Welcome to the Water News Network! We cover All Things Water. Follow our blog to keep you up to date with water issues and how you can conserve water and protect our natural resources. Please forward any articles or RSS feeds that you find newsworthy to admin@belowthesurface.org
DAY 68
RECYCLE PAPER save some blue, and make some green for your school or workplace. Recycling one ton of paper is the equivalent of saving 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water.
Challenge: Determine ways for your school or classroom to use less paper.
For More Information:
DAY 67
Pick a spot and PLANT a TREE. Why not? Research different types of native trees and choose one that would be best for your yard.
Challenge: What age do you think the oldest tree is on your property? Why do native trees and plants use less water than non-native species? Get a thermometer, how hot is it in the full sun? What is the temperature in the shade?
For More Information:
DAY 66
During the next storm place a bucket under a downspout and time how long it takes to fill. Then, GRAB a RAIN-BARREL and start collecting water from your roof. Rainwater is free, contains no chlorine, and arrives to your home without the need for filtration and pumping. If you can't do some of these things at home, it may be possible for your school, business, and/or local government to look into these tips. Just ask!
Challenge: Given the size of your roof, how much rainwater can you capture during a typical storm?
For More Information:
http://www.standingupforillinois.org/cleanwater/rb_info.php
DAY 65
DON'T OVERWATER! More plants die from too much water than from not getting enough water. Before watering, check the soil two or three inches down, if it's moist watering can wait.
Challenge: Research the amount of water plants in your yard need and come up with three easy ways to check if they need to be watered. Having the lawn frequently aerated is also a way to reduce the amount of needed water.
For More Information:
DAY 64
From the street to the sea—before you do anything else today, go outside and make sure your closest STORM DRAIN is CLEAN. Storm drains are the fastest route for water to travel from the street to the ocean and they send almost 70% of nonpoint pollution downstream to our lakes, rivers, and oceans. About half of all stormwater comes from our homes, driveways, and sidewalks.
Challenge: Why is it better to sweep driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing debris into storm drains? Get involved with or create a local storm drain-stenciling program and search for innovative ways to keep trash out of the gutter. Ask your municipality to consider installing screens and covers on all storm drains. After all, it's downstream from there.
For More Information:
http://prairierivers.org/tag/stormwater/
DAY 63
Too much water can be a bad thing: ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT EROSION! By reducing the amount of water that flows from your property and ensuring that it is absorbed into the ground instead of flowing into storm drains, you will play an important role in reducing flash floods downstream.
Challenge: How much runoff does a one-acre parking lot produce compared to one-acre grassy field?
For More Information:
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/urbansed.html
http://www.epa.gov/weatherchannel/stormwater.html
DAY 62
The summer heat adds stress to trees, bushes, and other plants by speeding up transpiration (or the evaporation of water from parts of the plant). SPREAD a LAYER of MULCH around all plants outdoors to help minimize water loss. Using a two-three inch layer of mulch around plants is also a natural way to keep weeds under control.
Challenge: Composting organic materials such as yard clippings and kitchen waste prevents hundreds of pounds sent to the landfill every year and saves water if you use this instead of the garbage disposal. Design a plan to build a compost bin for your home.
For More Information:
Posts
All Comments
