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Enviro Warrior - Wake up and smell the Homus ... then tread lightly upon the planet.

 

Saving Water Is Everyones Business

Playing with Water


Saving Water
Is Everyones
Business



Become A Water Activist!

Anyone can become a water activist. Here are a few steps to help you get started:

1. Become familiar with the zoning laws for wells and sanitation systems in your community. Ensure they are enforced and effective in terms of promoting clean water.

2. Discuss water and health with local industry leaders – encourage and solicit their ideas.

3.Support efforts to decrease emissions of carbon-dioxide, mercury and lead.

4. Invite a water scientist to speak to your community organizations.

5. Understand the status of your region’s water disaster preparedness plans, and help improve them, if necessary.

6. Avoid buying bottled water. Tap water is just as safe and has less environmental impact. Buy a water filter instead.

Visit these links for more information about other ways to become a water activist:

www.rotary.org/jump/water
www.globalwaterchallenge.org
www.mwawater.org.


Photograph reproduced courtesy http://www.flickr.com/photos/wester/38490644/ under GNU copyright agreement.
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23 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]
1. November 20th 2006 @ 01:21. Wendi Says:
We're very environmentally conscious here, but bottled water is my weakness. I hadn't considered a water filter, but now that I think of it, it'd be much cheaper in the long run than buying bottles of water.
2. November 20th 2006 @ 01:43. katyzzz Says:
Lilla,

I've never paid for a bottle of water.

I fill an 'old' bottle with tap water, stick a straw in it and off I go.

I could prbably do without the straw but don't like drinking from a bottle.

Loves ya!

katyzzz .... loved the image....so refreshing and sparkling.
3. November 20th 2006 @ 02:07. Lilla Says:
Grreat to hear it Wendi!

I know you already do much for the enviroment... way to go girlfriend!

We went all out and bought a deluxe water filter that stands alone like one of those water coolers you see in offices. This has the option to use bottled water, but we use the filter-the-tap option instead. It chills the water on one side and heats it on the other… and because the hot side is so small, it saves buckets of money on the electricity bill by not boiling the jug each time someone wants a cuppa. It didn’t cost the earth and the filters only add up to about five loaves of bread per year.

We stopped eating bread anyway!

The chilled water is really nice in the hot Australian Summers…

Another bonus is that because it’s novel, I am sure the children are drinking enough water… because as you know, that is where we mustn’t skimp on water… 1-2 litres a day keeps the doctor away.

I could go on… *wink, nod – smile* but I won’t…*lol*

Lilla…
4. November 20th 2006 @ 02:14. Lilla Says:
Hi Katyzzz,

It sounds great if it still tastes great! But where we are the water tastes like clay pipes if'n we don't filter it... kids won't drink it and it's my No:1 pet peeve... "have you drunk your water today..." I'll say, again and again...it's so important... so we filter it, no excuses.

Yes thanks, I thought the image special too ....am heading over to your place now with my cuppa in hand to see what you've been up to whilst I was away from my post...*lol*

Lilla...
5. November 20th 2006 @ 03:26. MelissaA Says:
I just wish everyone would sit down and really think about how they use their water and where it goes.

One good example is the water that you waste when you turn on your shower in the morning and wait for it to warm up.
How many litres of water does everyone waste every day on such a simple thing?

Personally took steps with this one ages ago by placing a large bucket in my shower. I catch all that pure, clean water in the bucket and you know what - you can do pretty much anything with it.

One thing I myself use it for is to manually flush my toilet, thereby saving even more water on not flushing through the cistern.

When people really sit down and think about it, and then act on it, it's amazing what we can all save.
6. November 20th 2006 @ 03:47. Lilla Says:
MelissaA,

You are my hero..well herione...(is that still a legal word...?) *lol*

Absolutely... couldn't agree more... when I'm feeling energetic after the kids have had a bath I often bucket out as much as I can and dump it in the garden... or as you say, save it for loo flushing... so easy to save and no more hefty excess water fees from our local council ... another dollar saved ... one less spent ... one less hour I have to work... something like that...*chuckles*

Thanks for your added ideas,

Lilla...
7. November 20th 2006 @ 04:52. MelissaA Says:
*LOL*
Thanks Lilla, it's nice to know someone cares about these things as much as I do.

People used to think I was mad many years ago when I set up a system for pumping my washing machine water out into the back garden, but really all these things take is a little thought.

It's like even simple handwashing.
My kids would waste a tonne of water and goodness knows what else if I let them use the sink taps to wash their hands.
So instead I put an empty icecream container full of sopay water in the sink and they wash their hands in that. Again, something easy enough to tip into the garden without too much fuss, and then saves a heap more water.

That one required not much thought from me in the early stages - I actually started doing it as a way of getting the kids to wash their hands when they couldn't reach the taps even standing on a step stool, so continuing it on now in terms of water saving was just a natural step. : )
8. November 20th 2006 @ 05:08. Cibbuano Says:
Bottled water is such a scam... it's more likely to have bacteria in it, since tap water is constantly monitored.

And it's such a waste of resources. What's with importing Italian spring water to Australia?

9. November 20th 2006 @ 05:39. Lilla Says:
Too true, why not send that lovely water to the 1.1 billion people who lack access to safe drinking water...?

As for the Italian water... it's supposedly all the minerals in the ground water there that makes it 'special' ... btw...what happens to all those nuclear devices that were blown up under the ground... do they bubble-up somewhere in the natural spring table somehwere in the world... Too many minerals for me... some scientists are looking at this prospect now... prhaps another post... thanks...

As for marketing : Global village future predictions... ???

