Water

Water

Provokare PRESENTATIONS www.Provokare.com

Few of us realize how much water it takes to go through the day.

With an increasing population, and the changing weather,

we need to learn how we can change our lifestyle to avoid

running our rivers and lakes dry.

Provokare Presentations can show you the easy steps you can take to

conserve water, while saving energy, and help our water ways and lakes,

in our country, and around the world.

Water

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Produced by

Provokare Presentations

www.provokare.com

Other books and

presentations

also available

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Title Page Number

Impact on our world 4

Categories of Water use 5

Virtual Water 6

Virtual Water around the World 7

Average Virtual Water usage—Sample Products 8

Reducing Virtual Water Footprint—What you can do 9

Environmental Water Scarcity—Index by Basin 10

Desertification 11

United States—Average Water Consumption 12-13

Water—How to count your savings 14

Ways you can save water at home 15-16

Waterwise gardening 17

Rainwater collection with rain barrels 18

Pollutants and toxic chemicals in our water 19-20

Useful Web Links 22

Books—Recommended reading 23

References 24

Be Active 21

Contents

� Please consider the environment before printing this booklet.

Booklet Copyrights: Provokare Presentations

Water

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Water our precious source of life Water is fundamental to almost all living things on the Earth. Human health—and survival—depends on a clean and reliable supply of fresh drinking water, as well as water for crop irrigation and sanitation. Water is a precious resource in our environment. Growing populations and ongoing droughts are squeezing our water resources dry, causing natural habitat degradation and impacting our everyday use of water. We have no choice but to pay more attention to how we are using water, and how we may be wasting it. We must bridge the gap between our understanding of how important water is to our survival and what we can do to ensure that we have an adequate supply of clean water for years to come.

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Impact on our world

At the same time that global water supplies are declining, so is the quality of the water that re-mains. Water pollution is the presence of harmful and ob-

jectionable material—such as sewage, industrial wastes and

chemicals, and run-off from land development or agricul-ture—in sufficient concentrations as to make water unfit for

use (EEA 2004). Water pollution is a serious threat to the world’s water supply. It

is also a growing threat to the oceans that cover

more than 70 per cent

of the planet. People have long viewed these

immense bodies of wa-ter as limitless dumping

grounds for wastes.

Over time, however, raw sewage, garbage,

industrial wastes, and oil spills have begun to

overwhelm the diluting capabilities of the

oceans. Most coastal

waters are now pol-luted, often severely.

Imp

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Impact on our environment and living species

The exploitation of the world’s water resources has occurred

at no small cost to the environment. Worldwide, all major rivers have water works that change flow regimes to some

extent and therefore impact riparian ecosystems. Many en-demic riparian species are disappearing (Ramsar Convention

Bureau 1998), and twenty per cent of all freshwater fish are

currently endangered. Few aquatic ecosystems have been as severely impacted as wetlands, however. During the 20th

century, half of the Earth’s wetland ecosystems—such as marshes, fens, swamps, and estuaries—disappeared

(UNESCO 2003). Approximately 10000 acres of wetlands are destroyed each year as the result of human activities.

Drainage for agricultural production is the principal cause of

wetland loss. Population Growth means increase in water demand

During the past century, world population has tripled.

Over roughly the same period of time (1900 to 1995) water use worldwide has increased six-fold. Experts

predict that by 2025, global

water needs

will increase even more,

with 40 per cent more wa-

ter needed for cities and 20 per cent more water for growing crops,

while needs increase, the amount of available fresh

water is dwindling worldwide.

Water withdrawals from rivers and underground re-serves have grown by 2.5 to 3 per cent annually

since 1940, significantly ahead of population growth.

So much water is withdrawn from several of the world’s major rivers, including the Colorado River in

the United States, the Nile River in Egypt, and the Yellow River in China, that there is little to no water

left by the time these rivers meet the sea (Postel et al. 1996). Demands on groundwater are equally

great; water tables are falling on every continent.

Source: UNESCO

Water Shortages Over the next two decades, it is estimated that the

average supply of water per person will drop by one-third. Annually, lack of clean drinking water

can be linked to roughly 250 million cases of water-

related disease and between 5 and 10 million deaths worldwide. Thus, water shortages indirectly

condemn millions of people to an avoidable prema-ture death each year.

Water shortages are also impacting global grain markets, as arid countries that rely on irrigation for

crop production switch from growing grain to im-porting it (Harrison and Pearce 2001). Irrigation

accounts for 70 per cent of direct water consump-tion worldwide. It has been estimated that prac-

tices such as drip irrigation and inexpensive mois-

ture monitors could cut agricultural water use by as much as 40 per cent (Wall 2001).

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Ca

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Livestock water use includes

water for stock animals, feed lots, dairies, fish farms, and

other nonfarm needs. Water is needed for the production

of red meat, poultry, eggs,

milk, and wool, and for horses, rabbits, and pets.

Livestock water use only includes fresh water.

