Greetings!

Virtual Water and Conservation 

A letter from AWRA President Carol Collier

 

Happy Spring! While this is usually a wetter time of year, it is still a good time to start thinking about how we can conserve water during the hotter, drier summer months. So much of our increased water consumption is tied to outdoor water use -- agriculture irrigation, lawns and gardens, filling pools, etc. How many times have you seen sprinkler systems on timers that are pushing out streams of water even when it's raining! There is a lot we can do to reduce our summertime usage.

 

For example, water conservation goes beyond good irrigation and lawn watering practices. Can we increase incentives for the use of low flow shower heads and low flush toilets? New York City has had a strong conservation plan in place for many years.  

 

Does your water purveyor provide an easy to read account of your water used during a billing period? Mine provides a bar chart showing the amount of water my husband and I used each month. This is not only a good way to see our changes in use during different seasons, but just seeing the numbers so clearly displayed provides us with a challenge to use less the next month. Water purveyors can also greatly reduce water loss due to leaking pipes. Based on a program developed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), many cities and states are encouraging or requiring water loss audits. My organization, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), has such a requirement in place for large water users in the basin.  

 

There is another aspect of water use that is getting more and more attention  -- virtual water, which is the amount of water used in the growing or manufacturing of products that you use.  While there are a number of websites that discuss this, I recently saw a poster developed by Lochness Water Gardens entitled "So You want to Save Water?" which lists several items and the amount of water used in their development. They then give options to reduce your impact. For instance switching from coffee to tea can save 10,950 gallons a year. Totally switching from eating beef to vegetables can save 95,193 gallons/year. Here's one you might like -- switching from milk to beer can save 15,582 gallons /year! I'm not advocating you make these changes (I don't think I can ever give up coffee), but the numbers do make you stop and think.

 

AWRA is one organization that does not look at water conservation in a vacuum, but as one tool in the tool box for water resources management. We need to look holistically at the supply and demand sides of the equation, as well as the whole groundwater/surface water system. This is especially true in light of changing precipitation and temperature patterns.

 

During the week of June 24, we will be addressing two important topics: Environmental Flows and Healthy Forests= Healthy Waters. Two consistently hot topics in water resources management. I'd like to invite you to take advantage of our super saver registration rates (available until May 1, 2013) and attend one or both of these important conferences. Don't miss out on the special field trip on Wednesday.  

 

Hope to see you there!  

 

Ps. Spread the word about Connections! Forward this email to a friend or colleague. Email Christine@awra.org with questions or comments. 

MOVIES and VIDEOS
WaterWorld Weekly Newscast, April 1, 2013, headlines: Hoboken soaked by water main breaks; EPA issues final vessel permit; Survey finds water is top priority for New Yorkers; Citizens to drive smart water management in South African city.

Protecting Americans From Danger in the Drinking

Protecting Americans From Danger in the Drinking Water

Water PBS News Hour Special
The town of Hinkley, CA, had a Hollywood moment when its battle with chromium-6 tainted water was made into the film "Erin Brockovich." But Hinkley, still struggling with contamination, hasn't had a Hollywood ending. Miles O'Brien examines what chemicals are in our drinking water and why it's so difficult to get rid of them.

WEBINARS/CONTINUING EDUCATION/TOOLS

• AWRA IWRM Webinar Series 
• EPA Twitter Chat on Climate Change, April 8, 2:00pm EDT. To participate, follow twitter.com/EPAlive and use the hashtag #EPAchat 
• MetEd is a free collection of online learning resources for the geoscience community    
•  "Need To Know: Water Rates" series for water services providers  

• EPA Water Research website 
• Tornado App The tornado warning app puts everything you need to know to prepare for a tornado - and all that comes with it - in the palm of your hand  

JAWRA Seeks Two Associate Editors

 

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