September 2020

Take one action to conserve water in your daily life in the next 30 days.  

 
Tips to meet the challenge:
 
1) Define water usage and calculate your water footprint
  • We're not just talking about the water that comes out of your tap.  Water usage includes "virtual water usage" water used to grow the food you eat and make the products you buy.  Water is consumed creating energy like electricity.  
  • You can learn more about the different areas of water usage and calculate your own water footprint.  
2) Choose an area of water usage to address
  • Appliances such as washing machines (average American = 15 gal. per day per person) and dishwashers (average American = 1 gal per day per person)
  • Faucet for cooking, cleaning, and drinking (average American = 11 gal per day per person)
  • Shower (average American = 11 gal per day per person)
  • Toilet (average American = 18 gal per day per person) 
  • Watering lawns (EPA estimates 1.5 billion gallons per day is actually wasted due to over watering and evaporation)
  • Hidden water usage areas include the food you eat (nuts, meat, and processed foods are examples of food that take a lot of water to produce)
  • Hidden water usage areas include the electricity you consume (yes! it takes water to produce electricity)
  • Hidden water usage areas include the items you buy (it takes water to produce almost anything you purchase.  Reducing or reusing in almost any category will impact water usage). 
3) Identify an action to take to reduce your water consumption
  • Invest in newer more efficient appliances/toilets/showers or retrofit existing by installing low flow mechanisms, or even just add a tank bank or other volume reducing item to your toilet tank. 
  • Fix leaks!
  • Reduce the time that you let water run from the faucet:
    • turn it off when brushing your teeth
    • fill up a container while waiting for hot water and then put that container in the fridge for drinking water or watering plants
    • time your showers; turn off the water when lathering hair
  • Wash your clothing less often - especially jeans and towels. 
  • Consider water capture using rain barrels and then use that water on your outside plants. 
  • Conserving electricity can help reduce
  • View so many more ideas:  and pick one!
  
 
This challenge originated after hearing from John Stine, Executive Director of Fresh Water at our August 18th meeting. We learned about the amazing water fortune enjoyed by Minnesotans and the responsibility that fortune requires. 
 
By participating in the Rotary EcoClub EcoChallenge for September 2020, you will understand all the overt and hidden sources of water use in your daily life.  You will see that there are easy non-burdensome ways to reduce your daily water usage.  You will take action and help conserve the most important natural resource for continued life: WATER.  
 
Share your progress - the hurdles and the success - with Rotary EcoClub and your family and friends!