California is high and dry, and everyone knows it. For months, the Golden State has been in the middle of a drought that has left its citizens scrambling for ways to preserve the water supply. Indeed, there are the classic methods of water conservation, such as not watering your lawn and cutting down on the amount of times you flush the toilet or run the dishwasher, but there are also other eco-friendly measures to consider. Although a bit more involved, the methods we’ll explore here can save you money in the long run while still conserving resources on a wider scale.

In your home’s Seattle Plumber bathrooms, consider having a plumbing service install composting toilets. While some models use a minimal amount of water, buyers have the option to pick a toilet that uses none whatsoever. Self-contained composting toilets fit right in your bathroom as one unit. While your plumbing service doesn’t need to go underground to set them up, they are larger than your average toilet. You can choose between units that are electric or ones that are completely green. It’s all up to you! Composting toilets work completely naturally, meaning that they use evaporation and decomposition to break down all waste. Solid waste is mostly water, and the remaining portions are broken down just as they would be in a garden composter. There’s no threat of disease spreading to you, as any pathogens present in the waste will break down during the decomposition process. What’s more, you have a ready source of fertilizer when it’s all said and done.

When it comes to doing your laundry, try to minimize the amount of detergent you use on your load, and, when possible, search store shelves for biodegradable options. Excessive chemicals can kill off the bacteria you’d find naturally occurring in your home’s septic system, which compromises its overall effectiveness. Additionally, always make sure you are using the appropriate amount of water for the size of the load that you are trying to launder. Consider using a laundry tub and doing your wash by hand rather than relying on a standard machine. Filling up a tub to do your laundry can save a lot of water that a washing machine can’t, particularly if you reuse the water for the washing and rinsing processes.

Don’t leave your water running! Consider purchasing a sprinkler to water your lawn rather than hosing it down. This will moderate the amount of water that you use, and if the sprinkler operates on a timer, you can set it to go off at times of day when there’s not as much water in use and when your lawn will not require the same amount of water. When washing dishes, clothes, and cars, don’t leave the hose or taps running when they’re not required. Also, make sure none of your toilets or faucets are leaking. A leaky faucet can consume as much as 40 percent of extra waste. To get started, talk to your plumbing service about these water conservation methods and more!