Quick Tip #3: Reuse that Water

It's summer. It's hot out. And your water bill is going up up up in order to keep your yard happy. Am I right?
Looking for a way to save some money on your water bill AND help the environment? Reusing water not only uses less of our precious water resources, but also reduces the energy (and pollution) required to treat the water and put it back into use.
Most of us do not have the money to install a greywater system in our home that would allow us to reuse our own water (and it is not even legal in every state yet!). However, there are a couple simple things you can do to cut back on the water you use.
Put an old bucket in your shower with you. I use an old kitty litter bucket, but any kind will do. As long as you use natural, biodegradable soaps and shampoos in your shower (which you want to do anyways, right?) you can catch any excess shower water in your bucket and once cool, you can use it to water your yard. This water is great for grasses, non-fruiting trees and ornamentals, but don't pour the water directly on any foods you will be consuming. Using this water for non-edible vegetation is completely safe and can actually provide nutrition for those plants.
You can also put a small tub into your kitchen sink. Follow the same rules: only natural biodegradable soaps and don't pour the water directly into your garden. Now you have another source of water to save you money and cut back on the resources that you require!