Mining water use includes water for the extraction of natu-

rally occurring minerals; solids, such as coal and ores; liquids, such as crude petroleum; and gases, such as natural gas.

The category includes quarrying, milling (such as crushing, screening, washing, and flotation), and other operations as

part of mining activity. A significant portion of the water used for mining, about 32 percent, is saline.

Public Supply water use refers to water withdrawn by pub-lic and private water suppliers, such as county and municipal

water works, and delivered to users for domestic, commer-cial, and industrial purposes. In 1995, the majority of the

nation's population, about 225 million, or 84 percent, used

water delivered from public water suppliers. About 42 million people supplied their own water, with about 99 percent of

that water being groundwater, usually from a local well.

Thermoelectric Power water use is the amount of water

used in the production of electric power generated

with heat. The source of the heat may be from fos-

sil fuels, nuclear fission, or

geothermal. Fossil fuel power plants typically re-

use water. They generate electricity by turning a tur-

bine using steam power.

After the steam is used to turn the turbines, it is condensed back to water by cooling it.

The condensed water is then routed back to the boiler, where the cycle begins again.

Source: Water Encyclopedia

The U.S. Geological Survey categorizes water use for

analyzing current patterns and predicting future trends.

Commercial water use includes fresh water for motels, hotels, res-

taurants, office buildings, other

commercial facilities, and civilian and military institutions. Domestic

water use is probably the most important daily use of water for

most people.

Domestic use includes water

that is used in the home every day, including water for normal

household purposes, such as

drinking, food preparation, bath-ing, washing clothes and dishes,

flushing toilets, and watering lawns and gardens.

Industrial water use is a valuable resource to the nation's industries

for such purposes as processing, cleaning, transportation, dilution,

and cooling in manufacturing facili-ties. Major water-using industries

include steel, chemical, paper, and

petroleum refining. Industries often reuse the same water over and over for more than one purpose.

Irrigation water use is water artificially applied to

farm, orchard, pasture, and horticultural crops, as well

as water used to irrigate pastures, for frost and freeze protection, chemical application, crop cooling, harvest-

ing, and for the leaching of salts from the crop root zone. Nonagricultural activities include self-supplied

water to irrigate public and private golf courses, parks,

nurseries, turf farms, cemeteries, and other landscape irrigation uses. The importance of irrigation to the

United States is illustrated by the large amount of fresh water that is used to cultivate crops, which are con-

sumed domestically and throughout the world. In fact,

irrigation is the largest category of water use in the United States, as it is worldwide.

The acre foot is the common measure for large quantities of water and is approximately 325,851 gallons.

This is the volume of water that will cover one acre of land to the depth of one foot. It is equal

to 43,560 cubic feet of water. A good comparison would be the Olympic or semi-Olympic pool size. An Olympic size contains 660000 gallons of water.. (~ 2 acre feet) A semi-Olympic would be then 330000. So to have an

approximate picture of what one acre foot of water looks like, imagine in semi-Olympic size pool full of water.

Categories of Water Use

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Vir

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Virtual water is the amount of water that is embedded in food or other products needed for its production.

For example, to produce one kilogram of wheat we need about 265 gallons of water, i.e. the virtual water of this kilo-gram of wheat is 264 gallons. For meat, we need about five to ten times more.

The per capita consumption of virtual water contained in our diets varies according to the type of diets, from

250 gallons/day for a survival diet, to 600 gallons day for a vegetarian diet and over 1250 gallons for a USA style meat

based diet. It is clear that moderating our diets especially in the developed world could make much water available for other purposes.

With the trade of food crops or any commodity, there is a virtual flow of water from producing and exporting countries

to countries that consume and import those commodities. A water-scarce country can import products that require a lot of water for their production rather than producing them domestically. By doing so, it allows real water savings, reliev-

ing the pressure on their water resources or making water available for other purposes.

At the global level, virtual water trade has geo-political implications: it induces dependencies between countries. There-

fore, it can be regarded either as a stimulant for co-operation and peace or a reason for potential conflict.

Source: World Water Council

Water FootPrint per Capita, per Year in cubic meter.

1 cubic meter = 35.3146667 cubic feet = 264 Gallons

source: www.waterfootprint.org

Virtual Water

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The biggest net exporter of virtual water is the United States. It exports around a third of all the water it with-

draws from the natural environment. Much of that is in grains, either directly or via meat. The United States is emptying critical underground water reserves. It also exports an amazing 80 million acre feet (40 million Olympic pool

sizes) of virtual water in beef. Other major exporters of virtual water include Canada (grain), Australia (cotton and sugar), Argentina (beef), and Thailand (rice).

Major importers of virtual water include Japan and the European Union. None of these countries is short of wa-ter, so there are ethical questions about how much they should be doing this. But for other importers virtual water is a

vital lifeline. Iran, Egypt and Algeria could starve otherwise; likewise, water-stressed Jordan, which effectively im-ports between 80 and 90 per cent of its water in the form of food. 'The Middle East ran out of water some years

ago. It is the first major region of the world to do so in the history of the world. Estimates that more water flows into the

Middle East each year as a result of imports of 'virtual water' than flows down the River Nile. (source: When the river runs dry)

Virtual Water around the world

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Green-coloured regions have net virtual water export; red coloured regions have net virtual water import. The arrows show the largest net virtual water flows between regions (>100 Gm3). Source: A.Y. Hoekstra; P.Q. Hung.

