Reclaim Water Systems: Save Money & Go Green Now!

Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this whole “reclaim water” thing at home, and let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a journey. I wanted to share what I’ve been up to, ’cause honestly, it’s kinda cool and saves some cash.

Getting Started-Reclaim Water Systems

First, I had to figure out what the heck I was even doing. I mean, “reclaim water”? Sounds fancy, but what does it actually involve? I did some digging around, watched some videos, and realized it’s basically about reusing water that would normally go down the drain.

I started small. My first target? The shower. I thought, “Okay, I stand in there for a good 10-15 minutes sometimes, just letting the water run. That’s gotta be usable for something.”

Reclaim Water Systems

The Bucket Method

My initial, super-sophisticated system was… a bucket. Yep, a plain old bucket. I’d stick it in the shower while the water was warming up, and sometimes even just leave it in there while I showered (carefully, so I didn’t trip!).

What did I use the bucket water for?

• Watering plants: My houseplants are loving this. They don’t care if the water had a bit of soap in it.
• Flushing the toilet: This felt a bit weird at first, pouring shower water into the toilet, but hey, it works!
• Reclaim Water Systems

Stepping it Up (Slightly)

After the bucket success, I got a little more ambitious. I found this thing – it’s basically a flexible hose that attaches to my shower head. When I want to reclaim water, I just flip a little switch, and the water goes into the hose instead of down the drain.

This hose then leads to a bigger container I have sitting in my bathroom (it’s not pretty, but it’s functional!). It holds way more water than the bucket, so I can collect a lot more.

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The Results (So Far)

Honestly, I’m pretty surprised by how much water I’ve been able to save. It’s not like I’m living off the grid or anything, but I definitely feel better about not just letting all that water go to waste. And my water bill? Let’s just say it’s a little bit lower these days.

It’s not a perfect system, and I’m still learning. But it’s a start, and it’s making me think more about how I use water every day. If you’re looking for a simple way to be a bit more eco-friendly (and save some money), give water reclaiming a try! Start with a bucket – you might be surprised at how much you can do.