Earth Gauge » Water Conservation

Don’t Get Hosed

espinoza — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:54:30 +0000

Did you know that an average garden hose flows at at a rate of 10 to 16 gallons per minute? A broken sprinkler head wastes approximately 300 gallons of water per hour!

Viewer Tip: With less than one percent of freshwater available for human use, water conservation is extremely important. Help reduce your outdoor water consumption with these tips:

Don’t let the hose run while washing your car. Use a bucket with soap and water or take your car to a professional car wash that recycles water.
Use shut-off nozzles on outdoor hoses that can be adjusted to a fine spray so water flows only as needed.
Always turn water off at the spigot instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.
Check regularly for broken or leaking sprinklers and hose nozzles. Repair or replace them promptly to avoid wasting water.

Season: Summer

(Sources: City of Melbourne, www.melbourneflorida.org; Southwest Florida Water Management District, www.swfwmd.state.fl.us)

Smarter Showers

espinoza — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:47:17 +0000

The average American family of four uses 400 gallons of water per day – much of that water is used in the bathroom. Installing low flow shower heads and faucet aerators are some of the most effective water conservation measures you can take at home. These devices can reduce water consumption by as much as 50 percent.

Viewer Tip: Typical low flow shower heads use no more than two gallons per minute. You can determine the flow rate of your shower at home by following these easy steps:

Find a bucket that can hold a few gallons of water. It’s best to use bucket that has measurements marked on the inside.
Turn the shower on to its normal flow.
Place the empty bucket under the fixture and fill it up for 10 seconds.
Measure the amount of water in the bucket and multiply that number by six to determine the gallons per minute (GPM) flow rate.

If you find that your shower is using more than two gallons per minute, you may want to install a low flow showerhead. Check out EPA’s WaterSense website for information about purchasing a water efficient showerhead: www.epa.gov/watersense/products/showerheads.html.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: U.S. EPA WaterSense Program, www.epa.gov/watersense; www.epa.gov/watersense/products/showerheads.html).

Xeriscaping

espinoza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:22:01 +0000

Earth Gauge Video is available for this tip.

Do you like a beautiful yard, but not the time, effort and money required to maintain it? In hot, dry climates, the water required to maintain a lush landscape can be costly. Just one lawn sprinkler operating three times per week can use more than 1,000 gallons of water. About half of that water is lost by evaporation.

Viewer Tip: Try xeriscaping to maintain a beautiful yard without guzzling water. “Xeros” is a greek word meaning “dry.” By choosing native, drought-tolerant plants that are well adapted to your climate, you can cut outdoor watering expenses in half!

To learn more about the principles of xeriscaping, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/outdoor-tips/how-to/landscape-to-xeriscape/index.php.

To find plants that are native to your area, visit www.wildflower.org/explore/ or ask an expert at your local garden center.

Seasons: Spring, Summer

(Sources: Water Use it Wisely, www.wateruseitwisely.org; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, http://www.wildflower.org/explore/)

Riparian Areas

espinoza — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:49:22 +0000

Did you know in the arid West, an estimated 90 percent of desert wildlife relies on riparian areas for at least some part of their life cycles? Riparian areas are ecosystems that exist near a body of water and form vital linkages between streams and the surrounding uplands. Habitats in the Southwest face many of the threats that other U.S. regions do, including fragmentation, invasion of exotic species, overgrazing, recreational impacts and others. However, habitats in the West which face threats from scarce water resources are especially stressed. Many species of endangered and threatened fish are found in these areas.

Viewer Tip: To help protect and restore riparian areas, Trout Unlimited suggests these tips:

Avoid applying pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers near streams. These products can kill streamside plants and make animals sick.
Leave natural debris such as leaves and downed branches in place along streams and rivers to provide habitat for fish and other species.
Help prevent shoreline erosion by boating at no-wake speeds near river and stream banks.

This information is provided by Trout Unlimited. Learn more at www.tu.org.

Arbor Day

espinoza — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:16:38 +0000

Friday, April 30 is National Arbor Day. Trees add beauty to our landscape, but they also provide many environmental benefits:

Just one acre of forest puts out about four tons of oxygen – enough for four people for an entire year.
Adding trees around your home can increase its value by up to 15 percent.
One young, healthy tree has the same cooling effect as ten room-sized air conditioners running 20 hours per day!
One tree absorbs 4,000 gallons of rain and snowmelt each year, preventing erosion and protecting water quality.