Top 10 virtual exporting

countries (1995-1999)

COUNTRY NET EXPORT VOLUME (109 m3)

USA 758.3

Canada 272.5

Thailand 233.3

Argentina 226.3

India 161.1

Australia 145.6

Viet Nam 90.2

France 88.4

Guatemala 71.7

Brazil 45.0

Top 10 virtual importing

countries (1995-1999)

COUNTRY NET IMPORT VOLUME (109 m3)

Sri Lanka 428.5

Japan 297.4

Netherlands 147.7

Korea Rep. 112.6

China 101.9

Indonesia 101.7

Spain 82.5

Egypt 80.2

Germany 67.9

Italy 64.3

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Average Virtual Water usage—sample products

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A few numbers used in the calculations:

• One Olympic size pool contains 660000 gallons of water

• One cow average weight 1000 lbs

• Average edible meat from one cow 37% (when carcass and inners removed)

• Average T-Shirt weight 1/2 lbs

• Average water in one shower/day: 17.5 gallons (7 minutes at 2.5 gallon/min)

How to read the table: (examples)

• One pound of Beef will take 2047 gallons of water. The equivalent of 117 days of shower. One

Olympic size pool of water is needed for 325 lbs of meat. • One pound of potatoes will take 119 gallons of water. The equivalent of 7 days of shower. One

Olympic size pool of water is needed for 5603 lbs of potatoes.

One lbs

Gallons/lbs

One Olympic Size Pool will provide (lbs)

Coffee 2,773 158 Days (5.3 months) 240

Leather 2,192 125 Days (4.2 months) 304

Beef 2,047 117 Days (3.9 months) (~1 cow/edible) 325

Cotton 1,453 83 Days (2.8 months) (~900 T-Shirts) 458

Jeans (>2lbs) 1,433 82 Days (2.7 months) (~230 Jeans) 465

Bed Sheet (2lbs) 1,288 74 Days (2.5 months) (~250 sheets) 517

Sheep 806 46 Days (1.5 month) 827

Cheese 660 38 Days 1,009

Millet 660 38 Days 1,009

Pork 634 36 Days 1,051

Goat Meat 528 30 Days 1,261

Chicken meat 515 29 Days 1,293

Coconut 330 19 Days 2,017

Tea 317 18 Days 2,101

Soybeans 238 14 Days 2,802

Sugar cane 198 11 Days 3,362

Eggs (1lb) 198 11 Days 3,364

1 lbs Bread 172 10 Days 3,879

Barley 172 10 Days 3,879

Wheat 172 10 Days 3,879

Corn 119 7 Days 5,603

Potato 119 7 Days 5,603

Diaper 107 6 Days 6,224

Apple 92 5 Days 7,204

Beer/large glass 40 2 Days 16,810

One glass of Gallons

Milk 53 3 Days 12,605

Orange Juice 48 3 Days 14,006

Wine 32 2 Days 21,009

One Sheet of Paper 3 252,108

Equivalent in Shower/Day

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Reducing Virtual Water footprint - What you can do

Red

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Sustainable water use begins in the home and at work.

We cannot expect to resolve international water scarcity issues unless we first address these

same issues at home. We do waste a lot of water every day. Yet if everyone made a few small

changes in their behaviors and buying habits then we could save millions of gallons of water every day. Simple changes will lead to huge water savings.

Once you add up all the virtual water you eat and in the products that you buy along with the

daily use of water out of the tap, you will have a better idea of what your water footprint is. Wa-

ter footprints are used to give nations a better consumption-based indicator of water use.

About 65 percent of the water is hidden in the food we eat. It takes a lot of water to

grow food, and then much more water to feed and service the animals that we eat.

The virtual water content of live animals is calculated, based on the virtual water content of their feed and the volumes of drinking and service water consumed during their lifetime. Although the bulk of food trade is in the form of cereals, the

international virtual water flows related to trade in livestock and livestock products are quite significant (nearly half of the

volume of virtual water flows related to crop trade).

Animal products almost always have a higher embedded water content than crop products because it takes huge quantities of water to grow feed. There are some plants, however, that are particularly water intensive such as cotton, rice, and cof-

fee.

Cotton consumption is responsible for 2.6 per cent of the global water use. As a

global average, 44 per cent of the water use for cotton growth and processing is not for serving the domestic market but for export. This means that – roughly spoken – nearly

half of the water problems in the world related to cotton growth and processing can be

attributed to foreign demand for cotton products. So that would make you think about the next cotton item you will buy: ask yourself, “Is this something I need or something

I just want ?”.

