Most people in the U.S. are pretty lucky when it comes to water access. After all, the majority of us can enjoy water whenever we want. Thirsty? Need a shower? Have a load of dishes or laundry to wash? Plants to water? No problem, just turn that tap and clean drinking water is free flowing. It feels as if there is an unlimited supply of water at our disposal. However, that is not the reality. Each time we turn on the tap, not only are we depleting a natural resource that is vital to our survival, but we may be polluting our ocean. Water wasted is water polluted. All water from your home both inside or outside eventually makes it way to the ocean either through our wastewater system or via runoff. So, practicing water conservation is actually an act in ocean protection.
It's easy to take fresh water for granted and ignore a leaky faucet, enjoy an extra long shower or give your grass an extra soak. But each time we needlessly waste water we are do our society, our ocean and ourselves a major disservice.
As a reminder to respect this precious resource, we celebrate World Water Month each March, as part of a global movement to increase awareness of water's important in our society and our environment and for us our oceans.
Did you know that a ten-minute shower uses more than 40 gallons of water? A single leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water per day? Up to five gallons of water is wasted every time you leave the faucet running while brushing your teeth? Or that landscape irrigation can account for nearly 60% of a home's daily water usage?
Let's use World Water Month to conserve this natural resource and to protect its quality too. Don't let plastics infiltrate our waterways. Don't send pollutants down the drain -- anything that goes down your drain or finds its way into the gutter will ultimately end up in our ocean.
One way to show you care and help raise awareness about water conservation is to take our "Skip a Shower" pledge on World Water Day -- March 22, 2016. If 25,000 people take the pledge, nearly one million gallons of water will be conserved on that one day alone. And then embrace these five simple tips for conserving water every day:
1) Keep showers to five minutes or less and limit baths.
2) Install low-flow toilets and showerheads (like Speakman Reaction shower head).
3) Fix any leaky plumbing. A single leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water per day.
4) Use trashcans for disposing of trash, not toilets.
5) Don't waste water outdoors. Make your yard Ocean Friendly.
Starting today, let's challenge ourselves to be mindful of our water usage habits and seek changes that will make our ocean, waves and beaches healthier for everyone.