sunshinesunshine Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 California residents come July will be fined $500 if they use too much water during their daily routine of activity. Since I always do house work for my parents, my mom thinks we are going to be fined $500. She insists that we wash our dishes after eating meals the old fashion way. Get a bucket, fill it with water and soap wash the dishes THEN rinse them down, do not wash the dishes with the water running. How is doing it the old fashioned way better? Your not getting the food off the plate faster, it takes longer too does it not? What would you do? Link to post Share on other sites
CarrieT Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Ironic you started this. We are a family of four and I've always washed the dishes with the water running. So I tried a test and did the "old fashioned way" as prescribed. And I was surprised that - yes! - it uses less water to wash dishes that way. This morning we also changed our showers to low-flow *and* have stopped flushing if the toilet water is only yellow; "Spare the blush and Share the flush." I really miss long, hot showers... :-( Heck, two weeks ago I was in a hotel in the East Coast and deliberately had a bath JUST BECAUSE! Not something I can do in California any more... Link to post Share on other sites
SolG Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 How often does the fine apply? If it was annual, I'd just assume I'm going to pay it and budget it in. But if it were more frequent, I'd probably look at measures to reduce consumption. How does washing up compare to using a dishwasher consumption wise? I can't remember the last time I hand washed anything! Feeling glad I don't live in California! Link to post Share on other sites
CarrieT Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 How does washing up compare to using a dishwasher consumption wise? I can't remember the last time I hand washed anything! I think it depends on the make and model of the dishwasher. We are in a rental and our dishwasher hasn't worked in a year and the owners don't care to fix it. The other pisser about our rental is that the guest bathroom (that my husband's kids use on their weeks with us), has one of those antique toilets where the bowl is mounted up near the ceiling. It has been leaking for years and - yes - we have had a number of plumbers out to fix it, but no one can reach the fixtures. We are actually getting nasty letters from the water department about our excessive water use (undoubtedly due to the toilet since we live on the beach and don't have a lawn to even water!), but there is nothing to be done other than gut the toilet which the owners refuse to do... Link to post Share on other sites
SolG Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I don't live in the US so don't know a thing about your tenancy laws. But I am a landlord for an investment property I own. I actually pay for excess water charges for my tennants because I want the gardens and pool to be well tended. In the circumstances you describe, I would fully expect to pay excess water charges incurred because of my failure to maintain the plumbing (and I'd fix it as soon as I could!). Do you have any recourse at all Carrie? It just doesn't seem fair. Link to post Share on other sites
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