Reducing the amount of food we eat, especially those that are high in virtual water

content, and adjusting our diet is also primordial. A diet high in virtual water is not sus-tainable and with an increasing population will lead to a collapse.

The concept of embedded water helps us to realize the extent of

our dependence on water. Appreciating that water is hidden in absolutely everything, and that global trade really is a sharing of

water resources globally, enables us to optimize the use of our water resources according to social, environmental, and eco-

nomic values. If embedded water becomes a trade concern then

we may be able to use it as a means to improving global water efficiency, to attaining water security in water scarce nations,

and to relieving stress on environments which have suffered from unsustainable water withdrawals.

Changes for this begin at home, with individual, everyday choices.

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Environmental Water Scarcity Index by Basin

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There is a growing awareness that increased water use by humans

does not only reduce the amount of water available for industrial and

agricultural development but has a profound effect on aquatic

ecosystems and their dependent species. Human activities have

severely affected the condition of freshwater ecosystems, to a point

where many freshwater species are facing rapid population de-

clines or extinction.

Every aquatic ecosystem requires a certain amount of water to sus-

tain their ecological processes and their animal and plant communi-

ties. The prevailing pattern of water flow that is typical of a particu-

lar river over a given time varies widely from one basin to another.

Some rivers naturally have stable flow regimes, while in others it

varies from low discharges during dry months to very high peaks

during the short wet season. Ecosystems and the native species in-

habiting them are adapted to these flow regimes and rely on them

for their survival. In order to maintain the ability of freshwater eco-

systems to support fish production and biodiversity, their environ-

mental water requirements must be established and sustained.

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Desertification

Des

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Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi

arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily from human activities.

Current desertification is taking place much faster worldwide

than historically and usually arises from the demands of in-

creased populations that settle on the land in order to grow crops and graze animals.

A major impact of desertification is biodiversity loss and loss of productive capacity, for example, by transition

from grassland dominated by perennial grasses to one dominated by perennial shrubs. In the southwestern deserts of the

United States, semiarid ecosystems dominated by perennial bunchgrasses, including blue grama and black grama, have been replaced by shrublands dominated by creosotebush since the early 1900s. The change in vegetation is thought to

have induced desertification in this region. In the Madagascar's central highland plateau, 10% of the entire country has been lost to desertification due to slash and burn agriculture by indige-

nous peoples.

Overgrazing and to a lesser extent drought in the 1930s transformed parts of

the Great Plains in the United States into the "Dust Bowl". During that time, a considerable fraction of the plains population abandoned their homes to escape

the unproductive lands. Improved agricultural and water management have prevented a disaster of the earlier magnitude from recurring, but deser-

tification presently affects tens of millions of people with primary occurrence in

the lesser developed countries.

It is a common misconception that droughts by themselves cause desertification. While drought is a contributing factor, the causes are so-

cial and economic, having to do with tenure (access to resources), power

and economics. Droughts are common in arid and semiarid lands, and well-managed lands can recover from drought when the rains return. Continued

land abuse during droughts, however, increases land degradation. Increased population and livestock pressure on marginal lands has accelerated desertifi-

cation.

Keys to countering desertification are its study and

detection and, in particular, the introduction of tech-niques to ensure proper land and water management.

This requires a broad-based, multidisciplinary effort, including meteorology, geology, hydrology, soil sci-

ence, biology and agricultural technology, along with

sociology, anthropology, and economics.

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United States—Average Water Consumption

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Estimates of water use in the United States indicate that about 408 billion gallons per day (one thousand million

gallons per day, abbreviated Bgal/d) were withdrawn for all uses during 2000. This total has varied less than 3 percent since 1985 as withdrawals have stabilized for the two largest uses—thermoelectric power and irrigation.

About 195 Bgal/d, or 48 percent of all freshwater and saline-water withdrawals for 2000, were used for thermoelectric

power. Most of this water was derived from surface water and used for once-through cooling at power plants.

Irrigation remained the largest use of freshwater in

the United States and totaled 137 Bgal/d for 2000. Since 1950, irrigation has accounted for about 65 percent of total

water withdrawals, excluding those for thermoelectric power.

Historically, more surface water than ground water has been

used for irrigation. However, the percentage of total irrigation withdrawals from ground water has continued to in-

crease, from 23 percent in 1950 to 42 percent in 2000.

Irrigated acreage more than doubled between 1950 and

1980, then remained constant before increasing nearly 7 per-cent between 1995 and 2000.

Public-supply withdrawals were more than 43 Bgal/d for 2000. Public-supply withdrawals during 1950 were 14 Bgal/d. During 2000, about 85 percent of the population in the United States obtained drinking water from public suppliers, com-

pared to 62 percent during 1950. Surface water provided 63 percent of the total during 2000, whereas surface water pro-vided 74 percent during 1950.

