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August: Conserving Water

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.”

(Psalm 104: 10-13)

August's Action item is
CONSERVING WATER

Throughout the stories in scripture, God uses water to liberate, to cleanse, to heal, and to give new life. God’s abundance of grace flows like that life-giving water to us all. In our daily lives, using water efficiently and carefully has a direct correlation to our energy use. For example, Paul Hawkins estimates that a 95% adoption of low-flow taps and showerheads in homes by 2050 could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4.6 gigatons.

Try these action-items to remember the liberating, life-giving gift of God through water for us all.

Resources:

Video: Drought, The Dr. Binocs Show, Peekaboo Kidz

Blog: Schesinger, W, Water Use, Translational Ecology, April 4, 2017, http://blogs.nicholas.duke.edu/citizenscientist/water-use/.

Websites

Minnesota DNR, Water Conservation for Residents
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Conserving Water
University of Minnesota Extension, Water Wisely: Start in Your Own Backyard
University of Minnesota Extension, Water-Saving Strategies for Home Lawns
University of Minnesota Extension, Rain Barrels in the Home Landscape
Environmental Protection Agency, Water Sense
Environmental Protection Agency, Water Sense for Kids
Carver County, Chaska Irrigation Efficiency Program

Restoring God's Earth is used with permission from Zero Waste Church, www.zerowastechurch.org. Some content has been modified by Crown of Glory.

Tips

Week 1

Turn off the faucet while you're brushing teeth – a running tap can waste over 1 1/2 gallons per minute.
Use the leftover water to feed houseplants.
Use a full load in the dishwasher and washing machine.
Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap.

Week 2

Take short showers instead of baths. A four-minute shower uses 20 to 40 gallons of water.
Fix dripping toilets, pipes, and faucets. A dripping faucet can waste thousands of gallons of water in a year.
When washing dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing.
Use a watering can or a hose with a trigger nozzle instead of a sprinkler to water the yard.

Week 3

Keep a reusable container of drinking water in the refrigerator.
Install water efficient low flow shower heads.
Recycle grey water for garden use.
Position sprinklers so water lands on lawn or garden and not on paved areas.
Use a bucket and sponge when washing the car rather than a running hose.

Week 4

Landscape your yard with drought resistant native plants.
Mulch plants and trees in your yard to conserve moisture.
Purchase water-efficient appliances, such as low-flush toilets and front-loading washers.
Insulate your water pipes with pre-slit pipe insulation.
Don’t overwater your lawn; most lawns only need about 1”inch of water each week.