Viewer Tip: This a great time to add a tree to your yard. Enter your zip code at http://www.arborday.org/treeinfo/zonelookup.cfm to learn which hardiness zone you live in and identify trees that will grow well in your climate.

Don’t have a yard? Volunteer to help plant trees in your community or take a walk and learn how to identify common trees. Visit http://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/fullonline.cfm for tree identification guides.

Season: Spring

(Source: Arbor Day Foundation. “Benefits of Trees.” http://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm)

Be Water and Energy Wise!

espinoza — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:54:05 +0000

This week is National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the nation’s largest environmental education event held each year the week before Earth Day to inspire environmental learning and stewardship among students and the public. This year’s EE Week theme is “Be Water and Energy Wise,” highlighting the water-energy connection and the importance of conserving both water and energy to protect the planet and reduce costs.

To celebrate EE Week, Earth Gauge will provide daily “Be Water and Energy Wise” tips to share with your audience this week. As an added bonus, if you let us know when you share “Be Water and Energy Wise” tips and how many people you think you reached, the Earth Day Network with count them towards the billion acts of green they are documenting in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

FRIDAY: Be a Water Use Sleuth

Ever wonder how much water you really use around the house? Visit The Field Museum’s Water Calculator to take an in-depth look at your home water use. Make your way through a virtual house, answering questions about your water use and collecting easy water-saving tips. At the end of the exercise, your total score will be compared to the national average household water use, as well as other water calculator users.

Access the calcultor here: http://watercalculator.fieldmuseum.org/

THURSDAY: Sprinkler Smarts

A lot of energy and water is required to produce our food – on an average farm, 90 percent of electricity used is for pumping groundwater for irrigation. While home irrigation systems may not use as much energy as agricultural systems, there are still easy, inexpensive ways to save water and energy in your yard and garden:

Add a rain sensor to your home irrigation system. Rain sensor devices shut-off your sprinklers automatically during rainy weather. They are inexpensive and can be retrofitted to almost any system.
Give your system a check-up. Look for for broken sprinklers and make adjustments so you are only watering the lawn – not the sidewalk or driveway!
Learn how to program your home irrigation controller, which will help you avoid overwatering your lawn and garden. Visit the Water Use it Wisely website for tips on programming a variety of home irrigation controllers: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/outdoor-tips/how-to/timing-is-everything.php.

(Sources: National Environmental Education Week and River Network. 2010. “The Water-Energy Connection.” http://www.eeweek.org/assets/files/water_and_energy/Water_Energy_Student_Facts.pdf; Water Use it Wisely, http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/outdoor-tips/index.php and http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/outdoor-tips/how-to/timing-is-everything.php)

WEDNESDAY: Garden Guzzlers

Nationwide, Americans use more than seven billion gallons of water per day to water lawns and gardens. That’s enough water to fill more than 10,700 Olympic-sized swimming pools! You can reduce your outdoor water use by choosing native, drought-tolerant plants for your yard.

Water Guzzlers: Plants with dark, glossy, large leaves tend to require more water because more leaf surface area results in greater heat absorption and water loss. Tropical plants with soft, fleshy trunks also require lots of water because they usually have high water content – the banana tree is 90 percent water!
Water Savers: Look for native plants with small light-colored or silvery leaves and a hairy texture. These plants generally hold on to water and reflect light. Good choices include rosemary, lambs ear and lavender. Also try to choose perennial plants (plants that live for several seasons) rather than annuals. Perennials generally grow longer and deeper root systems that can better withstand drought conditions.

Not sure which plants to choose? Ask your local cooperative extension agent or garden center expert for suggestions.

(Sources: National Geographic Green Guide. “Plants that will suck your yard dry.” http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/garden/drought-resistant-plant; EPA WaterSense program. www.epa.gov/watersense)

TUESDAY: Saving Energy Saves Water

Did you know that an average of two gallons of water is consumed for every killowatt of electricity used in the United States? That means that 170 gallons of water are used to run the clothes dryer, 55 gallons are used to run the computer and 73 gallons are used to run the TV each month in the typical American household. Saving energy saves water. Turn off electric appliances when they aren’t in use, only run the washer and dryer with full loads, and keep your home thermostat at 78 degrees during the warm months to save energy and the water needed to produce it. Added bonus: You’ll save money on your energy bill, too!