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United States—Average Water Consumption

Un

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TOTAL Water usage United States—2000

Public Supply 11%

Irrigation 34%

Domestic less than 1%

Lifestock less than 1% (non in-

cluding animal feed from grain )

Aquaculture less than 1%

Industrial 5%

Mining less than 1%

Thermoelectric Power 48%

California, Texas, and

Florida accounted for one-fourth of all water

withdrawals for 2000. States with the largest sur-

face-water withdrawals

were California, which had large withdrawals for irriga-

tion and thermoelectric power, and Texas, which

had large withdrawals for thermoelectric power.

States with the largest

ground-water withdrawals were California, Texas, and

Nebraska, all of which had large withdrawals for irriga-

tion.

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Water—How to Count your Savings

Activity Normal Use Conservation Use

Flushing Depends on Tank Size

5-7 gallons Displacement bottles in tank

4 gallons

Showering Water Running 25 gallons

Wet down; soap down 4 gallons

Bathing Tub Full

40 gallons Minimal water level

10-12 gallons

Brushing Teeth Tap Running

5 gallons

Wet brush; turn water off; rinse

½ gallon

Washing Hands or Face Tap Running 2 gallons

Plug and Fill Basin 1 gallon

Drinking Run Water to Cool

1 gallon Keep Water in Refrigerator

8 ounces

Cleaning Vegetables Tap Running

3 gallons

Fill Pan with Water to Clean Vegetables

½ gallon

Dishwasher Full Cycle 16 gallons

Short Cycle 7 gallons

Dishes by Hand Tap Running

30 gallons

Wash and Rinse in Dishpan or Sink

5 gallons

Washing Clothes Full Cycle, Top Water Level

60 gallons

Short Cycle, Minimal Water Level

27 gallons

Lawns Watering Water before 8:00 AM to

reduce evaporation 25 gallons

Driveway Sweep instead of hosing

down Up to 150 gallons each time

Source: EPA

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Ways you can save water at home

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• Install a low-flow showerhead. They're inexpensive,

easy to install, 2.5 gallons per minutes should be

the standard.

• Choose new water-saving appliances, like washing

machines that save up to 20 gallons per load.

• Take shorter showers. Try a "Navy" shower; get

wet, turn off the water, soap and scrub, then turn

the water on to rinse.

• Install low-volume toilets.

• Don't use running water to thaw food.

• Drop that tissue in the trash instead of flushing

it and save gallons every time.

• Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It's

simple, inexpensive, and can save gallons a

week.

• If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling

your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant ins-

tead.

• If your toilet was installed prior to 1980, place

a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your

toilet tank to cut down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be sure these devices do

not interfere with operating parts.

• Install an instant water heater on your kitchen

sink so you don't have to let the water run

while it heats up. This will also reduce heating

costs for your household.

• When you clean your fish tank, use the water

you've drained on your plants. The water is rich in

nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.

• When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw

the old water down the drain. Use it to water your

trees or shrubs.

• When you shop for a new appliance, consider one

offering cycle and load size adjustments. They are

more water and energy-efficient than older appli-ances.

• While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider

reusing your towels.

You’re In Control

• Try to do one thing each day to save water. Don’t worry if the savings are minimal.

Every drop counts, and every person can make a difference. • Be aware of and follow all water conservation and water shortage rules and restric-

tions that may be in effect in your area. • Make sure your children are aware of the need to conserve water.

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• Install water softening systems only when ne-

cessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum number of regenerations necessary

to maintain water softness.

• Insulate hot water pipes

so you don't have to run

as much water to get hot water to the faucet.

• Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as

it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush

toilets or water plants.

• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator ins-

tead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that

every drop goes down you not the drain.

• Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes.

And keep it down to a flow of 2.5 gallons per minute.

• Plug the bathtub before turning the

water on, then adjust the temperatu-

re as the tub fills up.

• Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If

it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak.

• Run your washing machine

and dishwasher only when they

are full.

• Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large

pans require more cooking water than may be

necessary.

• Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the

water run while you scrape them clean.

• Teach your children to turn the faucets off

tightly after each use.

• Throw trimmings and peelings from fruits and

vegetables into your yard compost to prevent from using the garbage disposal.

Ways you can save water at home

• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.

• Turn off the water while you shave .

• Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is

partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.

• When doing laundry, match the water level to

the size of the load.

• When washing dishes by hand, don't let the

water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash

water and the other with rinse water.

• When you are washing your hands,

don't let the water run while you

lather.

• Cook food in as little water as possible. This

will also retain more of the nutrients.

• Cut back on rinsing if your dishwasher is new.

Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.

• Designate one glass for your drinking water

each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.

• Listen for dripping faucets and toilets that

flush themselves.

• Make sure there are aerators on all of your

faucets.

• Make sure your toilet flapper doesn't stick

open after flushing.

• Use the garbage disposal spar-

ingly. Compost instead and save

gallons every time.

• Wash clothes only when you have

a full load.

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Waterwise Gardening

It has been estimated that many gardeners use about

twice as much water in their landscapes as is needed. In most gardens, the amount of water used can be

reduced without creating serious plant problems

Water-wise gardening involves using various land-

scaping techniques that help conserve water while maintaining a beautiful and efficient yard.

