Watershed Information
Water...Water
By Heather Moser, Watershed Coordinator
Think about your average day…when do you use water? You drink water (or beverages containing water); you wash your face, brush your teeth, fill a pan, and water a houseplant. These are the obvious ways you use water. What may not have occurred to you are all the other things made possible by water. The toast you had for breakfast? One pound of wheat requires gallons of water from planting to harvest. Did you have coffee in a ceramic mug? The production of ceramics requires many gallons of water. Cantaloupes require large amounts of water to produce fruit. The plastic casing of your radio used water in the manufacturing process.
In other words, everything in this world requires water. All living things require plentiful, clean water. The manufacture of all the goods we rely on requires water. The production of electricity (by coal, natural gas, nuclear, or hydropower) requires water!
Water is like a form of currency. Here in North East Ohio we are lucky to have plentiful water (unlike many places in the West), but we must plan to protect this asset. All the water in the world doesn’t mean a thing if it is not clean and healthy. You can do your part to protect our water resources every day…
Do not dump used oil, antifreeze, paint or other hazardous chemicals on the ground or into storm drains. If hazardous household chemicals such as these spill, clean them up promptly and dispose of them properly.
Reduce or eliminate your use of toxic cleaning products. Purchase less toxic alternatives or make your own cleaners. (This approach is often cheaper as well as better for the earth).
Conserve water by fixing dripping faucets, turning off the water when brushing teeth and converting to low flush toilets.
Look for more water conservation and protection tips here in future issues. If you have questions about water protection, call Mahoning SWCD.
Amazing Water Facts…
The average person in the US uses 1650 gallons of water each day! (that’s enough to fill your bathtub 37 times!!!)
Did you know that Ice Cream is 61% water!
It takes 280 gallons of water to produce one (edition of the) Sunday newspaper!
Riddle me, riddle me…
What can run but never walks?
Has a mouth but never talks
Lies in bed but never sleeps?
Has a head but never weeps?
Answer: A River!
Riddle: What kind of shed has no roof or floor, no door to shut; and can hold streams, lakes wetlands, houses, schools, highways and driveways?
Answer: A watershed!
VISIT THE AWARE WATERSHED SITE. CLICK HERE.