Conserving water and making a difference
Water conservation is extremely important in Utah due to continuing drought conditions. During the summer months, these conditions get more severe with increasing temperatures.
According to the Glossary of Meteorology, a drought is defined as “a period of abnormally dry weather, sufficiently prolonged for the lack of water to cause a serious hydrologic imbalance in the affected area.”
Utah is known for its long periods of drought. Currently, 99.45% of the state of Utah is experiencing severe drought conditions or worse, meaning water levels have dropped and fire danger has increased.
Drought conditions are especially noticeable because of their impact on Utah’s reservoirs.
“Eighteen of Utah’s largest 45 reservoirs are below 55% of available capacity. Overall, statewide storage is 63% of capacity. This time last year, reservoirs were about 67% of capacity,” according to the Utah Division of Natural Resources.
To help decrease the severity of drought conditions, citizens can help conserve water. This is achievable by changing a few habits every day. Taking shorter showers and only using water when necessary can go a long way towards softening Utah’s severe drought conditions.
College students can also learn how to conserve water at their homes or apartments, or in their future homes.
There are two specific areas to concentrate on for individual water conservation: in the home and in outdoor areas.
The American Red Cross suggests not pouring water down a drain when it can be used for other purposes, like watering plants. They also recommend fixing any leaks in your pipes and encourage you to not waste water while waiting for the temperature to turn hot or cold, but rather to put a container under the faucet and use that water for watering plants or other uses.
Other suggestions to save water include taking shorter showers or installing a time-saving dishwasher that uses less water than the average dishwasher, according to both the Red Cross and David Rosenburg, a professor at Utah State University who is researching how to best help people conserve water.
Use a washing machine only when it is full or use a water-saving setting to wash your laundry.
If you are able, installing two-stage flush toilets will save 20 percent more water than conventional flush toilets.
To conserve water outdoors on your property, it is beneficial to collect rainwater to use for watering plants, and to plan landscaping to include native plant species or plants that do not require much watering. Planting native, drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees will cut down on outside plant watering and provide a nice outdoor area.
When car washing, wash the car on a lawn where grass can use the water, or use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
Together, we can help save water and reduce drought conditions in Utah with these easy-to-implement suggestions.