Wa

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Ga

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ing

Hydrozone your yard and garden so that low water-use, moderate water-use and high water-use plants are grouped together. Also, use elevated planting beds so that plants are watered more efficiently, reducing overall water use.

Start with these five steps to help maintain a

lush and efficient garden that requires less wa-ter and reduces the need for pruning.

1. Hydrozone: group plants according to their water needs.

2. Selecting Plants: use drought tolerant or

native plants to create a low water-use, low

maintenance landscape.

3. Irrigation: install sprinklers, drip emitters and timers so you only give plants the amount

of water they really need.

4. Improve Your Soil: mix compost into your

soil to improve it's moisture retaining capability and fertility.

5. Use Mulch: place mulch around your plants,

along walkways and

on top of other bare areas to reduce wa-

ter use and prevent weeds. www.smartgardening.com

• Water in the early morning hours, from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., or

overnight to prevent

• water loss from evaporation. Overnight watering will not

damage turf grass. • Water slowly and deeply so the soil absorbs water 6" to 8"

deep.

• When possible, use more efficient irrigation systems, such

as a soaker hose, or drip irrigation.

• Use an automatic time controller and attach a rainfall sen-

sor to turn off the irrigation system if significant rainfall has occurred.

• Raise the mower blade during dry weather. Cutting the

grass higher encourages deep rooting, increases turf sur-

vival during drought and reduces water demand. • Always keep the mower blade sharp — dull blades shred

leaf tips, causing the turf to use more water.

• Only irrigate turf in high-impact, visible areas of the land-

scape.

• Design turf areas in practical shapes that can be mowed

and irrigated easily — avoid sharp angles and long, narrow strips.

• Fertilize less and use slow-release fertilizers.

• Reduce fertilizer application rate after establishment. This

is particularly important prior to or during dry periods.

• Leave grass clippings on the turf to help supply recycled

nutrients and reduce the need for additional fertilizer. • Aerate when required to relieve soil compaction and in-

crease air and water movement into the soil — especially

on slopes.

Simple Tips for Effective Watering

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Rainwater Collection with rain barrels

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Although rainwater collection is not suitable for direct consumption, it provides free, clean water to gar-

dens and lawns and, under special circumstances, can be redirected into the home for personal use.

Why collect rainwater? It’s free and easy. Rainwater collection devices range in complexity but most are very simple and can be incorporated into your existing gutter and drainage systems. Most of these rain

barrels are relatively inexpensive and each one usually has a spigot on the bottom for easy access to wa-

ter and a screen on top to keep out bugs and debris.

Rainwater is best used directly on lawns and gardens. Hoses can be connected to the spigot for easy direction of water to needed areas. Cities treat water using minerals and chemicals all of which provide protection for consumers but

are unnecessary for lawns and gardens. Rainwater, on the other hand is pure and much softer than normal city water,

making it easier on plants and vegetables.

Not to mention, city water restrictions don’t apply to rain barrels! Stored rain water means that you can keep your garden and lawn green despite any watering restrictions

during droughts. With ever changing climates and rain fluctuations, it’s important to

have some control on the watering of your lawn and garden.

Rainwater collection is an easy way to save money while helping the environment. Most rainwater collection systems

rely on gravity and take no mechanical systems to operate. This

means they take no energy to operate, either. You will save money through decreased use of city water; allow yourself the

flexibility of watering based on your own needs and not those of the city, and all the while saving valuable aquifer and reservoir water. You’ll be keeping the ground and water healthy while providing

essential growth for your garden and lawn.

More complex rain collection systems incorporate underground water collection systems, filtration systems,

and can be used within the home. These types of devices generally cost more money but provide access to collected rain-water to use in everything from bathing to drinking. Some “green homes” have incorporated rainwater collection devices

into their water systems to decrease the

dependency on city water. These types of systems vary but can also be incorpo-

rated into existing homes.

Rain collection systems also range in ap-

pearance and most blend into the scen-ery. Rain barrels have become more

popular in recent years and you can find out more information by visiting your

local natural landscaping companies or

water conservation organizations.

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Pollutants and toxic chemicals in our water

Clean and abundant water is something we take for granted in America, even as we persist in polluting

waterways with yard-care pesticides, agricultural wastes and other contaminants. But new studies show-ing that young children, whose bodies are still developing, face the greatest risk from these pollutants

ought to make us reconsider how we treat our most essential natural resource.

Over 100 million pounds of herbicides and pesticides are applied around American residences each year. Pesticides

and herbicides must be handled cautiously, yet homeowners often fail to read directions, neglect to wear protective clothing, track chemicals into the home and allow kids and pets to play on freshly treated grass.

Another threat to water supplies comes from high-density poultry and hog farms known as concentrated animal feed-

ing operations, or CAFOs. In the last 30 years, more animals have been concentrated on fewer farms and as a result more waste has been dumped in nearby "lagoons" that may overflow during heavy rains. These wastes are thick with nitrogen and phospho-

rous, two nutrients that in high quantities can contribute to nitrate pollution as well as bacterial and algal blooms in nearby wa-terways used for recreation or drinking.

