What do you know about H2O?

1.                  What are some ways that we can save water? We can start by installing water-efficient lawns and landscaping. When we do water, don’t water too much. We can be more water conscious. Take shorter showers. Don’t leave the water running when we brush our teeth. By using only what we really need, we can each save a lot of water. We can install water-saving showerheads, toilets, dishwashers and faucets. These devices can save substantial amounts of water. And, we won’t even notice the difference. We can examine our manufacturing processes for ways to reduce industrial wastewater.

 2.                  Why can’t we use 99% of the world’s water supply? About 97% of the earth’s water is salt or saline water. The rest is frozen in glaciers and icebergs. While we have been able to treat limited amounts of salt water, the process is too difficult and expensive to be practical on a large scale basis.

3.                  How can we make more people conserve water? Communicate. Let them know the facts and how important it really is. Set examples. Show people that it isn’t that difficult to save water. Just a little water saved can go a long way. We could charge more for water. High water bills would certainly get people’s attention! We may not have a choice. Water treatment is becoming more expensive every year. We can ration water. Once people use their quota of water, they have to pay a premium for more. If may seem harsh, but if there isn’t enough water to go around, what else can we do?

4.                 In which room in the house do we use the most water? In an average home, approximately 40-45% of the water used indoors is used in the bathroom. The majority of this is used flushing the toilet. For every flush, we use anywhere from .8 to 7 gallons of water.

5.                 When is the best time to water the lawn? At night or early in the morning before the sun goes to work evaporating precious water.

6.                 If water is always recycling itself, why is there a threat to our water supplies now? We’re using water faster than the earth can process it through the water cycle. What’s worse, we’re contaminating our water supplies with chemicals, pollution, and other contaminants. Removing these impurities is difficult, and sometimes impossible.

7.                 Why do the dry western states use more water per person than states that get a lot of water? Because people need to water their lawns and gardens more frequently in arid regions. In fact, about 50% of the water used in the arid/semi-arid west is used on lawns and landscaping. Farming in the west also uses a lot of water.

8.                 How can farmers use less water? They can water their crops at night like we should water our lawns. They can also use recycled wastewater. While this water may not be suitable for drinking, it can be used effectively for farming.