Ways to limit amount of wastewater

[wyardley]

I get the symbolic aspect, but it's really important to put things into perspective. Even our bathing and dishwashing is nothing compared to business (especially agriculture, which most numbers put around 80% in California), and even at the home level, most water wasted is due to leaks.

I do typically dump my waste-water outside on the plants when I'm at home (it goes down the drain at work, though).

If you want to save water, focus on the areas where you can make a big difference (eating less (or no) meat and looking for pasture raised animal products where you do eat them, replacing any grass with drought tolerant landscaping, making sure leaks get repaired, replacing toilets and appliances with more water-efficient models).

There are lots of great pie charts out there of where most residential water goes, as well as the breakdown of residential water use vs. other types.

[debunix]

I think it is very in the spirit of gongfu cha to be mindful of the preciousness of water and to make the most of the water we do use. It is not to say that it is more important than being mindful of the gallon of water it takes to grow every almond or the however many gallons for every burger or square foot of lawn.

[Andrew15_06]

Debunix,

That is precisely what I was thinking with this post. The spirit of gong fu demands, to me that is, mindfulness in our use of water. Usage of water in other aspects of life are just as important as well. If I'm to turn off my faucet if it is dripping a drop at a time then why would I not bring the same attention to excessive use in my tea pouring? Not that all of what I do is excessive for pouring, I very much do think rinsing can be important, but more what can I bring my attention to.

Thank you all for such great suggestions and perspectives.

[kyarazen]

I don't think we waste a lot of water during tea ceremony. A quick shower will take up a week's worth of tea ceremony water. I recycle my tea ceremony wastewater often by watering the plants. The plants seems to enjoy the tea waste water by the look of its' healtea, err...healthy growth

i'm extremely lavish with water when it comes to brewing tea. but everything is collected and that goes into watering plants the plants absolutely love tea

[Cwyn]

If I lived in CA then I'd probably be buying bottled water for my tea rather than running the sink.

[Drax]

I don't think we waste a lot of water during tea ceremony. A quick shower will take up a week's worth of tea ceremony water. I recycle my tea ceremony wastewater often by watering the plants. The plants seems to enjoy the tea waste water by the look of its' healtea, err...healthy growth

i'm extremely lavish with water when it comes to brewing tea. but everything is collected and that goes into watering plants the plants absolutely love tea

I hadn't thought about using the waste water on my plants.... does the tea waste change the pH of the soil at all?

[debunix]

I haven't noticed any problem with my plants getting tea wastewater--or, for that matter, occasional leftover tea, whether potted orchids or violets in the office, potted succulents outside at home, or plants growing in the various soils in my yard. All seem to appreciate tea wastewater.

[茶藝-TeaArt08]

Of late I've been drinking primarily Nepalese and Darjeeling teas, 2014 autumn harvest and this year's 2015 first flush teas. The teas have such nice, fine, beautiful leaves that I've been dumping the waste water and used leaves from my shuifang into the large potted plants in our garden. The tea leaves make a nice mulch that actually, to me, is quite attractive and the plants have always seemed to take the tea water well and are now growing nicely in the evolving spring.

Blessings!

[jayinhk]

Tea would make your water more alkaline, so you probably don't want to use it on anything acid-loving.

[Andrew15_06]

I actually have killed a few plants with excessive tea wastewater. What I find is best is alternating which plants get to have cha. : )

[mganz42]

I mean if we're gonna be honest, if we want to save water in the US those of us OUTSIDE California probably shouldn't be using certain brands of bottled water *cough cough nestle*

[Andrew15_06]

Exactly!! In my opinion bottled water in general should not be used. I have a water place I go to and the owners are very responsible with their filtering process, they care about the drought.

[William]

Here in Italy the limits for harmful substances in tap water are much more stricter than the bottled water's limits, so at least in this country you do a favor to the environment and yourself using tap water (as I do).

Another point is the waste of water due to the losses of the pipes, that at least here in Italy is huge.