(Sources: National Environmental Education Week and River Network. 2010. “The Water-Energy Connection.” http://www.eeweek.org/assets/files/water_and_energy/Water_Energy_Student_Facts.pdf)

MONDAY: Move, Treat, Heat

It takes at least 520 billion killowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity to move, treat and heat water in the United States. That’s equal to 13 percent of the elecricity used in the U.S. each year. Saving water saves energy: If just one percent of U.S. homes replaced older toilets with new, efficient versions, we’d save over 38 billion kWh of electricity per year – enough to power your home and 43,000 others for an entire month!

Get the facts on water-efficient toilets from EPA’s WaterSense program: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/products/toilets.html.

Spring Showers

espinoza — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:56:50 +0000

Showering accounts for about 17 percent of residential indoor water use – up to 30 gallons of water per household per day. According to EPA, we use 1.2 trillion gallons of water every year in the U.S. just for showering. That’s enough water to meet the water needs of New York and New Jersey for a year.

Viewer Tip: Starting this spring, look for WaterSense labeled showerheads. EPA’s WaterSense label helps identify faucets, toilets and showerheads that save water and perform well. A WaterSense labeled showerhead saves more than 2,000 gallons per year while also saving energy. The energy your family can save in a year from heating less water for showers is enough to meet your entire home’s electrical needs for 10 days!

Learn more about the WaterSense label: www.epa.gov/watersense/

Season: Spring

(Source: U.S. EPA. WaterSense Program: Showerheads. www.epa.gov/watersense/products/showerheads.html)

The Grass isn’t Always Greener

espinoza — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:19:42 +0000

Did you know that the average American household uses about two-thirds of its water outside? Most is used to water lawns and as much as half of that water is wasted by inefficient watering, either too often or at the hottest part of the day when water evaporates quickly. When we conserve water at home, there is more water available for fish and wildlife.

Viewer Tip: Trout Unlimited suggests offers these suggestions to help you conserve water when tending to your lawn or garden:

Before watering your lawn, check the local forecast. Rain might be in the forecast and would eliminate the need for watering.
Place buckets outside to collect rain water and then use the rain water to water your gardens. This is a great water-saving alternative.
Even in the hottest weather, a lawn only needs to be watered about once per week.

This information is provided by Trout Unlimited. Learn more at www.tu.org.

If it’s Falling…

espinoza — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:45:08 +0000

You may as well collect! The upcoming dry summer months are probably the last thing on your mind during heavy late winter and spring rains. At this time of year, it may seem like it will never dry out, but it’s important to remember that a hot summer is just around the corner. So why not collect that extra spring rainwater for the summer, when your yard seems to always need a drink? Buildings can play a role in capturing rainwater for irrigation. Rooftop water-catchment systems vary in complexity from simple rain barrels placed at the bottom of gutters to systems that collect runoff that is stored in a cistern and treated for vegetable irrigation.

Viewer Tip: Water collection and re-use systems play an important role in conserving water. A properly placed rain barrel can collect rain runoff from your roof this spring and save it for use in the summer. Just remember that birds and other animals also visit your roof, so water from a rain barrel is best used on non-food plants, like your flowers and lawn.

Season: Spring

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about efficient agricultural buildings: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/agbuildings.html

Even Blizzards Don’t Replenish the Great Lakes

espinoza — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:09:56 +0000

The Great Lakes account for nine-tenths of North America’s surface freshwater, but less than one percent of their water is renewed each year by snow and rain. It would take 100 years for nature to replace even one gallon of water lost from the lakes. This slow recharge rate means we must take care to maintain the amount of water in the Lakes.

Viewer Tip: Taking steps to conserve water at home will help protect our Great Lakes. One way to conserve water is to install WaterSense-labeled faucets, aerators and appliances. WaterSense is a U.S. EPA program to help consumers identify water-efficient products and services. Look for the label to find products that are about 20 percent more efficient than average products in the same category. For example, if every U.S. home installed WaterSense-labeled faucets or aerators in bathrooms, the country would save 60 billion gallons of water each year and households would see overall savings of 350 million dollars in water bills!

Season: Winter

This information is provided by Alliance for the Great Lakes. Learn more at www.greatlakes.org.

