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Water Is Worth It
Protecting Water for Future Generations
 April 2012 marked the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Clean Water Act, the nation's law for protecting our most irreplaceable resource. Clean water is vital for our health. Great progress has been made to reduce pollution during the past 40 years, but many challenges remain and we must work together to protect clean water for our families and future generations. Everyone has an impact on the water and we are all responsible for making a difference. "Water is worth it".
Water Facts and Conservation Measures:
- Turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth will save up to 3,000 gallons of water per year.
- Leaky spigots add up - 1 drop per second equals 2,700 gallons a year.
- Install a rain barrel for outdoor watering needs.
- Collect water from the shower as it warms up to water house plants.
- Take shorter showers.
- Make sure all appliances are energy and water-efficient and run the dishwasher and wash machine only when full.
- Compost kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps rather than using water for the disposal.
- Do not water your lawn or garden during the height of the day. Water evaporates in the sun.
For free education resources on conserving water and more, visit epa.gov.
Participate in the Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder Contest
 The U.S. EPA, Generations United, The Dance Exchange, National Center for Creative Aging, and the Rachel Carson Council, Inc. announce a poetry, essay, photography and dance contest "that best expresses the Sense of Wonder that you feel for the sea, the night sky, forests, birds, wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes." They want you to share this love of nature with a child and others. According to the group of sponsors, "When we teach our eyes and ears and senses to focus on the wonders of nature, we open ourselves to the wonders around us."
Entries need to be by a team of at least 2 people from different generations. Teams can be of people who are related or not related to one another. The deadline for all submissions is June 10, 2012. For more information, visit epa.gov. |
