The Great debate Water conservation: The Dishwasher vs. washing dishes by hand

At my work we have what they call the bulletin board email list where people usually post things for sell or free stuff.  They also post looking for stamps or cell phone charging cords, really there is no limit to what is posted on this email list.  So today I get to work and start going through my emails and find this long email chain regarding the Dishwasher Vs. washing by hand and how much water is used.  I found it interesting and thought I would share it.

Hello all,

I thought this was a timely fact to consider in saving water this year given the low amount of rainfall and the importance of conserving water.

Believe it or not, you save a huge amount of water by using the dishwasher vs. washing dishes by hand....

Dishwashers use as little as five gallons of water for the entire dishwasher load.  On the other hand, says the American Water Works Association, when you wash dishes by hand, the average person uses 20 gallons of water.

https://www.recyclebank.com/live-green/dishwasher-vs-washing-by-hand/

First response.

A dishwasher uses electricity while handwashing does not. I wonder how much electricity it uses and whether that costs more than a few gallons of water.

Response from the first person who posted the information.

Apparently, using the dishwasher saves, time, energy, soap and electricity.  People use huge amounts of soap when hand washing dishes compared with a small amount in a dishwasher.  In addition, one uses more electricity from the water heater while running the water.  Moreover, we are in a drought and if millions of people consider the difference between 5 and 20 gallons of water plus energy and soap savings, it really makes sense.  Additionally, many people hand wash dishes 2 times per day; vs. the dishwasher once per day.  Therefore, each household could be saving 40 gallons of water per day and time and energy = smart idea!

http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=314

Response from the first guy again.

I found the answer:

A typical Dishwasher uses 1,201 watts per cycle or around 363 kilowatts per year.

Tap water costs around 2 cents per gallon (40 cents to wash your dishes in a sink vs. 10 cents to wash in a dishwasher.

If a dishwasher at 1,201 watts runs for 30 minutes, the electricity (at 12 cents per kilowatt hour) = 1201 * .5 (half an hour) / 1000 (convert from KW to W) * .12 = .09 for electricity.

So handwashing will cost 40 cents and using your dishwasher will cost 19 cents.

Now we have another person responding.

But what if you use paper plates ?

Now more get involved in the controversy.

Haha. Great troll Steve. ..

 All I can say is that I wash my hands of this whole dishwasher vs. washing dishes controversy.

 And the last to respond.

Landfill issue unless recycling, look at all the Styrofoam cups that are used here. Finger foods is the way to go.

 This all took place in an hour.  I just found it to be so funny that they were debating this and the funny ways some responded to each posting.  Oh what would we do for fun if we didn't have our bulletin board postings!!