(Sources: “This is My Water” campaign, Alliance for the Great Lakes, http://www.thisismywater.com; Alliance for the Great Lakes’ “Great Lakes in my World” curriculum, http:www.greatlakes.org/education; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Water Sense program, http://www.epa.gov/watersense/)

Desert Trout

espinoza — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:57:56 +0000

We don’t often associate the desert with trout habitat, but the gila (HEEL-a) trout, or “trout of the desert,” is a unique species that lives in the arid climate of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Unfortunately, the gila trout has suffered severe population declines over the past 100 years and currently occupy only a fraction of their historic range. Threat such as loss of water flow, habitat degradation and water diversion have put these fish on the endangered species list.

Viewer Tip: Conserving water at home can go a long way in helping to maintain water flow in streams and rivers where gila trout live. Trout Unlimited offers these tips:

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk – you’ll save 80 gallons of water each time you clean-up.
Instead of washing your car at home, try a commercial car wash that recycles water.
Aerate your lawn (punch holes about six-inches apart) to help water filter more effectively to the roots, rather than run off the lawn surface. Fall is a good time to aerate.

Seasons: Spring, Fall

This information is provided by Trout Unlimited. Learn more at www.tu.org.

Scare Up Water Savings

espinoza — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:30:47 +0000

This Halloween, take a minute to teach your little G.I. Joes and Cinderellas a thing or two about conserving water when it’s time to brush their teeth after all those treats.

Viewer Tip: Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth saves eight gallons per day, adding up to enough water in a year to take 170 showers. And you’ll save energy, too – running the faucet for five minutes uses the same amount of energy as letting a 60-watt lightbulb run for 14 hours!

Season: Fall

This information is provided by EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more: www.epa.gov/watersense.

California’s Water-Energy Connection

espinoza — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:10:06 +0000

Most people don’t realize the considerable amount of energy it takes to deliver, treat and heat the water they use. In fact, American public water supply and treatment facilities consume about 56 billion kilowatt-hours per year—enough electricity to power more than five million homes for an entire year. In California, water-related energy use accounts for 19 percent of the state’s electricy consumption, 30 percent of natural gas consumption and the use of 88 billion gallons of diesel fuel each year!

Viewer Tip: Saving water at home not only helps reduce energy use, it also conserves California’s vital water resources. Give these easy tips a try:

Shave a few minutes of your shower. Two-thirds of all water heating costs can be attributed to showers.
Turn off the tap. Letting a faucet run for five minutes uses the same amount of electricity as running a 60-watt light bulb for 14 hours!
Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads. Try using cold water for washing clothes—there are specially formulated cold-water detergents available.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: CoolCalifornia.org, Government-University-NGO Partnership. “Cool Tips in the Home.” http://www.coolcalifornia.org/article/individuals-in-the-home; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense Program. www.epa.gov/watersense)

When the Rain Falls Down…

espinoza — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:27:39 +0000

If the water we use is replenished by precipitation, why do we need to save it? The short answer is that while water can be purified and reused over and over thanks to the natural water cycle and wastewater treatment technology, it may not be available everywhere—or every time—it’s needed. When we all use water more efficiently, we preserve our local water supplies and allow clean water to be shared among people and the environment. Every drop counts!

Viewer Tip: Consider installing WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures. For every nine homes that install WaterSense labeled toilets, enough water is saved to supply one more household in the community with water!

Season: Fall

This information is provided by EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more: www.epa.gov/watersense.

Rake in Water Savings

espinoza — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:13:44 +0000

Did you know that at least 30 percent of the water you use at home is outdoors? In drier parts of the country, homeowners use as much as 70 percent of their water outdoors.

Viewer Tip: This autumn, look for ways to be more water-efficient and fall into good water habits.

Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions and landscape requirements.
Plant in the fall, when temperatures are cool and water is more plentiful. In fact, fall is a great time to aerate your lawn, test your soil and plant trees, shrubs or spring-blooming bulbs.
Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than hosing them off.
Spread a layer of organic mulch around plants to retain moisture and save water, time and money.

This information is provided by EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more: www.epa.gov/watersense.

Season: Fall

(Sources: www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php and www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/res.htm)

Spawning Salmon

administrator — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:58:41 +0000

Fall is the best time to see salmon returning to spawn in Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula rivers. Plenty of water is needed for salmon to swim upstream and successfully reproduce. After salmon lay their eggs in the gravel stream beds, they die. The eggs are left on their own and rely on a flow of clean, cold water to productively hatch. The spawned salmon are a great source of nutrition for many animals that rely on them to survive the harsh winter

Viewer Tip: It is important to conserve water, especially after the drier summer months. The Port Townsend Marine Science Center suggests fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers and only running full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. These tips can save hundreds of gallons of water per month at home, allowing that water to flow into streams and rivers for wildlife. Another great way to help is to volunteer with a local organization to restore salmon habitat or visit a spawning stream to see the salmon in action!

