Water Conservation Starts with YOU

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Pop quiz! Which one of these statements was a lie?

•  In 2021 California experienced its second worst drought period. 

• Right now parts of the South and high plains areas are in Exceptional drought (the worst states of drought). 

• The level of drought a state is in can change. 

• Most of our water use is derived from our industrial needs. 

• about 30 % of our water use is in irrigation.

What if I told you that none of these were lies. 

41% of the water we use in the US is used in industrial ways. Most of which is used to cool thermoelectric energy industries. Water is used to cool down the engines. However, instead of releasing that hot water back into the environment, it is evaporated into the cloud  you see coming out of those stacks when you pass by those industries. Even the US Geological survey says, “The industries that produce metals, wood and paper products, chemicals, gasoline and oils, and those invaluable grabber utensils you use to get your ring (which also needed water to manufacture) out of the garbage disposal are major users of water.” 

Another big chunk, 37% of water is used for irrigation in agriculture. Instead of just relying on rainfall to water crops as we are all shifting into drought, Irrigation is used. There is not a good way to make the country consistently relying on rainfall, so we look for crops to cut off. This would help reduce the amount of water allocated to irrigation and to focus the water elsewhere, like the meat industry. Looking specifically towards red meat (cattle), there have been many studies saying every 1,800 gallons of water a  pound of beef is produced. But, what's the alternative here? Give up eating meat? I could have made this whole blog to be about turning vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian but I won't. This is because I will turn this blog into a novel and no matter what a person says to convince others to change their lives (thinking, diets, lifestyle, etc.) people will not change unless they are willing to. To be able to reduce the amount of water being used for the meat industry as a whole, there needs to be a bigger community effort to convince people that there is no demand for the production of meat. 

Personally I am a person who eats red meat (not often), and I use power at home provided by my city, which is Southern California Edison. So I am definitely not asking everyone here to change your lifestyle drastically like going off the grid to not support these big thermo-energy companies, or tell you to stop eating meat and meat products entirely. Not only is it unrealistic to change your lifestyle drastically but also there are other bigger considerations that you have to face like financial resources, skills and knowledge needed to implement the change.

My goal with this blog is not to solve the water usage allocated to industrial and agricultural needs, but instead to introduce the 12% that you can help change. Something that is not as costly, helps you with your water bills and a new way to style your gardens.

Sounds crazy? Although 12% seems small, but it's a step in the right direction. How? it's as simple as having the right mindset. I'm sure this will sound very familiar: shortening showers, turning off the water if not needed, and using your sprinklers to water at night to stay within your water allowance during drought. But, what happen when the water restriction got lifted for a year because of the heavy rain that the community received during one winter? Having one wet winter season does not equal to having our climate sustainability goal achieved. Following the city's water restriction policy is only enough to help with our water need for that period, but it will not be enough to be sustainable. In contrast, having a water conservation mindset will allow you to think long term in a more sustainable way.

Having a water conservation mindset means establishing a set of attitude concerning values and frame of mind on conserving water. In the beginning, having a water conservation mindset might allow you to invent a creative new way to save water like collecting the water that you use for washing fruit or vegetable to water your plants rather than dumping it in the drain. Another way is to collect the water you let run when you take showers or baths. You can also convert your grass lawn into a grass alternative lawn or native plant garden. When I say Grass alternative lawns I don't mean turf. Although turf doesn't require water to maintain, this ground covering is not helping with grass. Grass is not just there for aesthetics but is for our benefit, for our environment and our own health. Lawn grass helps clean the air, trap carbon dioxide, reduce erosion from stormwater runoff, improve soil, decrease noise pollution, and reduce temperatures. You might decrease some noise pollution but these plastic lawns can overheat in hot weather, absorb more radiation from the sun and definitely does not reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. When I mentioned grass alternatives I mean plants like Nana (dwarf carpet of stars) or Phyla nodiflora. Both of which are walkable grass alternative covers that still perform the same actions as grass. Some other actions of ground cover plants are that they block sunlight before  it reaches the weed seeds and such prevents their growth in your gardens. They are every low maintenance, require less water to flourish, and can work in almost every climate. They are very resilient. The very definition of ground cover from a landscaping perspective is a low-growing, low-maintenance, perennial, spreading plant that keeps the ground from being bare. Also this should not be confused with cover crops, these are meant to be used as ground cover for your homes.

Speaking of which, the Phyla nodiflora, or otherwise known as the Turkey Tangled Frog Fruit, is a native plant of Africa and the tropics around the world.  This poses another point to make. Native plants! Native plants are the indigenous terrestrial and aquatic species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat. And before anyone says that it is rude to be calling native plants “native” , the term of Native in Native plants are plants that have been growing in a particular habitat and region, typically for thousands of years or longer. What makes them special? Well each of these native plants are acclimated to the climates that we are living in correct? Right!

A drought area like California, which is also a pseudo island has their native and indigenous plant species that have gotten so use to the droughts and climate there. They have grown to adapt being by the sea, and the dry, crumbly soil. The native plants in southern California are well adapted to the lack of water and thrive with less water than the plants we import from other areas of the world to here. Also I am not just talking about the different ice plants or cacti in southern California but all of these the native plants. This is true for all the areas you are all in, these native plants are not just good to look at but are also able to reduce the amount of water you use on your gardens. They are all still aesthetic and functional, and who doesn't like that? These plants are a little bit more expensive than other plants as many native plants are endangered. Though places like local nurseries and such would be selling these plants at better prices than some of the big brand stores. Though it is worth your money as they are better than having to pay for your rising water bills for a brown lawn or windowsill. 

If this is as easy as I say it to be, then why haven't we done anything about it yet? Here is where some controversy comes in, our social media outlets not just Instagram or TikTok but TV media, blogs or other reputable news outlets. The media is putting the idea of water saving as either something really big to worry about (like you need to make the new cure for cancer or something) or it is nothing we should worry about (like don't worry; it will all be sorted out). These 2 extremes makes others not want to care about our water and how to save it. They don't give proper guidelines on why we need to care about water conservation. In general what would grab the attention of people? To make it either really extreme and need to be a rocket scientist, or relate to the people like though money or through their hearts. Though it makes for a compelling story, the way they are telling these stories doesn't get to the root cause of how we can fix it. 

All this noise of different information is everywhere and confuses or at least makes people care less about what the real problem is. So how can we prevent this? It is through you! 

You don't have to wait for a new policy to follow, or a new gadget to purchase. You can start having the right mindset; a water conservation mindset. Soon, you will see how many new ways you can conserve your water consumption and advocate for water conservation in your community.