Blog Action Day 2010 - WATER - Cherish it!

Blog Action Day 2010

Topic: WATER

I read about blog action day on Robin's blog, Running Circles around the Turtles -  HERE. I thought it might be fun to participate given that the topic is Water. The idea is that everyone involved writes about the same subject . . . obviously this will result in tons of different ideas and opinions.

Cherish Water.

Take a look - Water is all around us. Water is probably the most recycled product we have on earth. The whole evaporation - condensation - precipitation cycle happens over and over again . . . providing us with water to live - water to grow - water to produce.

Is there anything as satisfying as a tall cold glass of water . . . especially after a long run? All we have to do is turn the faucet and obtain a drink - no waiting - no wondering if it is safe - no running out - it is always sitting there waiting for our needs. Do you think about how lucky we are? Do you think about the people across the globe, living without a clean water source? Think about that the next time you take a shower and all that clean water is going down the drain.

Are you conscience of the water you consume?

• Do you shut the water off while you are brushing your teeth?
• Do you let the water run while rinsing dishes you washed by hand?  
• Do you wash you car in your driveway and let the water wash down the storm sewer?
• Do you water your yard and let much of the water spray on to the street or sidewalks?
• Do you run your dishwasher when you only have a few dishes to wash?
• Do you turn on the washing machine to wash only a couple items of clothing?
• Do you take excessively long showers?
• Do you think about the water that goes into producing everything that you buy, whether that be an automobile, food, clothes, furniture, running shoes, paper . . . I think every person, animal, plant and product that we create needs water. Amazing when you think about it . . . isn't it?

Living in Madison WI - we are basically surrounded by water. The downtown area is built on an Isthmus - Lake Mendota on the north and Lake Monona on the south. At it's narrowest the Isthmus is about 1/2 mile wide.

 Downtown as seen from Lake Monona

Aerial view of Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Wingra, Lake Waubesa and Lake Kegonsa

We talk a lot about water quality of the lakes. We also talk about run-off and keeping fertilizer and leaves out of the lakes. Any water in the streets, runs through the storm water system and ends up in the Lakes. At our house - I am sure our neighbors sometimes think we are crazy - but we rack the leaves out of the street and onto our tree lawn (that area between the sidewalk and street). We also pull the car onto the lawn when we wash it so that the water returns to the earth, instead of running into the lakes.

Before you buy a new shirt, pants, chair, car, bike, toy, shoes or food - stop and think about the water used to produce the product.

Before you turn on the faucet - stop and think about the water that we use.

Saving just a little can make a huge difference.

 

After all, we all live on the same planet - our home - Mother Earth . . . common ground!