...best advice : read Tofflers Third Wave

Meanwhile, there is no excuse for laziness where saving every drop of water is concerned...

Lilla...
10. November 20th 2006 @ 06:25. Lilla Says:
MelissaA,

thanks, another great tip for young mums to adopt... invent 2-5 different ways of saving water, add a couple of the energy efficient light bulbs to your shopping list and some candles every now and then and within 6 months you could be saving money. We are about $650 dollars better of a year from these two utility bills alone... more money for my wine, gin ... ooh and travel... visiting far off places and people... nothing like it...

...thanks again for your great ideas MA.
...keep up the good work...!

Lilla...
11. November 20th 2006 @ 07:51. MelissaA Says:
Oooh, I love that idea Lilla - more money for the wine etc!

Sounds spot on to me! ; )
12. November 20th 2006 @ 13:27. Deorre Says:
Water, water everywhere, yet so many drops to waste. Great post and reminder. I love water and drik my fair share. So many worldwide do not have enough. Quite the staple of life, that.
13. November 21st 2006 @ 05:57. Claire Says:
Hi there

Great blog. Wish I could subscribe but as not on a home computer the system won't let me.

I have a question that is unrelated to water but thought you may be able to help. I need new sneakers and wondered if there is an environmentally friendly (PVC-less) brand out there that I can buy.

Claire
www.slowcycletour.com
14. November 21st 2006 @ 23:30. Lilla Says:
Deorre,

...yes a staple now for some years... the changes to my mental health...?... astounding!

thanks for dropping by...

Lilla...
15. November 21st 2006 @ 23:35. Lilla Says:
Hi Claire,

...what a great question...!

I can only think of those older-style "plimpsoles" which were made from sailboat canvas and rubber soles...they are making a re-emergence into the summer fashions for women here in Australia this year...

Otherwise I have no idea... certainly nothing Nike are putting out...

Try writing to the marketing department of Nike... I'd love to know what you eventually come up with...

Lilla ...
16. November 22nd 2006 @ 02:22. Claire Says:
Ace Lilla,

A good and cheap idea for the sneakers, so thanks. (Pity I'm a total hypocrite and haven't quite got into the whole hemp over cotton clothing thing... yet.)

With regard to the saving of water, what does everyone think about recycled water? When I lived in Europe, we drank recycled water without ill effects and where it wasn't on tap, it was at least used for crops.

Even if we didn't drink recycled water, couldn't we at least have it for our gardens and our farms (which, incidentally, is where I am lead to believe the majority of water is utilised). They've just approved a desalination plant right where we live in Freo, WA. I don't think it was the right decision. I would have preferred recycling.

What does everyone else think?

Claire
17. November 22nd 2006 @ 02:50. Lilla Says:
Hey Claire,

..yeah, I haven't heard of hemp shoes yet... let me know when you find them...maybe something to add to your letter to Nike*lol*

How about recycled water... the issue is hot here in Queensland at the moment... they want to give it back to us from the sewerage farms... people are gagging a bit...??? Not sure which way it'll go now...

I'd love to hear from other states (and countries) as to what is being done by local governments...if you've got a mo. people ...

Claire, I had family living in Mandurah for a while a few years back and they all had bore water that got pumped up each afternoon... has that changed...?

Lilla...

18. November 22nd 2006 @ 03:04. Claire Says:
Not sure if Mandurah will have changed from bore yet. However, as it is one of the fastest growing regional centres in the country I wouldn't be surprised if they are either already on mains or will be soon.

I admit, the idea of drinking recycled sewrage isn't appealing but if there's nothing else and it has been through a system of checks before it gets to your tap, then you drink it. I think it is worth considering for biggest users - farms - even if the general populous thinks it stinks...
19. November 22nd 2006 @ 03:34. Lilla Says:
very true Claire, especially when there are so many avenues of filtering technology available to us today... however, we ordered a large rainwater tank and are awaiting delivery...

20. November 24th 2006 @ 01:27. Jessicca Says:
Oh, how nice that I am back in Aussie...

Here in Malaysia (where I am currently working and staying) we can't take the water straight from the tap without REALLY decent water filter.

A few months ago before engaging with Blogging I was one of the dealers that sells water filtration systems, though it was absolutely great, just that it is pricy at the moment for average families. LOL...

So, it is quite popular for water bottles sold here. Malaysians just don't tend to fill their water bottle from home when they travel... oh well...

So there you go, my piece about water. I also do not have those long showers and bath tubs (only once a blue moon) I used to love, clean yourself enough with shower or with a pail of water and I can see the water bill has cut down tremendously well.

Cheerio
Jessicca
21. November 24th 2006 @ 07:36. MelissaA Says:
I for one would love to have a recycled water plant!

You know ages ago they did a challenge, similar to the old Pepsi challenge?
They used a variety of waters including recycled and got people to taste them without knowing which was which. The recycled water was given the thumbs up!
22. November 24th 2006 @ 07:39. Jessicca Says:
You are right Melissa, and Singapore is applying that technology, but not in full scale yet.
23. November 24th 2006 @ 08:13. Lilla Says:
Hi girls,

I can remember having to filter my water whilst living in India too, jessica, it was all good though... well except for when the supply was cut off and no water was flowing... usually in the shower after I had just put shampoo into my hair!!! *lol*

I would love to get one of those new water filter/cooler contraption just released in Japan, MelissaA. It takes the moisture from the air and filters it into clean, cold flowing water... about $1,000 per unit...but I think the price will come down over the next couple years... imagine in Malaysia and her in Queensland... there is so much humidity... it's fabulous technology...

I'll see what I can hunt up and do a feature on it next week...

Lilla...

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