|
|
Welcome to the Blog! |
|
By Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer You might ask: Since we had so much rain in July and then Tropical Storm Betty in August dropped buckets of water all over eastern NC, why do we need to save water? Let’s remember how dry it was in June. According to the NC State Climate Office, June was one of the top five warmest on record for much of eastern NC, with most counties listed as abnormally dry or in moderate drought (https://climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2024/07/a-record-dry-june-accelerates-droughts-arrival/). Thanks to our recent rains that made eastern NC feel like a tropical rain forest, our area is no longer listed in dry or drought categories on the NC drought maps (https://www.drought.gov/states/north-carolina). However, drought conditions can return at any time, as we have experienced over the past several years. Droughts and water shortages already exist in many parts of the US and around the world. In light of this, consider some simple water-saving tips at home to have water for planters and gardens when the rain doesn't fall, reduce your water bill, and help conserve water resources. Use a rain barrel to capture and save the runoff from your roof and gutters. The collected water can be poured into a watering can for hand watering or outfitted with a hose. Directions for DIY rain barrels are available online, or you can buy them already assembled at big box stores or order them online. Taking shorter showers saves water. Also, while waiting for the water to heat up for your shower or for washing dishes, let that water flow into a bucket to use for cleaning purposes.
Above left: This photo shows water captured and stored in a large light-colored cistern similar to the one in the Butterfly Garden at the Arboretum. The water flows from a spiggot into a watering bucket. Water your plants by filling a watering can from your rain barrel. Photo credit: Can.Lee County Ext. png Above right: You can conserve water by taking a shorter shower. Also, by letting the water flow into a bucket while it's warming up for your shower or for washing dishes - rather than running down a drain - you're saving water. Photo credit: Joanne K for this and all remaining photos. Don't throw out the ice from beverages. Let it cool to room temperature and then use it to water your planters. If you run a dehumidifier, instead of emptying the reservoir down the drain, pour the water on your tomatoes! Save the water from the kids' pool for your lawn. Don't let the faucet run while cleaning fruits and vegetables. Instead, rinse them in a bowl or sink full of clean water. Rather than tossing pasta or cooking water, save it for soup stock or your next batch of cooking! Pasta water adds complexity and richness to your noodles and stocks. Thaw frozen foods in the fridge or microwave them instead of placing a package under running water. For cold drinking water, fill a bottle or pitcher at the faucet and chill it in the refrigerator. This avoids the wasteful practice of running tap water to cool it for drinking. If you wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing. Instead, if you have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you have only one sink, first gather all your washed dishes in a dish rack, then rinse them quickly with a spray device or a pan of water. While brushing your teeth, turn off the water until you rinse your brush. With populations growing around the world, the demands on our water resources will only continue to increase. As global temperatures rise every year, so do the threats of extended droughts and water shortages. Water is a limited resource that we can all do our part to use wisely. For more information on using water wisely, go to https://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve-water/ https://www.energystar.gov/products/recent_program_updates/saving-water-helps-protect-our-nations-water-supplies#:~:text=Using water-saving techniques can,, pump, and heat water. https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-scarcity
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
