Saving Water

Recently, for the first time in a long time, we finally got some rain. Yet, the drought is still prominent, the lake water levels are still low, and the water restrictions are piling up everyday. According to the New York Times, Texas has received less than half its normal rainfall: 6.53 inches instead of 16.03, and the drought has greatly hurt Texas's agricultural economy. Even worse, some climatologists say that this drought will last to even next year. So, now is the time to be even more water conversant, in order to save the environment and our sanity. Here are some easy ways to save water:

1. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water, rather than letting the water run

2. For cold drinks, keep a pitcher of cold water in the refrigerator, instead of turning on the tap.

3. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap. The used water can them be used to water houseplants.
 
4. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save water every time.

5. Check for leaks in toilets, bath tubs, faucets and swimming pools. (An easy way to test a toilet is to put food coloring in the toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Get it fixed ASAP!)

6. Add "walkways" and patios to your yard so those parts don't have to be watered.

7. Drop your tissue in the trash instead of flushing it down.

8. Dump extra ice on to a plant.

9. Track rainfall, then water your lawn accordingly.

10. Don't water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.

Remember, although we all learned in school that water is a inexhaustible resource, it needs to be conserved in order to protect our environment's ability to support future generations. Share water conservation tips with your neighbors and friends and get involved. By working together and saving water, we can shorten this drought and keep ourselves sane.

~Lucy Hao