This information is provided by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Learn more: www.ptmsc.org.

Season: Fall

(Sources: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Adopting a stream: A Northwest Handbook by Steve Yates)

Garden Guzzlers

administrator — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:06:00 +0000

Nationwide, Americans use more than seven billion gallons of water per day to water lawns and gardens. That’s enough water to fill more than 10,700 Olympic-sized swimming pools! Look for drought-tolerant plants to help reduce your outdoor water use.

Water Guzzlers: Plants with dark, glossy, large leaves tend to require more water because more leaf surface area results in greater heat absorption and water loss. Tropical plants with soft, fleshy trunks also require lots of water because they usually have high water content – the banana tree is 90 percent water!

Water Savers: Look for native plants with small light-colored or silvery leaves and a hairy texture. These plants generally hold on to water and reflect light. Good choices include rosemary, lambs ear and lavender. Also try to choose perennial plants (plants that live for several seasons) rather than annuals. Perennials generally grow longer and deeper root systems that can better withstand drought conditions.

View the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Recommended Native Plants List for Washington: www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=WA.

Seasons: Spring, Summer

Don’t Let Money Go Down the Drain

administrator — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:26:57 +0000

Did you know that you can have a big impact on water and energy use by upgrading bathroom fixtures in your home?

Faucets: Installing WaterSense labeled faucets or faucet aerators in your bathrooms could reduce your household’s annual water use by more than 500 gallons and save 70 kilowatt-hours of electricity used for heating the water each year. That’s enough water to do 14 loads of laundry and enough electricity to power your hair dryer for about eight minutes a day for a whole year!
Toilets: You might also consider upgrading your toilet. Flushing an old inefficient toilet is like flushing twice! Older model toilets use more than twice the amount of water per flush than their new, high-efficiency counterparts. In fact, it only takes 37 flushes of an older toilet—a little more than a week’s worth for one person—to use as much water as 100 flushes of a WaterSense labeled toilet.

Check out the WaterSense website to learn more about choosing water-efficient products: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/index.htm.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

This information is provided through a partnership with the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense Program. Learn more: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/.

Summer Gardening

administrator — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:26:21 +0000

Everyone knows that hot, dry weather can be a killer in the garden. Conserving water isn’t just for desert gardens or times of drought, though – it’s something you can do in any part of the country at any time of the year.

Viewer Tip: The National Wildlife Federation offers these tips to conserve water in your garden:

Try replacing water-loving lawn with drought-tolerant native plants. Not only will you water less, native plants will also attract birds and butterflies.
Collect rainwater for use in the garden in a rain barrel.
If you have to water your garden, use drip irrigation that minimizes evaporation.

Water is a precious resource and we can all do our part to conserve it!

Season: Summer

This information and video are provided by the National Wildlife Federation. Learn more at www.nwf.org.

Smart Irrigation

administrator — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:33:05 +0000

Did you know that more water is used in July in most states than any other month? The U.S. EPA estimates that up to 50 percent of water used for outdoor irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind or overwatering. Some homes can lose up to 70 gallons per day!

Viewer Tip: July is Smart Irrigation Month – the perfect time to adjust your watering habits.

Inspect your sprinklers. Fix any leaks, broken/clogged heads and other problems. Make sure sprinklers are watering your lawn, not the sidewalk.
Install a rain sensor. Rain sensor devices shut-off your sprinklers automatically during rainy weather. They are inexpensive and can be retrofitted to almost any system.
Go with “smart” technology. If you’re in the market for new sprinklers, consider a system with soil moisture sensors that can automatically adjust your watering schedule based on weather and soil conditions. Learn more: www.irrigation.org/smartwater/.

Season: Summer

(Irrigation Association. “Smart Irrigation Month: Fast Tips.” http://www.irrigation.org/SIM/default.aspx?pg=consumer_tips.htm&id=228; U.S. EPA WaterSense Program. “Smart Irrigation Month.” http://www.epa.gov/watersense/sim/index.htm)