by Lisa Mucciacito

                                                   MarcroSea New York dumpster pool divers

If you are like us (and Miami Vice), you Feel the Heat. The extreme temperature is just one of the consequences of climate change, and reminds us—as we ponder the shortest path to the pool—that we must value and preserve our water resources. As National Geographic stated so succinctly,“All the water here on Earth now is all the water there ever was, and ever will be.”Add to this that 97% of said water is brackish or salty, while a further 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers and one can start to feel a little hot under the collar.

It has worked thus far, your inner voice reassures. Yes- but there weren’t 7 billion of us before. Throughout the world there are vast amounts of deep underground aquifers that have been storing fresh water for centuries. In recent history, this water has been pumped out of the earth and used for agriculture and other industry uses.  This water eventually ends up in the ocean, thus becoming part of the 97% of unusable saltwater.  Humans are using groundwater at a faster rate than the aquifers can get replenished and as a result, water levels are dropping in lakes and rivers are running dry. 

There is no time like the present to join the rising tide of water defenders.

 Water Wednesday Tips:

 In The Kitchen:

• Run the dishwasher only when it is full
• Avoid unnecessary rinsing of dishes that go into the dishwasher, scrape with spatula or other utensil if necessary
• If dishes are washed by hand, use a dishpan filled with water rather than running the water continuously
• Use leftover pasta boiling water to water plants
• Don’t dispose of items in the sink that should be disposed of in the garbage,      e.g. fat or grease of any kind, insects, refuse, etc.

In The Bathroom:

• Don’t run the water while brushing teeth or shaving
• Take shorter showers- or shower with a ‘friend’ ;)
• As you wait for shower water to heat up, collect the cold water in a bucket or pot to water plants, cook with or use to fill up water filter containers.
• Don’t dispose of items in the toilet that should be disposed of in the garbage,     e.g. insects, pharmaceuticals, hair, etc.
• Fix all leaks, drips, and/or corrosion as soon as they are detected

 Outdoors:

• Water the lawn and/or gardens early in the morning or late in the evening and on cooler days, when possible
• Only grow plants that are indigenous to the area
• Turn the hose off between washes and/or rinses while cleaning vehicles.
• Wash vehicles on a lawn or otherwise vegetated area.
• Sweep sidewalks and driveways rather than hosing them down
• Collect rainwater for watering plants or for washing your car or lawn furniture

• Tags
• climate change
• sustainability
• water
• water wednesday
• Lisa Mucciacito