of research to find out how much water you actually need for boiling. Harold McGee of The New York Times wrote a great piece on this back in 2009 that still rings true.
Wash Dishes Efficiently
If you're a dish washer person, buying an Energy Star dishwasher can save a bunch of water compared to regular dishwashers AND compared to hand washing. Investing in smart appliances when your current appliances kick the can will not only save water, but will also save you money on your water and electricity bills. Big yes to that.
Another way to wash more efficiently: only run the dishwasher when it is full. Running the dishwasher when it's only half full means that you'll need to run it more often, which will use more water. Don't worry, your dishes will get just as clean when they're cozied-up a little tighter.
If you swear by hand washing dishes, you can make that more sustainable by washing dishes just like you would wash produce with the method described above. Fill one bowl with soapy water and the other with plain water. Then dip, scrub, rinse and dry. No running taps here!
Skip the Paper Towels
This one might seem like a head-scratcher at first, but it's true: using fewer paper towels can save loads of water. This is because making paper towels requires a lot of "virtual water," which is just fancy talk for water used during production. Using rags or bamboo paper towels (which are reusable) is a better option because you can get way more mileage out of the amount of virtual water used to make the product.
Install sink Aerators
Aerators are fancy do-dads that connect to your faucet and add air to the water you use. Installing aerators can save over 30% of water coming out of your faucet and they only cost about $3 each. Just do a bit of research about which aerator will fit your sink and you'll be good to go.
Watch for Leaks
Drippy sinks waste up to 11 million gallons of water annually in the U.S., which is pretty much insane. If you notice that your sink pipes are leaking or your faucet is a bit drippy, don't just pretend it's not happening. Instead, call your local plumber friend or grab your trusty ol' wrench and fix the thing yourself.
Find Second Uses for Water
Whether it's your dish or produce rinse water, or the leftover water from your pasta, finding second uses for your water is a great way to save water. I love to use this excess water to make my compost a little moister or to water my plants. If your water isn't too dirty, you could also use it to scrub your bathtub, wipe down your floors or wash your dog. The possibilities are endless.
If you're a real go-getter, you can even install a system that will filter your water and redirect it to water your plants, or even right back into your house. This will most def require some technical knowledge or the help of a professional.