Why should we conserve water? One of the main reasons is so we don’t run out. We don’t want our intake to exceed the ecosystems output. Also, facilities that provide water – pumping stations, delivery companies, and wastewater treatment – all consume a lot of energy to do what they do. In California, 15 percent of their electricity is used for water management. Finally, conserving water helps conserve the habitat of local wildlife.
So you may be thinking “Sounds great – how do we conserve water?” The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has come up with a web page all about conserving water. One page has two short videos about the impact your water usage has as well as how making small changes in your water use can make a big difference.
You can learn more about the WaterSense products and how they help improve your efficiency. WaterSense products are 20 percent more water efficient than other water products such as sink faucets, toilets, showerheads, and other accessories.
Got any household water leaks? Did you know that each year, Americans lose more than a trillion gallons of water (yes, I meant to write “trillion”) due to leaks including dripping faucets and running toilets?
That’s just wasteful, so the EPA developed a plan by establishing Fix a Leak Week. If you check out its web page, you can find more facts about water leaks, read about how you can fix your leaks, and find out more about leaks with helpful education resources. Oh, and this year, March 14-20 is the official Fix a Leak Week, but remember, with these helpful resources, you can do it anytime!
You may not think that conserving water is a big deal but consider this – recently a governmental survey reported that 36 states anticipate a water shortage at either the local, regional, or statewide level by 2013.