Water resource management, to which water conservation is a critical component, demands that we ensure the efficient use of this resource that is increasingly becoming scarce. Water resources have a direct relationship with economic activities and population growth.
The government has directed all government agencies to lead in water conservation measures to mitigate the possible detrimental effects of the looming water crisis. Members of the Cabinet have been urged to set the example in their respective offices in conserving this vital life-giving and life-sustaining resource.
For its part, the private sector is strongly urged to undertake a comprehensive and integrated plan to address the possible effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which could result in P20 billion loss to the economy in the next six months, and affect 543,844.8 hectares of rice lands, 273,411.6 hectares of cornfields, and pose a threat to around 16,992 hectares of fishery areas.
With the onset of the summer months and the impending El Niño phenomenon, we could really use some water conservation tips. On the part of government, there are initiatives to encourage the conservation of dam water, do cloud seeding in areas already affected by the dry spell and during the summer months.
One source has it that running a faucet for five minutes uses as much electricity (for water purification, delivery, and treatment) as burning a 60 watt light bulb for 14 hours. The same source estimates our average consumption per day for taking a bath can use 37 gallons of water; using a shower, 40 gallons; washing dishes by hand, 20 galllons; and toilet flushing, around 100 gallons. In the average home, toilet flushing accounts for about 800 gallons of water per week. These quantities are on top a few liters of water we consume daily for drinking and cooking.
Households, which consume the most quantity of water daily for their myriad activities, are enjoined to do their part to help ensure a steady supply of this vital resource, which would redound to a significant amount of savings and monetary terms
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Let us all do our share to conserve water
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
New program shows Marin kids where water comes from - ContraCostaTimes.com
A group of 32 excited fourth- and fifth-graders from Saint Raphael School gathered at the lip of Bon Tempe Reservoir last week on Mount Tamalpais to learn a little about where their water comes from.The field trip is part of a new program launched by the Marin Municipal Water District to get children thinking not only about the county's limited water supply but the environment that surrounds it.
"It gives them an appreciation for where their water comes from and that it is a limited resource," said Craig Lauridsen of the district's water conservation department, who spoke to the students. "It's also a great outdoor learning experience."
He gave them some facts and figures to think about:
- The district produces an average of 25 million gallons of water a day, enough to fill a garden hose long enough to wrap around Earth 12 times.
- Less than 1 percent of water produced by the district is used for drinking.
- It costs 75 cents to fill a year's worth of water bottles from the tap, versus more than $1,000 if the bottles are bought from a store.
AmeriCorps volunteers also lead the giggling, smiling students in a game of rock, paper, scissors to show them how the food chain works. Students paired off, and those who won climbed the chain moving from grass seeds to field mice, to snakes and then hawks, until returning back to Earth.
Sarah Weiss, fifth-grade teacher at Saint Raphael, watched as her students played the game.
"We try to talk about recycling,
and we study water use in class and will look at the food chain, too," Weiss said. "This is a really good hands-on opportunity for the students."Parent Roberto Cortez liked the discussion of water."It gives them a good sense from where the most precious thing comes from. It's not from the faucet," he said.His daughter Cassandra, 9, a fourth-grader, was nearby picking up an orange weed wrench. Part of the program included students pulling out French broom, an invasive on the watershed that chokes out native plants."We learned about the food chain and water," Cassandra said, as she lugged a wrench. "I like it."Suzanne Whelan, watershed volunteer coordinator, said the program has been a success and is fully booked."It's not only about keeping the water clean for us, but about the plants and animals we share the area with," Whelan said. "It's a chance for them to get out and have a little fun while learning. It's been great so far.">
Monday, February 22, 2010
Daily Sound — Water conservation tips offered by city of Santa Barbara
As warmer months near, Santa Barbara city officials are urging local residents to learn more about drought-resistant plants and water-conserving irrigation techniques via a CD and DVD available through the city’s Water Conservation Program.
The CD, titled “Water Wise Gardening in Santa Barbara County,” features a database of searchable information on more than 1,000 drought-resistant plants, more than 300 photos of garden tours, and helpful facts and resources on gardening designs and practices.
The “Laundry to Landscape” DVD offers instructions on how to install an irrigation system using graywater from a washing machine. The 90-minute program is hosted by ecological designer Art Ludwig and includes information on tools, parts and installation tricks.
