“Water, save it for what you love,” is one of my favorite water utility slogans, designed to teach people the importance of conservation. Others, such as “Every drop counts” and “Got water? Do your part, be water smart,” remind us of the small steps we can take to reduce overall consumption. While fixing a leaking toilet and installing a water-efficient showerhead may not be as exciting as building a greywater system, these simple actions can save as much, or even more, water.
The discussion in Part I of this book sets the stage for the how-to projects of Part II. Before crawling under the house to check out your plumbing, or researching local rainwater data to plan a rainwater catchment system, it’s important to understand where your water comes from, where it goes, and what is impacted along the way. Chapter 1 and chapter 2 help you understand the problems and challenges of municipal water systems, while chapter 3 presents a range of practical options for reducing water consumption at home: finding and fixing leaks, choosing efficient irrigation systems, and designing beautiful, productive and water-efficient landscapes. You’ll also learn the basics of greywater, rainwater, and composting toilet systems so you can determine which are a good fit for your home (maybe all of them!).