Shower shortage

June 24, 2009 - 9:27 PM by Jessica

rube-goldbergI’ve been hearing rumors about plans to limit water usage in Israeli homes, as in showers and dishwashing and not just gardens and plants. I’d almost welcome the limitation. Not that I’d be happy about that severe of a shortage, given what it would mean, but it seems that we’re so conscious of our water limitations, and having the law laid down, so to speak, would almost be welcome, rather than this drive to conserve without it being an absolute. Then again, maybe not.

Let me explain. This year, as opposed to previous summers, the need to conserve water and show that one is conserving water, is more apparent. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t soap up their dishes before rinsing, and, for that matter, soap themselves without the water running. It’s unheard of to leave the water running while brushing one’s teeth, or to fill up a tub of water for a baby’s bath, even if it’s two babies.

There are those who bring a pail into their showers, filling up the bucket while showering and then using the water on their plants and gardens. (Although gray water may expose people to bacteria, according to the Health Ministry, in a recent Haaretz article.) And the truly inventive Rube Goldbergs among us have rigged flushing systems for their toilets, using said water. I haven’t gone that far, but I only fill the bathtub with about an inch of water for my baby boys’ bath, and I save the unused boiled water from the hot water urn each Shabbat to water my houseplants and wash the floor. And, I know this may be TMI, but I don’t flush if it’s just a #1.

I’ve got a long way to go, I know. But I’m in the game. And if gray recycling systems are considered effective, I’m ready, because I picked up a flyer advertising someone who comes to your house to rig up water-saving devices. Rube Goldberg, here I come.

Tags: , , , , , , • Category: A New Reality, Environment, General, design 

Comments

3 Comments on Shower shortage

  1. Maya on Thu, Jun 25th 2009 11:20 AM

    2. Great post. This was all such a shock to me when I first moved to Israel… soaping up before showering, for example, was really weird. I actually just posted about this today at my blog (howtobeisraeli.blogspot.com)– I’m pretty sure a branch broke off the tree in our yard because of the drought. Thanks for giving me renewed energy for figuring out Rube Goldberg flushing! I’m threatening to post pictures of my dirty dishes and Israeli-style dishwashing technique soon. :)

  2. Jessica on Thu, Jun 25th 2009 8:30 PM

    3. Excellent! Would love to see pics of your technique…

  3. Picture of the week – first rains | ISRAELITY on Wed, Sep 23rd 2009 7:45 AM

    4. [...] with much pleasure. With five drought years behind us, Israelis are resorting to increasingly creative ways to reuse gray water and conserve fresh water (from short showers to inventive flushing systems for [...]

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