Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
One of the hottest new water-saving devices is the dual-fl ush
toilet—fl ush one way for less water to wash down less waste, fl ush
the other way for more water to fl ush away more waste. “It's a guilt-
free kind of toilet,” says architect Austin. She spent $275 for her
model, and fi gures that depending on her water charges, she'll save
plenty of water and cash in the long run.
WATER TALES
Forget worrying about the wasted water that fl ows down
the drain while your shower or bath water heats up.
Katherine Austin, former mayor of Sebastopol, California,
has the solution:
What I've done in my home is install a water-recycling
pump in the bathroom. The pump goes under the sink
in the bathroom farthest from your hot water heater. When
you're ready to turn on the hot water, push the button and
the still-cold water from the hot tap is pumped back into the
cold water pipe and back to the hot water heater, as opposed
to going down the drain. When the pump senses the hot
water has arrived, it turns off automatically. Then just turn on
the faucet and you have hot water.
It's the best thing since sliced bread in terms of saving
water in homes because almost every older home has that
problem.
Austin noted that the pump cost her less than $200. Pump
models are available for $180 to $400, work with standard and
tankless water heaters, and are easy to install.
CRACKDOWN ON POLLUTION
No matter where you live, chances are more than once you've
rejoiced from that rain that fi nally broke the heat spell or that
downpour that cleaned the air. That same storm also washed
away the dirt, grime, pollution, and more that collects on streets,
