H
helgasdogs
Guest
If I leave the tap on while I’m brushing my teeth am I committing a sin by wasting water? Even if the water eventually gets recycled, I’m still wasting a small amount of money.
- Status
B
Bruised_Reed
Guest
One should really let the cold water run for a couple of minutes from any tap one gets water from for drinking and cooking. It helps get lead out. So no I don’t think it’s a sin. If there is a shortage of water (like during a drought) I think it could be a sin to water one’s lawn but I don’t know beyond that.
Good for you wanting to be a good steward.
Good for you wanting to be a good steward.
P
puzzleannie
Guest
there should not be any lead in modern plumbing, and if you do have lead pipes they should be replaced, they are a health hazard. there is no need to let the water run while brushing, you can fill a glass with water, or just turn it off while you brush, and back on while you rinse. but not, it is not a sin. we should all be conscious of using natural resources wisely, but the amount of water used in toothbrushing compared to all other wasteful uses, like watering golf courses, is pretty small, I would guess.
B
Bruised_Reed
Guest
L
LilyM
Guest
Our entire country has been in quite a drought cycle for several years now. On behalf of those of us who are living under severe water restrictions … QUIT IT QUIT IT QUIT IT!
Z
Zooey
Guest
Is it a sin? I have no idea…
But as far as “letting the water run”, when I was growing up in this house we only had what water was in a shallow dug well & it came from a pump, not a tap. My grandmother would have had my hide, if I had ever wasted water by pumping out extra! I had a glass, I filled it with water, & that was what I had for tooth brushing.
I still do it that way! This was her house, & I keep to her rules on such things…Somebody asked me, not long ago, what my water bill averages; it is about a tenth of hers. No virtue on my part; I just can’t get past the training of childhood…
But as far as “letting the water run”, when I was growing up in this house we only had what water was in a shallow dug well & it came from a pump, not a tap. My grandmother would have had my hide, if I had ever wasted water by pumping out extra! I had a glass, I filled it with water, & that was what I had for tooth brushing.
I still do it that way! This was her house, & I keep to her rules on such things…Somebody asked me, not long ago, what my water bill averages; it is about a tenth of hers. No virtue on my part; I just can’t get past the training of childhood…
R
rwoehmke
Guest
Many years ago I suffered from scruples about all kinds of minor things, like hanging my towel up wrong, swallowing a little tooth paste before communion, ignoring trivial local statutes like jay-walking, etc. It seems to me that there have been a fair number of threads started on such scruples. Are we perhaps “straining at gnats and swallowing camels” as it says in the Good Book?
W
wcknight
Guest
I let the water run especially in the winter time, because it takes a while for it to warm up. I hate washing my face or shaving with cold water.
This drive my dear wife batty, and she complains to me all the time about this. And of course her complaining drives me batty.
The only sin I see here is wanting to strangle her when she nags me about it.
This drive my dear wife batty, and she complains to me all the time about this. And of course her complaining drives me batty.
The only sin I see here is wanting to strangle her when she nags me about it.
L
Liberian
Guest
Helgasdogs,
Given that you are simply choosing how to spend your own money, no, it is not a sin.
Given that you are simply choosing how to spend your own money, no, it is not a sin.
- Liberian
L
levi86
Guest
P
Philip76
Guest
I have never understood why anyone would leave the tap running while brushing their teeth. Relatives of mine still do it, but still complain about other people wasting water.
The lead thing is garbage. Forget it. As a previous poster said, if you have lead pipes just get them replaced. If you can’t do that, brush your teeth with bottled water. But I cannot imagine a set of lead pipes lasting this long. Even fifty years ago, pipes were steel and not lead. Then they were copper. Now they’re polyethylene.
If you absolutely must run the tap before using any of the water, get a bucket and catch the water. Then use it to water your garden. You don’t eat the flowers so even if the water is contaminated you won’t hurt yourself doing this.
And don’t anybody even think of suggesting cleaning one’s teeth in the shower! Unless you can wash the rest of yourself at the same time with the other hand, you’re wasting even more water than the tap-runners.
The lead thing is garbage. Forget it. As a previous poster said, if you have lead pipes just get them replaced. If you can’t do that, brush your teeth with bottled water. But I cannot imagine a set of lead pipes lasting this long. Even fifty years ago, pipes were steel and not lead. Then they were copper. Now they’re polyethylene.
If you absolutely must run the tap before using any of the water, get a bucket and catch the water. Then use it to water your garden. You don’t eat the flowers so even if the water is contaminated you won’t hurt yourself doing this.
And don’t anybody even think of suggesting cleaning one’s teeth in the shower! Unless you can wash the rest of yourself at the same time with the other hand, you’re wasting even more water than the tap-runners.
- Status