We have been making an effort to make small changes in our life that reflect our somewhat slow-to-come realization that not only is our family not the sole one living on the face of the Earth, but that we are surrounded by a community and world full of great kids who would probably like to inherit a planet that's in somewhat good shape in terms of sustainability. It's taken us a bit too long to get to this point, but with dawning realization comes the strong desire and commitment to actually research and put changes into action.
Now, I can't plead total ignorance about water conservation. As a child of the '80's, I was taught in school that if things kept going the way they were, there'd be a water shortage, and that it would happen very soon. I even remember a Cosby episode that mentioned water conservation, and how all the Huxtable kids had to turn off the water faucet while they were brushing their teeth, which I also got into the habit of doing (behold the power of television). I also tried very hard to take shorter showers, but that one was really tough.
My best friend in high school lived in an older house. I don't recall if she had a dishwasher, but I do remember hanging out in her kitchen and talking, talking, eating Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and talkingtalkingtalking while she washed dishes in her sink. She had a flow regulator on her faucet that allowed her to stop the water with the flip of a lever instead of having to turn the water all the way off and on. Every once in a while, since moving in with Dave, I would get on a humbug and search high and low for one, never having any success, until finally, last month I found some. I'm not sure if they've been around the whole time and I've been looking in the wrong places, or if they're seeing a resurgence in popularity in light of the green movement. I ordered one for the kitchen and one for bathroom. After years of searching, you have no idea how excited I was when they arrived in the mail. They were immediately put to use, and I absolutely love them. The habit of flipping the lever while you're washing your hands or doing dishes forms quickly, and every time I stop the flow of water, I'm conscious of the water we're not using. That's a pretty good feeling.