Some wastes contain hormones and antibiotics fed to animals to promote growth. A study in the 2006 journal Chemosphere found detectable levels of two antibiotics, sulfamethazine and sulfadimethoxine, at six private drinking water wells near a CAFO

in Idaho. Use of antibiotics in animals may speed the development of disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

One or more pesticides have been detected in 97

percent of U.S. streams in urban and farming areas, half of all shallow groundwater aquifers in similar areas and

33 percent of all major aquifers, according to a USGS sur-vey of 51 "hydrological systems" (mostly river basins with

the streams, lakes, wetlands and groundwater they encom-pass) published in February 2007.

Five percent of the shallow wells that provide drinking wa-

ter in urban areas have pesticide concentrations above EPA human-health benchmarks.

And long disused organochlorine pesticides (including DDT) still show up in nearly 90 percent of fish from urban and

agricultural areas.

Those pesticides found in levels that exceeded human health benefits include: frog-mutating atrazine, the possi-

ble human carcinogen cyanazine and the probable human carcinogen dieldrin (now banned) in agricultural areas; and

dieldrin and diazinon, associated with lower birth weights, in urban streams.

That doesn't boost confidence in swimming in the old wa-ter hole or tubing down the rapids.

Many people are under the false impression that glyphosate

(Roundup) and other herbicides are not pesticides. Do not give your lawn “junk food“ by using chemical fertilizers, which greens it up

but stresses the lawn and makes it more vulnerable to pests. Use compost and natural organic material instead.

While you transition from a chemical to a natural lawn

be patient. It takes time to create a natural, non-chemical de-pendent system.

Use least-toxic pest control: Repel bugs and weeds with home-

made mixtures such as hot peppers and water .

Don't buy or use synthetic pesticides, including herbicides and

insecticides. To safely get rid of them, contact your local sanitation department for instructions on the disposal of hazardous waste.

Use organic compost instead of fertilizer

Do not over water or water on a schedule. Wait until your

lawn is really thirsty and then give it a long slow deep drink of wa-ter. This will help control pests by enabling roots to grow deeper

and downward.

Do not be mislead by lawn care companies who tell you that they only use pesticides registered by the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA). All legal pesticides are registered by the EPA. It is against the law to advertise or market pesticides as “safe”.

Do not be misled by companies who tell you that herbicides and chemical fertilizers are compatible with a natural lawn. They are

not. Or by companies that tell you they use IPM ( Integrated Pest Management). IPM can include the use of toxic pesticides.

How to Have a Healthy Non-Toxic Lawn

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Pollutants and toxic chemicals in our water

Thanks to government trade-secret laws, manufacturers of cleaners aren't required to disclose ingredients on product la-

bels, making it difficult for consumers to choose an environmentally preferable and healthier alternative.

Although phosphates, still used in dishwashing detergents and known to promote algae growth that in turn suffocates aquatic life, have been phased out of laundry detergents, health risks remain with other laundry chemicals, most notably

nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). NPEs are surfactants (chemicals that help other ingredients penetrate dirt and grime) that

belong to a class of hormone-disrupting compounds called alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). Unfortunately, they are added to lots of cleaning agents.

Don't be fooled either by undefined,

non-verified labels such as "non-toxic," "biodegradable" and

"organic" (only meaningful on food and some personal care products).

When possible, choose products

that disclose all ingredients on labels, as many eco-friendly product

manufacturers do, and look for words that indicate what's not in the

cleaner, i.e., "chlorine-free" and "no NPEs."

REPLACE TOXIC PRODUCTS Choose nontoxic, biodegradable substitutes WHY: Help reduce the toxic burden of manufacturing, your

home, and the waste stream. HOW: Read "Signal Words" on labels. The signal words poi-

son, danger, warning, or caution, found on the label of products such as pesticides and cleaning products, are

placed there by order of the federal government and are

primarily for your production. In some cases these signal words are on the label because of the potential impact the

product can have on the environment. HIGHLIGHTS: Labels provide information by which you can

protect yourself, your family, and the environment.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PICKUPS

Take toxic products

WHY: Hazardous materials shouldn't be poured down the drain or thrown away in the

trash as they can cause serious pol-

lution problems in the waste stream.

HOW: Call your local recycling cen-ter, town or city hall. Most commu-

nities have at least one Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Day a

year. (see list of hazardous waste disposal in your area

at the end of this booklet) HIGHLIGHTS: There will be fewer toxic materials

leaching out of landfills, burning in incinerators, and being washed into the waste water stream.

White vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, lemons, and olive oil, are all you need to keep your wood floors sleek, stainless steel germ-free and shiny, and bathroom tiles squeaky clean. And the added bonus is there’s not a harmful chemical in sight.

Water

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Be Active

At Work and Around Town

• Encourage your employer to promote water conservation at the workplace. Suggest that water conservation tips

be put in the employee orientation manual and training program.

