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Every now and then we stumble across something that really puts what we do into perspective. That happened recently when we read the Pacific Institute’s “Water Conflict Chronology” report. This report, which began in 1980 to better understand the connection between water resources, systems, and international security and conflict, details nearly every conflict involving water dating back to 3000 B.C.

The results are staggering. Looking at a study like this underscores how important it is that we value the water we have and work to ensure everyone around the world has access to the same vital resources we do. Something most of us take for granted each day is the same thing that has the potential to cause major conflicts around the world.

As we look at this study we should all be sure to think about the impact the next time we turn on the faucet, shower, or hose and realize how lucky we are and how valuable our water is.

Water - Use It Wisely invites you to check out its new video series, “Tinkling with Ryan.” The series provides regular entertaining takes on water conservation news and tips. In the first episode, Ryan shows you how easy it is to install a water-saving shower head. Believe me, if this guy can do it so can you.

The following is a guest blog feature courtesy of Conservation Covers…

To Pool Owners,

It always astounds me that the largest WASTES of water and electricity in the home are ignored. And by largest we really mean the largest – your pool.

By simply covering your pool you reduce pump and chemical usage by 75%, instantly reducing water evaporation to ZERO!! The swimming pools in California, Arizona and Texas lose its full volume of water every year through evaporation. A 20,000 gallon pool will evaporate 18,000 gallons throughout the year. Obviously, 18,000 gallons of water is extremely valuable yet its loss is usually ignored when we speak about droughts and water-saving measures.

Also ignored is the eight kilowatts of energy it takes to power the motors that filter a pool. Eight kilowatts a day is almost 3,000 kilowatts a year. By applying a pool cover, this kind of usage can be cut 70-80% because heat and light can’t enter the pool. That means the pool filter only needs to run for two hours a day instead of eight.

Pools are actually only used an average of one to two percent of all the hours in a year which means the potential for conservation is ENORMOUS! In Los Angeles alone, 2.7 billion gallons of water evaporate every year from pools and over a billion kilowatts are used for electricity. All these savings can be reached with a lightweight cover that can be removed in 3-4 minutes for swimming.

This is an important ecological matter that needs to be addressed. Everyone who is being asked to reduce their water usage by 15-20% could easily achieve that by simply covering your pool with a UV protected cover. Spread the word, and cover your pool!

Sincerely,

Conservation Covers

www.conservationcovers.com

Jeans. We all love them. We all have them. In fact, most of us have a lot of them. According to a Cotton Inc. survey, the average American owns 8.3 pairs of jeans. American teens average 11 pairs of jeans. As much as I love jeans I actually come in on the low end of this survey at 5 pairs, 2 of which I haven’t worn in years.

Having this many jeans already seems a bit excessive. But when you factor in that it takes 1,800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to make just one pair of jeans, this suddenly seems to go far beyond excess. It’s unreasonable to suggest that we no longer buy jeans or condemn those that do. After all, jeans are as much a part of America as apple pie and angry political debates.

But armed with this statistic it does seem that we should find a use for the jeans we all have soaking up space in our closets. If we’re going to use the water to grow the cotton to make the jeans, let’s put our old jeans back to use.

So in addition to asking you to follow our more traditional water saving tips we’d also like to ask that you donate your old jeans. Make them useful again by donating them to your local Goodwill and we’ll dramatically reduce our water consumption. Not only will our environment thank you but so will the person you just helped get a new pair of jeans.

Making water conservation easy to understand is one of the biggest challenges we face everyday. Here’s a great example of how IBMs’ “A Smarter Planet” series is combining creative and simple to show how important and easy conserving water really is…

Stuffed toys are a holiday gifting staple famous for causing UFC-style fights around store shelves. This year, instead of getting wrapped up in the frenzy to get the last poorly manufactured fad, why not go the more unique and environmentally friendly route?

Idbids are handcrafted stuffed toys that teach parents and children about the importance of environmental stewardship. Our personal favorite is “Waverly,” an idbid whose mission it is to spread the word about water conservation. 

Waverly comes with a photographic storybook, field guide that provides simple conservation activities, and a backpack to keep track of all your efforts. Of course, all idbid materials, including Waverly himself are made with recycled and eco-friendly materials. 

Pick up your idbid here.

Earlier in the week we recommended an ergonomic broom as a perfect water-saving gift.  It’s a great way to replace the water wasted when hosing down a garage, driveway or porch.  But we’re nothing at Water - Use It Wisely if not realists and we know there are times when nothing replaces a hose. There’s something about the steady stream flowing from a hose that is both soothing and powerful (surely Freud would have a good explanation for this). 

The problem is that many of us don’t realize just how much water is wasted with a hose.  Forget the typical overuse, the leaks and arrant sprays that are enough to make even a modest water conservationist squirm. So, for those insistent on using a hose, we’d like to recommend the WaterWatch meter as the next in our series of water-saving holiday gifts. 

After being easily screwed onto the end of your hose, the WaterWatch meter shows you exactly how much water you are using. Aside from keeping us accountable in our water conservation efforts, the WaterWatch meter has many other beneficial uses including:

• Measure how much water to add to your RV water tanks
• Accurately and quickly measure water for mixing fertilizers
• Track the amount of water used when washing the car

So we’d like to encourage all you “hoser’s” out there to pick up your WaterWatch meter this holiday season.  

To purchase your WaterWatch meter visit the eartheasy.com store here.