Water Conservation
Once you get used to habits that conserve water, they become as second nature as the habits that waste water ashore.
Reprinted from "Fundamentals of Sailing, Cruising, & Racing" by Steve Colgate; published by W.W. Norton & Co.
When you are cruising over long distances between ports or in an area where good drinking water is difficult to find, water conservation aboard a sailboat is a necessity. Some sailboats have quite small water tanks, though the modern trend is toward larger and larger capacity tanks. Nevertheless, space taken for water tanks means less space for other storage, and since there's a finite amount of space on a sailboat a compromise must be reached. Once you get used to habits that conserve water, they become as second nature as the habits that waste water ashore.
Whenever you wash anything in a sink, use the drain plug and fill the bowl with water rather than let it run. Many sailboat galleys have double sinks, one for washing and one for rinsing, to help conserve water. Often they are equipped with a pressure tap and a back up hand pump or foot-operated pump in case the pressure system breaks down. On a long cruise, turn off the pressure system and rely on the manual pump. Less water is used if you have to pump it by hand or foot.
On boats expecting to sail at sea, often a saltwater pump is installed in the galley. The salt water is used for the initial washing of dishes (rinsed with fresh) and for some cooking, such as boiling eggs. Even without a saltwater tap, it's common practice to wash dishes in salt water if not anchored in a polluted harbor. Just drop a plastic bucket over the side on a line, bring up the salt water, and set it in the cockpit near the companionway. Use liquid detergent in the bucket and pass the clean dishes down below for a freshwater rinse and for drying.
When you take a shower, a few squirts of fresh water will get you wet; then turn off the tap. Lather up and a few more squirts should be enough to rinse off. At sea, a bucket of salt water and a bottle of Joy liquid detergent are all you need to get yourself clean. Sea water is also used for brushing teeth, plus it's good for the gums.
On one three-week trip across the Atlantic we averaged one quart of fresh water a day per person using such conservation measures. Remember - there's a lot of liquid in most canned foods, and most boats carry adequate soft drinks to augment the water supply.
Happy sailing from Steve Colgate, founder of Offshore Sailing School!