Water Conservation Tips
Water, water everywhere, but is it safe to drink? Water quality and conservation have become a major issue here in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Citizens concerned with the water they are drinking can follow a few conservation methods to help keep their own personal impact down and preserve the Bay for future generations.
Outdoor and Gardening Tips
- Construct a rain barrel in your yard to collect precipitation. Use the water collected to water your garden or other plants in your yard in lieu of a hose.
- Plant low-moisture plants around that yard that require less watering and help stabilize soils to prevent erosion and subsequent sedimentation of streams and rivers.
- Mulch your garden and around trees and shrubs in your yard. This helps keep good moisture in around the roots and anchors the plant in place. Plus it looks good.
Household Tips
- Use natural cleaners like baking soda and hot water instead of harsh chemicals. Reducing the amount of nutrients you put into the sewer system will reduce the heavy nutrient load and subsequent eutrophication of rivers, lakes, and the Bay.
- Run water dependent appliances only when necessary. Wait until you have a full load of laundry to use the washer or until the dishwasher is at capacity to run it.
- Collect and reuse the water used to wash fresh fruits or veggies to water house plants. Same with left over ice cubes in a drink cup. Pour these out into a planter instead of down the sink.
Personal Usage Tips
- Drink water from the tap instead of bottled water. It reduces waste from the bottles and also reduces global impact on water sources.
- Cut back on your time in the shower. Shaving off a minute or two can save up to 150 gallons a month.
- Keep a bucket in the shower to collect the water wasted as you wait for it to run hot. Just like with rinse water, this can be used to water indoor or outdoor plants around the house.
Reducing your own personal impact will help you now and others in the future. Water resources are important to our survival and we need to start preserving and protecting them. Start small around your home and then work out to a community effort. Challenge your friends and family to follow the tips above with you. Campaign for green changes in your local government and for green causes statewide or nationally. Do your part in the fight to keep our water resources clean.
Location
http://www.vcnva.org/anx/index.cfm/1,258,928,0,html
Copyright © Virginia Conservation Network 2012