• Support projects that will lead to an increased use of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.

• Promote water conservation in community newsletters, on bulletin boards, and by example.

• Patronize businesses that practice and promote water conservation.

• Report all significant water losses (broken pipes, open hydrants, misdirected sprinklers, abandoned or free-flowing

wells, etc.) to the property owner, local authorities, or your water management district.

• Encourage your school system and local government to promote a water conservation ethic among school children

and adults. • Support efforts and programs to create a concern for water conservation among tourists and visitors to your state.

Make sure your visitors understand the need for, and benefits of, water conservation. • Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. Don’t waste water just because someone else is footing the bill,

such as when you are staying at a hotel.

Saving Water Tips for Business

Every business has different water needs from a small office based business to a large manufacturing plant. We have here compiled a list of general water saving tips for businesses to adapt to their own needs. • Educate your employees on the importance and practices of water efficiency • Know where your supply pipes run and where the shut off valves are • Check your meters at night or when no water is being used to monitor leakage • Make sure your pipes are supplied against cold weather as leakage can increase after a burst due to frost • Use water efficient appliances in canteens or office kitchens • Determine where your wasted water is going and if or how you can recycle it in other areas of your business • Where possible, use a water butt to harvest rainwater for use in your business • Assess water using equipment to make sure there is no over filling • Set water usage targets • Install water efficient devices in bathrooms and canteens such as controlled or waterless urinals and automatic or

spray taps • Look at our list of Water Saving Devices to fit into your office where applicable • Your water supplier may offer water audits to see how efficient your business’s water usage is. Some may even of-

fer a personalized water management package to get the best water efficiency plan for your business. Contact your water company for more details.

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Cover Title Author

When the rivers run dry: The defining crisis of the twenty-first century.

Fred Pearce

Water Follies: Ground water pumping and the fate of America’s fresh water

Robert Glennon

The world’s water: The biennial water report on freshwater.

Peter H. Gleick

Water: The fate of our most precious re-source.

Marq de Villiers

Water Use Conservation: Handbook of wa-ter usage and conservation: Homes, landscape, industries, business and farms.

Amy Vickers

The low water, no water garden: Garden-ing for drought and heat the Mediterranean way.

Pattie Barron

Recommended Reading

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Useful Links

Use

ful

Lin

ks

American Rivers www.americanrivers.org

American Water Works Association www.awwa.org

Be Safe www.besafenet.com

Beyond Pesticides www.beyondpesticides.org

California Urban Water Conservation Council www.cuwcc.org

California Water Environment Association www.cwea.org

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics www.safecosmetics.org

Center for Environmental Health and Justice www.chej.org

E.P.A - Water www.epa.gov/water/index.html

United States Geology Survey www.usgs.gov

Virtual Water Poster www.traumkrieger.de/virtualwater/

Water Conserver www.waterconserve.org

Water Enviornment Federation www.wef.org

Water Footprint www.waterfootprint.org

Water Use It Wisely www.waterusitwisely.com

World Water Council www.worldwatercouncil.org

World Water Watch www.worldwaterwatch.org

American Water Resources Association www.awra.org

Smart Gardening www.smartgardening.com

Laundry Wise www.laundrywise.com

Gray Water Central www.graywater.net

Rain Water Harvesting www.rainwaterharvesting.org

Water Treaty www.watertreaty.org

H2ouse - Water Saver Home www.h2ouse.org

Water Year 2003 www.wateryear2003.org

Unesco Water www.unesco.org/water/

Desertification - Food and Agriculture UN http://www.fao.org/desertification/default.asp?lang=en

United Nations to Combat Desertification http://www.unccd.int/

Green Facts: Desertification http://www.greenfacts.org/en/desertification/

Desertification - Word Press http://desertification.wordpress.com/

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Hazardous Waste Disposal - San Francisco Bay Area

Alameda County

• Recycling Hotline (TOLL-FREE) (877) STOPWASTE

• Home Composting Information Hotline (510) 444-SOIL

• Household Hazardous Waste (800) 606-6606

Contra Costa County

• Recycling (925) 335-1225


Marin County

• Recycling (415) 499-6647


Napa County

• Recycling (707) 257-9292


San Francisco City & County

• Recycling (415) 554-6193


San Joaquin County

• Recycling & Household Hazardous Waste (209) 468-3066

San Mateo County

• Recycling (888) 442-2666


Santa Clara County

• Recycling (800) 533-8414

• Home Composting (408) 918-4640


Solano County


Sonoma County


State of California California Integrated Waste Management Board

• Recycling Hotline (916) 341-6000

• California Materials Exchange (CALMAX) (877) 520-9703

• Department of Conservation Recycling Hotline (800) 732-9253

Source: www.stopwaste.org

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This booklet was developed based on the research from various websites, books and magazines. All information is duly referenced and available in more extended formats.

Produced by


For presentations and speeches contact:


Roberto Giannicola

www.provokare.com

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