Why I Don't Flush

When it comes down to it, it's no big whoop to let it mellow.
There are now great composting and low-flow toilets out there, but just by flushing a little less often (number 1 only please!), the amount of water you can save is huge. I'll admit that it takes a little getting used to (mostly getting used to being ok with what your visitors may be thinking). But heck, much of the world doesn't even use toilet paper so clearly this is about perspective.

The toilet is the biggest water culprit in the home -- gulping down nearly one third of your total water consumption, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That means if you flush half as much -- say every other time -- you can trim your water bill by nearly 15 percent a month!

In the U.S., we use about 345 billion gallons of fresh water per day. How much is this? Well, enough to turn Rhode Island into a one-foot lake.

Unfortunately, our lakes and reservoirs are not bottomless. The frightening fact is the amount of usable freshwater is decreasing, according to the World Health Organization. We only have 2.5 percent fresh water on this earth, and every day, we are using more and polluting more.

This water usage calculator from the U.S. Geological Survey is a great way to figure out your household use.

Do you let it mellow? Would you consider it? Disgusted? Fine with it? Comment below!

More from Graham Hill on Huffington Post
::Three Green Decisions With Little or No Downside
::Global Warming: How We Got Here and Why We Shouldn't Beat Ourselves Up About It
::Would You Kill What You Eat?
::Europeans Happier than Americans yet Half the Footprint
::Should Airlines Give Bottled Water to Flyers?
::Phones as Fashion: Can You Resist the New Apple iPhone?

More From Huffington Post on Waste
::Three Things I Could Live Without: The Bath Mat, the Paper Towel, and the Cocktail Napkin
::Top 10 Most Useless Items of Crapola

Photo: How Stuff Works.

Follow Graham Hill on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ghill

Comments

[lapoutlander]

Flushes? We don't need no stinkin' flushes!

In our future it won't mellow in the bowl, We will all have yellow bins for curb side pick up...

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/07/13/waste_not/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/peecycling_gree_1.php

Don't mix what God separates

[research]

You probably have to wash the toilet about twice as often.

Let's ask the Mythbusters to test out this theory.

[GretaR]

I am such a practitioner.

Nothing like having collected/stored rainwater as your only source of water to get you into this habit. Speaking from experience: in the USVI people keep a bit of "pine sol" next to the toilet to freshen the bowl a bit in between. Use your favorite eco-friendly scented toilet cleaner -- put it into a pump bottle and add just a squirt, if you feel the need. They also discard toilet paper (used for #1) into trash can -- don't want to clog the toilet with piled up tissue. Your sanitation mileage may vary.

[Egalitare]

This is probably SOP in most frat houses. But I don't think the 3 females in my house will go for it.

[LAJonathan]

Its very simple...just do it. At least every other time. :-)

[jackpinesavage]

As one of the lucky few who sits next to the largest body of fresh water (by surface area) on the globe, i hear what you're saying. At some point, the rest of this country is going to come knocking on my door asking for water. Oh, i understand, you don't want to deal with the winter or build a vibrant economy here. You want to live in the sunny southwest or wherever...you'll just want the water.

Here's the rub. Why should i give you "my" water when you're so wasteful with your own? Why should i drain away the power and splendor or Lake Superior so that you can flush it down the toilet? Even though i live here, were i building a home (or remodeling the bathroom), it would include a composting toilet. Why, when my water is drawn three blocks from my house and returns to the lake 1.5 miles down the road? Because it makes sense, that's why.

Where are the new building codes stipulating rain water catchment, gray water recycling, etc.? As my mother is fond of saying, "Lack of planning on your part does not, necessarily, constitute an emergency on my part."

[Wilburrr]

If it's brown, flush it down. If it's yellow, let it mellow.

or ....

In this land of fun and sun, never flush a 'number one'