- Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, by Coleridge.
But even without fire, these long, dry summers make one hyper-aware of how precious water is. Well out of reach of municipal water supplies, each home or ranch is responsible for its own water supply. Developing a source, maintaining it, pumping and storage is up to each of us, and when that supply gets low, particularly if you garden or when there is a threat of fire in the vicinity, every drop of water counts.
Pretty much everyone is aware that water is the backbone of life as we know it. When they talk about traces of water indicating the possibility of life on Mars they may only be talking about bacteria... But without water - nothing at all. Luckily, we live on a very wet planet.
Earth's surface is almost 3/4 water, but despite that only a tiny amount is fresh water, available for humans and most animals to share. Merely 7 thousandths (.007%) of a percent of the water on Earth is accessible for human use!
Interestingly, this amount is fairly finite. We are not making more fresh water: it is a closed cycle (learn more about The Water Cycle). And, while we effectively reduce the amount of water available through pollution and other contamination, what we really need is access to more fresh water to support the Earth's growing population, agriculture, and industry. The numbers don't add up.
In many parts of the world water has traditionally been scarce and therefore a treasured commodity. But it is now becoming more precious even in places where it was once free and abundant. Perhaps we can start now to conserve water to prevent a last ditch effort to restore our aquifers or ration our supply. How you live, what you eat, what you use... all these things have a much bigger impact on water use than you may think. For instance, water is an important part of almost all manufacturing processes. Consider that it takes about 3 to 5 liters of water to manufacture a 1 liter water bottle - before you fill it! And that steak - there was a lot of water invested in the raising of that steer before it moved to the dining table.
[Speaking of bottled water... It is usually no better than the tap water in the location it was bottled in and is actually less regulated for contaminants than that tap water! Check out the Environmental Working Group's Guide for Safe Drinking Water.]
Check out this site to learn what your water footprint really is made up of, and then use the handy Water Footprint Calculator to see the impact you have as an individual on the world's water supply (Use this conversion tool to figure gallons from meters). You may be surprised!
See this great article, "Everything You Know About Water Conservation is- Wrong", in Discover magazine's online version for more on how water is used.
But, that said, you must have water to stay alive, to stay clean, to stay healthy. The biggest beauty aid there is is drinking enough clean water. It will keep you hydrated, which gives you healthy skin, helps remove toxins from your body, and keeps you healthy overall. And the true key to radiant beauty is health.
I don't think we need to be stingy with water - yet. But I do think it is important not to be wasteful of it. If you are watering your lawn and the water is running off down the street... that's overkill. Ditto for running water down the drain while brushing your teeth. Simply being conscious of your use can make big changes in your overall water consumption.
Many municipalities have laws regulating water use. I was made aware recently of water regulations in Denver, Colorado. Despite strict rules for greywater use (many health related and understandable... some not so much), I was relieved to see this in the law: "However, Denver Water customers are encouraged to catch unused clear water in a bucket or other container as it comes out of the tap and then use this water once; to mop floors, refresh pet water or water plants. For example, try catching water that comes out before the shower water warms up and then use this water to flush toilets or rinse the shower.” This is a great suggestion. Not only are you paying for this water that goes down the drain, but it is throwing away a valuable resource you can use to water plants, wash the sink, water your pets... You get the idea.
Then there was this: "Colorado Water Law requires that precipitation fall to the ground, run off and into the river of the watershed where it fell. Because rights to water are legally allocated in this state, an individual may not capture and use water to which he/she does not have a right.”
That’s right folks, in Colorado they do not have a RIGHT to the rainwater falling on their property because someone else OWNS it! Heck, if everyone caught every drop of rainwater the city (or water bottling plant) wouldn’t be able to sell it back to you.
If you are legally allowed to collect rainwater in your locale, AquaBarrel has a great storage method. This water can be used for landscaping and other uses while conserving your house water and lessening your water bill.
Just another little thing to be conscious of that is basic to life. As we acquire these habits we become more aware of the relationship of our lives to the world around us and the wonder of it all.
Update April 2009: We are only at 75% of normal rainfall - an average that was downgraded last time they recalculated it. There are predictions that this will be the year with the most wildfires in recorded history for the United States. Our water consciousness is greater than ever.
Update July 2012: Severe drought conditions exist across a broad swath of the United States & around the world. As the climate continues to warm this will probably persist. Check out this weekly updated World Drought Risk Map.
Update January 2014: Here we are, experiencing serious drought conditions here in California and the West in general. All this information is more pertinent than ever. Here are some more good water conservation tips.
And here is a good article in the Lost Coast Outpost on the situation here in Humboldt County right now(Jan. 2014).
Update April 2015: Another warm, dry, winter. Water is ever more precious in California, even in our traditionally wet corner of the state. You can view the current California drought conditions here.
