World Water Day is marked on March 22 every year. It’s a day to celebrate water. It’s a day to make a difference for the members of the global population who suffer from water related issues. It’s a day to prepare for how we manage water in the future.
In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 as the first World Water Day. 22 years later, World Water Day is celebrated around the world shining the spotlight on a different issue every year.
This issue is also the theme of the annual UN World Water Development Report which is launched on World Water Day. In 2015, the theme for World Water Day is 'Water and Sustainable Development'.
We asked Wessler Engineering employees to tell us about how they personally help to conserve water at home, and some easy conservation tips for anyone to start doing today.
I installed three rain barrels at my home in downtown Lafayette a few years ago which I use to water the flower gardens and my pepper plants in the summer.
Purchase less bottled water and fill reusable bottles from the tap; sure, a bottle of water is a bottle of water but people tend to forget how much water is used in the production of those disposable bottles they buy each week.
-take shorter showers
-do larger, more infrequent loads of laundry
-keep bathroom faucet off while brushing teeth
We have installed low flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets. Our dishwasher and washing machine are both high efficiency units, and the washing machine uses a spray rinse instead of full clothes submergence. Our landscaping requires little, to no watering throughout the year.
Shut the water off while brushing your teeth.
At home we changed to low flow showerheads and I try to collect water that I run while it is warming up and use it on my plants. It also helped that my daughter moved out.
Think! Go the extra step. Don't let water run while brushing your teeth.
On the rare occasion my wife let's me have a cocktail, I use diet coke instead of water as a mixer.
Using rain barrels for watering plants and gardens.
I only run full loads of laundry through the washing machine so I don't have to do as many loads.
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
I have helped water utilities plan, construct, and place in operation backwash water treatment and recycle facilities that have eliminated the discharge of water treatment residuals to our source waters and enable the utilities to reclaim millions of gallons of water annually.
Install rain barrels and use the rain water for lawn and garden irrigation. Not only will that reduce the volume of potable water that we have to produce and distribute, but in communities where there are combined sewers the use of rain barrels will reduce the volumes of combine sewage that overflows to our streams and rivers during rain events.
While I live in suburbia, I do not water my lawn during dry periods despite the occasional need. I take relatively short showers. Teeth brushing and any dish washing is conducted with conservation in mind. The washing machine is only ran when full. Most importantly, I am regularly advocating to my children to conserve water.
Not water their lawns as frequently as some people do.