Overview
Welcome to the third week of the Staff Challenge! This week focuses on “Being Water Wise”.
Conserving water benefits natural habitats, reduces the need for costly infrastructure projects, and lowers carbon emissions by reducing the amount of energy used in the pumping and transporting water. Saving water helps reduce climate change!
Conserving water benefits natural habitats, reduces the need for costly infrastructure projects, and lowers carbon emissions by reducing the amount of energy used in the pumping and transporting water. Saving water helps reduce climate change!
Why is this important?
Less than 1% of the water on our planet is freshwater and available for consumption. In California, the water system provides water for 35 million people and irrigates roughly 6 million acres of farmland. A growing population increases the demand on water supplies, increasing diversion of water from the ecosystems that we depend on. Rivers, wildlife habitat, groundwater aquifers, and water quality are all affected by these water withdrawals. If we think of freshwater availability as a bank, we are making more withdrawals than deposits, and the balance is shrinking.
Even with recent rains, this year’s precipitation in California remains well below average, and the snow pack is between 35-47% of normal, which could mean less water available in our upcoming dry months.
The production and distribution of drinking water also requires a vast amount of energy. The state of California has one of the most extensive water distribution systems on the planet, moving water from the northern part of the state all the way to the southern border. Moving that water and treating it to drinking water standards uses a lot of energy - almost 20 percent of California’s energy use. Using water wisely helps maintain natural ecosystems, helps ensure water availability during dry months, and reduces CO2 emissions.
Did you know?
- The average American lifestyle is kept afloat by nearly 2,000 gallons of water a day, which is twice the global average.
- Crissy Field and the Great Meadow have purple pipes for irrigation, designed to carry recycled water if it becomes available.
