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Arizona Partners include from left to right, Jo Cook - AMWUA, Sandra Rode - Goodyear, Cheryl Penner - Intern with Peoria, Carol Ward-Morris - AMWUA, Mary Lu Nunley - Phoenix, Jo Miller - Glendale, Leeann Spahos - Peoria, Rhonda Humbles - Peoria, Eric Braun - Gilbert, Cathy Rymer - Chandler, Sally Ceccarelli-Wolf - Arizona American Water, Donna DiFrancesco - Mesa, Karen Collins - SRP, Lynne Fisher - Bureau of Reclamation

It’s our tenth anniversary at Water – Use It Wisely and we’re celebrating with a makeover. Over the course of ten years we’ve grown from an idea founded in Metro Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa AZ to a worldwide movement with over 400 partners. Along the way we’ve learned some valuable lessons. The most valuable of which is that our success hinges on you. Our cause depends on you getting involved and spreading the message. So, to celebrate, and to continue in our mission, we’ve made getting involved easier than ever. 

Here are ten ways you can get involved in the campaign right now…

1.) Get the latest news and join the movement directly by reading, sharing and commenting on the Water – Use It Wisely blog. 

2.) Teachers can instantly download and print free flash cards for use in the classroom. The cards are a fun way to educate students on the importance of conserving water. 

3.) Become part of the global Water – Use It Wisely community on Facebook. Become a Fan, recruit your friends and join in the conversation.

4.) Learn new ways to conserve everyday by following us on Twitter. Receive daily water tips that keep you informed on simple ways to save water. 

5.) See for yourself the impact Water – Use It Wisely is having by viewing our photos on Flickr and watching videos on YouTube. Just watch or comment, share and upload your own. 

6.) Receive our regular E-newsletter and stay current on all the information that will help you in your conservation efforts. 

7.) Increase your brand recognition by connecting it with Water – Use It Wisely. Instantly download the logo directly to your website or social network. 

8.) Make an immediate impact and start saving today by accessing over 100 water-saving tips and tricks in the “100 + Ways to Conserve” section of the website.  Start yourself, then share with family and friends.

9.) Educate the next generation of conservationists by playing the “Tip-Tank” children’s game. Match the water-saving devices to teach kids that simple things can make a big difference.

10.) Build your own campaign instantly and affordably by visiting the online store. Start big or download and print a print ad for as low as $35.

**First, a note to say we’re not asking you to stop drinking coffee. We certainly aren’t going to!**

Did you get coffee from your favorite coffee shop this morning? Did you put milk and sugar in it? Did it have a plastic lid? A sleeve?

If you answered yes to any of these (like I did), then please read Brian Merchant’s illuminating post, “How many gallons of water does it take to make your latte?” I’ll certainly make the changes he recommends. Little things can accumulate to massive water waste, but doing little things can also add up to huge savings.

It may not seem like much.  But the water you save by turning off that faucet when brushing your teeth or by taking a slightly shorter shower, can lead to hundreds, and even thousands, of gallons (and dollars!) saved in the long run.  

During the month of February, Water – Use it Wisely is highlighting the sometimes surprising ways you can save water.  Visit www.wateruseitwisely.com for ideas on ways you and your family can save water in your home each day.  Remember – there are a number of ways to save water and they all start with you!

For homes built after 1992, toilets use about 1.6 gallons per flush and can account for an astonishing 26 percent of indoor water use.  A running faucet goes through about 2.2 gallons each minute.  

And, showerheads use about 2.5 gallons per minute.  Knowing that, it’s a simple calculation to determine how much water you can save by minimizing the water you flush or let run down the drain.

Start 2009 out the right way by saving water and money. Water – Use it Wisely can help with an interactive home water audit that is so user-friendly, the whole family can get in on the fun, while learning more about water conservation.

To get started, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com and click on the family water audit. Figure out how much water you’re using and commit to cutting back your water usage by 10 percent. Check out the helpful 12-month Water Planner also at the site to help with tips for conserving water throughout the year.

• For starters, here are some basic things every household can do to save water.
• 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.
•  Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1,000 gallons a month.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you, not the drain.
• Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
• Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and reuse it to water houseplants.
• 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.
• Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save four gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and/or sidewalk.
• Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if savings are small, every drop counts.

For more water saving tips, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com.
There, you can also sign-up to receive a monthly water saving tip to remind you of your resolution and to keep you conserving all year long.

A good shower is important for many reasons.  Among the most obvious benefits are that showers help us avoid unwanted odors and provide a comfortable place to belt out our best Whitney or Josh Groban tune (is that just me?).  However, the most overlooked shower element is that they are one of the main fronts on which the water conservation battle is waged.

Of course more direct measures like water-saving shower heads can be put into place, but for our fourth suggestion in the series we’re recommending a simple step you can take to dramatically limit your daily water consumption – digital shower timers courtesy of BigGreenSmile.com. 

These little beauties are an easy way to keep track of the amount of time you spend in the shower. Shortening your shower by one or two minutes can save roughly 150 gallons a month.  That’s simple savings made even easier with the help of a digital shower timer.  

Soon enough your showers will be like an exciting race against time.  And who knows, maybe you’ll be the catalyst to introduce the shower sprint to the 2012 Olympic Games.