The state recently approved the installation of graywater systems without building permits, allowing local homeowners to install a laundry-to-landscape water system without a permit.
The CD and DVD can be borrowed from the library, picked up for free from the city’s water program at 630 Garden St., or seen online at www.sbwater.org. More information is available at www.santabarbaraca.gov/water or by calling the water conservation hotline at 564-5460.
Being water-wise saves money, resources | Southern California
Though heavy rains have moistened Southern California's dry soil, it hasn't lessened the state's dehydrated condition or provided any long-term answers to its water woes."We're still in a drought," said Debby Figoni, conservation specialist/education coordinator for the Chino Basin Water Conservation District (CBWCD).
"Cutting back on water usage will conserve our resources, be better for the environment and benefit everyone. So many people want to conserve - they just don't know how," she said.
The CBWCD is taking people from just wanting to conserve water to conserving water - by showing them how.
Based in Montclair, the CBWCD is a public agency serving Chino, Montclair and parts of Chino Hills, Upland, Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga.
Its mission is to protect the Chino Groundwater Basin, educate individuals and organizations in water conservation and promote the efficient use of water resources.
In helping to meet its goal, the CBWCD has started free, user-friendly workshops that offer the public useful tips on being water wise. The workshops are open to anyone.
"Water Wise Gardening (The Basics) is like Water Wise Landscaping 101," Figoni said. "It sets a foundation and is a gateway to other workshops."
Those who attend Water Wise Gardening (The Basics) will leave with the knowledge and ability to go home and make changes that will have a positive impact on their water consumption.
The workshops
are on site in the district's conference room and includes an informative tour of its beautifully maintained garden that's filled with many examples of drought-tolerant plants, ground cover and foliage.Other workshops include:
• Water Wise Gardening: Irrigation, Soil and Fertilizers
• Water Wise Gardening: Plants and Planting
• Water Wise Gardening: Preparation and Design
• Water Wise Gardening: Maintenance, Pruning and Integrated Pest Management
• Backyard Composting.
Informative handouts will be provided with each workshop and there is always plenty of printed material available at the CBWCD office on water-saving tips, water- wise nurseries and a plant list.
"About 60 percent of the water the typical household uses comes from outside irrigation," Figoni said. "We can teach people how to remove their water-guzzling lawns and replace them with water wise wonderlands."
Attending the workshops will teach participants how to implement drought-tolerant landscaping that can reduce water consumption up to 40 percent.
Water wise gardening is also economical, Figoni said. "If you put in the right plants, the need and cost for pesticides and fertilizer goes way down," she said. "Everything will grow more naturally in the right environment."
Even if people want to keep their turf lawns, workshops can show them how to reduce their water consumption. "Just switching the sprinkler head makes a huge difference," she said.
Many people are hesitant to trade in their lush green because they associate "drought-tolerant" with succulents and cactus, but there are many types of ground cover, flowering plants and fragrant shrubs that make any landscape lively and interesting.
"Landscaping can be overwhelming. I try and make it easy to understand and clear," said Water Wise workshop instructor Juan Zamora. "I want to show how to use water wisely and have a lot of fun."
Zamora's teaching style includes lots of show-and-tell paired with hands-on learning. When the workshop's over, participants can go home and apply the methods.
"Our goal is to get the message out and have those people in the workshops tell other people," he said. "It's not hard to be water wise, it just takes a little bit of education."
Friday, February 19, 2010
Peoria offers water conservation advice | Save Water
It may not seem like much, but the water saved by turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth or by taking a slightly shorter shower can lead to hundreds of gallons and dollars saved in the long run.
The following tips will help identify leaks and changes to make in your home:
• Toilets can be a culprit for silent leaks because they usually go undetected. Carefully remove the toilet tank and put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait about 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure no one uses the toilet during this test. If the color seeps into the toilet bowl, there is a leak. Since there are multiple pieces inside the bowl that can be causing the leak you may want to replace all of the inner components of the toilet. Most local hardware stores sell the entire kit for less than $20.
• Grab a wrench and fix leaky faucets. Don’t forget to check outside faucets to ensure there are no leaks.
• Install a low-flow showerhead. There are some models that come with a temperature sensor. When the optimum temperature is reached, the water from the showerhead will slow to a trickle. When you are ready to get into the shower, you pull a cord and the showerhead resumes to normal flow. This will save water and electricity.