A lot of emphasis has been placed on water conservation across the nation and around the world. It's not that the Earth is running out of water. The same water that existed thousands of years ago still exists today. Even the Old Testament heroes knew that the rain falls, the rivers run into the seas, and the sun draws the water up to the sky again. The same water cycle that was in place in the Beginning is in place today.
The problem is that modern man has polluted a lot of the surface and even the ground water (water found under the surface of the Earth.) This has been done through industrial waste, runoff that contains fertilizers and other farm chemicals, human waste, animal waste, and sediments from the soil. Water and soil conservation projects have helped, but more needs to be done.
What can you and I, as individuals, do to help?
- Only use the washing machine or dishwasher when you have a full load. This also helps with electrical conservation since it takes the same power to run a full load as it does a partial load.
- Use a soaker hose or well-placed slotted jugs in your garden, around your trees, and around your yard to reduce evaporation of water when watering. Sprinkling systems lose a great deal of water to evaporation.
- When washing your hands or face, or brushing your teeth, or shaving, turn the water off until you really need it. Even better, catch some water in a small basin or other container and use that. Maintain control of your personal water usage.
- Before you shower, instead of letting the hot water run for awhile, just get it to temperature then hit the shower. Less wasted down the drain and less pulled from your water heater equals water and power savings. By the way, a shower consumes less water than a bath.
- Use rainwater as often as possible to water plants indoors and out. Rainwater can also be used for mopping floors and other household tasks that don't require pure water. Filtered rainwater works just fine for those tasks. Pour the "gray water" into your flower or vegetable beds instead of down the drain.
- Fix any leaks and dripping faucets. Even a slow drip can amount to over 60 gallons of wasted water a month. Leaks under the house on along the water line can make add up even more and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other dangerous insects.
Water conservation is not only good for the planet, it's good for your budget, too. Saving some of the water means a lower water bill, or, if you're on a well, a lower power bill since you don't force the pump to operate more often than it needs to.
