Conservation





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	Conservation Watching our water In a drought-plagued desert, conservation is imperative. Does water scarcity scare you? Does it frighten you to envision your faucet one day rattling to a trickle, then a drip, then - nothing? Despite prognostications of doom from some quarters, Arizona is not quite at the above situation - yet. The current six-year drought we're enduring, with dry monsoons and reservoirs at only a fraction of their full capacities, will cease at some point. A wetter period will follow, then another dry one. This cycle, though its duration may change, will never end. And yet many Arizonans - and perhaps most recent arrivals - don't realize that water conservation therefore has to be a permanent part of the desert lifestyle we all enjoy. We can howl about artificial lakes and golf courses all we want. Though they are highly visible, they're actually a drop in the bucket compared to the aggregate waste from our own homes and businesses. The difference between a valley water shortage and water sufficiency chiefly lies in our own hands. Our major East Valley cities should do more to emulate Chandler's leadership in water recycling, which yields larger supplies of "gray water" - not potable but used to keep grass and plants green while saving on the drinkable stuff. Here is an assortment of tips for individuals to save water. The list isn't exhaustive: Plant grass only in an area large enough to meet your needs. Xeriscape the rest with hardy and attractive water-stingy desert plants. Several species of desert trees provide shade while using less water than imported shade trees from wetter climates. Water deeply and thoroughly every several days rather than lightly and more frequently, which is much more prone to evaporation. In summer, water early in the morning or at night to cut down on evaporation. Use far less water in winter than in summer. Make sure leaks are fixed. Even a small leak wastes hundreds of gallons. The entire history of Arizona is universally tied to water - finding it, delivering it, using it. All we know can be traced to it. We must therefore respect its vital role in providing the modern miracle of civilized life in such a harsh environment. - Tribune Editorials, Thursday, September 16, 2004 TAP IN ON CONSERVATION TIPS . . . Bathroom tips Turn off water when brushing your teeth or shaving Take 5 minute showers instead of baths. A five minute shower takes 10 to 25 gallons of water Check toilets periodically for leaks. A faucet with a slow drip takes 10 to 25 gallons of water. Just think, 15 drips per minute adds up to almost 3 gallons of water wasted per day. To check for leaks, use a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait a few minutes, if you see color in the bowl, you have a leak Use low-volume shower heads or use flow restrictors Check all faucets and pipes for leaks Kitchen & Laundry ideas Only use automatic dishwashers and clothes washers when full When washing dishes by hand do not let the tap run freely Try these Outside suggestions Use buckets when washing vehicles Uses a shut off nozzle on your hose Use a broom to sweep down instead of the hose Water lawns during the cool time of day to minimize evaporation Water lawns every 3 days in summer and every 5 to 7 days in winter Don't forget to adjust watering timers in winter Use low water plants Interesting facts . . . Did you know only 1% of the Earth's water is drinkable? One gallon of used motor oil, improperly disposed of can contaminate up to one million gallons of drinking water. For more conservation ideas you can visit www.wateruseitwisely.com Kids Conservation U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Drinking Water for Kids educational and fun environmental games, go to www.epa.gov/safewater/kids NOAA, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, has educational and fun information on weather - hurricanes - tornadoes - lighting and floods www.education.noaa.gov National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, lots of informational, educational fun www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/home.htm United States Environmental Protection Agency, has lots of educational information www.epa.gov/kids U.S. Geological Survey USGS, provides an excellent web site for all family members. www.usgs.gov/education/

Atoms. An atom is the smallest particle of an element, like oxygen or hydrogen. Atoms join together to form molecules. A water molecule has three atoms: two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (o) atom. That is why water is sometimes referred to as H2O. One single drop of water contains billions of water molecules.