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6/17/08
ATLANTA magazine’s June issue, devoted entirely to water, should be required reading for everyone in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Besides the obvious stories on Lake Lanier and the Georgia Legislature’s glacial pace in addressing the drought, ATLANTA also includes an insightful and informative story by Betsy Riley called “101 Ways to Save Water: A No-More-Excuses, Clip-It-And-Keep-It Guide to Saving Water.” From the bathroom to the kitchen to landscaping, pretty much all of the recommendations are practical and inexpensive. Only time will tell how much good they’ll do—or if ATLANTA readers will take heed.
Here at LoftLife we’ve come up with our own, slightly wacky suggestions, 11 to be exact, in what we like to call, “11 Ways to Save Water: A Highly Impractical, Sometimes Disgusting Guide to Saving Water.” Perhaps you have a few of your own? If so, feel free to share them with us at letters@loftlifemag.com .
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>> Shower together. And if you’re single, no worries. We’re putting together a “shower buddy list.” Email us and we’ll hook you up with a local shower partner: contact@loftlifemag.com. SAVE: 15 gallons. 30, if you take a longer-than-average shower.

>> Urinate in the sink. SAVE: 1.6 gallons per flush for a post-1993 toilet; 3.5 to 8 gallons on older models.

>> Freeze your underwear. SAVE: not all that much water; but oh, what a feeling!

>> Turn off you’re a/c. Stand in a bucket. Collect your sweat. Boil it down. Us the water for your houseplants and the salt for seasoning. SAVE: Up to a gallon, depending on your sweat glands and the heat.

>> Wring out your work-out clothes to wash your dog. Not only will your dog love being covered in your scent, you’ll SAVE 15 gallons of water.
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>> Buy dishes from Goodwill, use them once, then re-donate. SAVE: up to 8 gallons of water for a 4-person meal.

>> Have your teeth removed. No more brushing! SAVE: up to a gallon of water every time you used to brush.

>> Brush your teeth with champagne. (If you didn’t already act on the above, for some reason.) SAVE: From a half-gallon to a gallon.

>> Turn your waterbed into a camelback. No one’s ever said, don’t drink in bed. SAVE: Up to 15 gallons a week.

>> Follow your cat’s lead: lick yourself clean. SAVE: Up to 15 gallons for every shower you skip.

>> Get rid of your car. One less thing to wash- think about how much you’ll SAVE on gas.