Thursday, March 22, 2012

World Water Day

I love water.


I love to drink it, swim in it, bathe in it, surf in it (or wish I could surf), brush my teeth with it, clean my clothes with it, cook with it, listen to it and watch it.


Maybe it's because I grew up going to the beach all the time...Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, New Smyrna.

Or maybe it's because I have webbed toes like Ashton Kutcher and Patrick Duffy in The Man From Atlantis.


John often tells me I'm part fish despite the fact that he's grossly intrigued by my twin toes.


I like to think that this unique trait of mine has empowered me to defend and protect our waters.


That could be why today is one of my favorite days...World Water Day.


World Water Day was conceived to "focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources."


But with the world weighing in at a whopping 7 billion people and another 2 billion expected by 2050, we have to do all we can to ensure there is enough water for everyone.


So since today is the 22nd...and the 22nd happens to be one of my favorite numbers (seeing as I was born on the 22nd), I thought I'd give you 22 ways to conserve water!


Happy H2O Day!


1. Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth.
2. Limit your shower to 5 minutes.
3. Don't water your lawn if you know it's going to rain.
4. Reuse water from your shower or cooking to water your plants.
5. Reduce your food waste - most food is made with, you guessed it, water!
6. If you're not going to drink it, ask the waiter to stop filling your water glass with it.
7. Don't use your toilet as your trash can - less flushing.
8. Use a water aerator on your sinks.
9. Install a water saving shower head.
10. Check your toilet for leaks.
11. Rinse your fruits and veggies in a basin as opposed to under the running water.
12. Wash full loads of dishes and laundry.
13. Buy high-efficiency appliances.
14. Use your garbage disposal sparingly and compost.
15. Soak your pots and pans to get the dried food off instead of running them under the water.
16. Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
17. Bathe young children together.
18. When you change your pet's water, use the old water to water your plants and shrubs.
19. Throw the leftover ice from your drinks into plants.
20. Keep up with your car maintenance to reduce leaking of oil and such that seep into our environment and pollute the drinking water.
21. Sweep your driveway or sidewalk instead of watering it.
22. And finally...my biggest pet peeve...PLEASE turn the water off while you dry your hands!