Think California, Conserve Water

By Edith Carpio

Water is so readily available to us in the Northeast that we do not think about all the ways in which we are wasting it. The California drought makes the threat of running out of water very real.

California is having its driest year to date, causing California Gov. Jerry Brown to mandate that people ration their water usage, according to The New York Times. Although the drought directly affects the people and vegetation of California, it also affects people nationwide. 

According to a video report done by The New York Times, California provides 90 percent of America's tomatoes, 95 percent of America's broccoli, and 99 percent of America's almonds; this water crisis has caused the prices of produce to go up and they most likely will continue to go up.

California's drought warns that with climate change the rest of us also need to think of water conservation.

Here are 5 ways you can conserve water:

1. Turn off the water when not in use

We stand in front of the running faucet for about three to four minutes maximum when brushing our teeth and only need to use the water for one out of the four minutes. We can turn off the water when brushing. The same can be done when washing the dishes. According to Wateruseitwisely.com you can save about four gallons of water for every minute you brush your teeth.

2.  Take shorter showers

After a long day at work or school, one looks forward to taking a long hot relaxing shower. But you really do not need to be in there for more than 15 minutes. Wateruseitwisely.com even says that cutting your shower time to five minutes can save up to 1,000 gallons every month.


3. Check for leaks

You don't think that the few drops of water leaking from the faucets or shower heads in your house matter, but they do add up. Dust off the tool box, grab the wrench and tighten the shower heads and the faucets in your house. You can even check your water meter to make sure all leaks are accounted for.

4. Look for a water-saving friendly washing machine

According to wateruseitwisely.com there are specific types of washing machines you can buy that can save up to 20 gallons of water per load. Also, washing dark clothes with cold water will save water and energy.

5. Buy inexpensive water-saving devices for your home

The Environmental Protection Agency teamed up with WaterSense to make products that will conserve water and energy. The Watersense label can be found on toilets, faucets, dishwashers, and washing machines.

Why should you be worried about conserving water?

Not only will following through with these tips save you from having to dig deeper into your pockets, they will help ensure we have water for a long time to come. We do not want to see our water bills or produce prices increase, but we especially do not want to have to have to wait until we have to ration our water consumption to worry about water conservation.

For more tips on how to conserve water, head to wateruseitwisely.com