Water Conservation, Protect our Water Supply

An article written by Tim Vanderpool in the May 3-9, 2012 Tucson Weekly caught my eye. Vanderpool sites a January 2012 report, “Moving Forward from Vulnerability to Adaptation: Climate Change, Drought, and Water Demand in the Urbanizing Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico (A cooperative effort of US-Mexican researchers Margaret Wilder, Christopher A. Scott, Nicholas Pineda-Pablos, Robert G. Varady, et al). This study points out that drought conditions in the Southwest areas mentioned above puts its inhabitants in a vulnerable, if not perilous place. See article “Water Ways.” www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/water-ways/Content?oid=3336059.

Water Ways Tucson Weekly

I’ve read the full report. I believe it shows that the lack of clean water and the myriad complexities that creates, rather than shortages of fossil fuel, is the biggest challenge we in the Southwest face today. Read the report and see whether you agree with me.

“A Government Accountability Office survey of water managers across the country showed that at least 36 states were anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013, even under non-drought conditions.”

http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/questions.html
 link to EPA Info . For Further Information from the EPA:
Helpline: (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) |
WaterSense, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wastewater Management (4204M), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20460

Here are some points to ponder

What are we, as citizens, actively doing to keep clean (potable) water clean and available? Are we prepared for skyrocketing water rates in the near future? And, do we think it’s wise policy to allow those controlling the southwestern states allotment of water from the Colorado River free rein to sell this precious commodity to other states? Are we frozen in dismay or apathy, because we tell ourselves that we can effect no change as just one person or one household? Do we minimize this problem, quiver in fear, or suffer from ignorance, greed, or denial?

EPA statistics indicate, “Private homes use more than half of the publicly supplied water in the US.” Half the pie is a big chunk, so we actually can make a big difference. Look at the choices you make in your water usage, and conserve, reuse, and recycle whenever you can. Act responsibly by participating in planning for the future and express your views by contacting public officials and voting for candidates that support water conservation.


In addition, I offer some water-saving tips to you:

1. Assess whether your home’s plumbing is sound. Check for leaky faucets, toilets, or other plumbing issues. Approximately 5 to 10 percent of American homes have water leaks that drip away 90 gallons a day or more. In fact, there would be a savings of 30,000 gallons of water, if new, efficient WaterSense (EPA approved water conservation label) fixtures are installed. If the 5 percent of American homes with the most serious plumbing leaks had them corrected, this could save more than 177 billion gallons of water annually!   
2.  Switch to a WaterSense label. It signifies that a landscape irrigation professional is certified. Those certified as WaterSense companies have proved professional proficiency in water-efficient irrigation system design, installation/maintenance, and auditing. You as a homeowner, need to remember to plant only Xeriscape shrubs and trees. Plan landscape so that it conserves water and the environment.
3.  Make a commitment to set up a water collection receptacle and use this rainwater for irrigation. Go a step further, and pump graywater for gardening needs, car washing, outside clean-up jobs. As its name connotes, graywater is of lesser quality than potable water. Water from the kitchen sink, garbage disposal, and dishwasher is blackwater, because of its high concentrations of organic waste. Graywater derives from other residential water uses. Water from the bath, shower, washing machine, and bathroom sink are the sources of graywater. Graywater is most suited for subsurface irrigation of non-edible landscape plants. Graywater could supply most, if not all the irrigation needs of a domestic dwelling landscaped with vegetation of a semiarid region. Along with its application to outside irrigation, graywater may serve in some situations for toilet flushing. 

Water is a finite resource-once it's gone, it's gone. Before we’re forced to use treated gray water for cooking and drinking and the like, take heed of your unconscious, wasteful, or bad choices. Watch, Conserve, Collect, Reuse, and Save potable water! Your life may one day depend on it.

The quote for today comes from http://thinkexist.com :

“In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference”

 Rachel Carson