Waterwise Wednesday: The Dirty on Clean Laundry
The average US family of four generates 300 loads of laundry a year and uses 6,000-12,000 gallons of water to get them clean. Depending on the efficiency of the washer, each load uses 15 gallons (high-efficiency front load) to 40 gallons (traditional top load with vertical agitator) of water.
Save water by washing only full loads and save energy by using cold water and hanging your clothes out to dry instead of running them through the dryer.
Photo © Faidoi
Household Hazardous Materials
Waterwise Wednesday: Multipurpose Ponds
Did you know the Riverside Park fishing ponds also help manage the city’s stormwater runoff?
The ponds at Riverside Park provide scenic greenspace, recreation, and even food (fish) while safely routing and cleaning our stormwater runoff on the way to the North Platte River. Terrytown and Gering include Terry’s Lake and the water hazards at Monument Shadows Golf Course in their stormwater systems too.
Stormwater travels untreated through the storm sewer, so protecting stormwater runoff from pollutants also protects our public fishing, our scenic water spaces, and our water recreation.
Photo: Riverside Fishing Bridge by L. Sato
Waterwise Wednesday: Some Good News
Thanks to extreme conservation efforts, a dose of heavy rains, and continued adherence to water restrictions, Day Zero has been pushed back to 2019.
Day Zero loomed ominously over Cape Town, South Africa, when all water taps to the would be shut off for 3.74 million residents due to three years of drought, population expansion, and insufficient planning.
Residents still limit themselves to 50 litres (13 gallons) of water each day, complete entire showers in 60 seconds, flush their toilets only once a day, and minimize dish washing and laundry all on reduced water pressure. In the process, Cape Town has become an international role model for urban water conservation.
Waterwise Wednesday: Plastic Soup
It’s one more reason to recycle – the oceans are turning into plastic soup. Plastic breaks into smaller and smaller pieces, but never decomposes. This turns water into a plastic soup. About 80% of ocean plastics drift from land sources.
Plastic debris in the Arctic OceanPhoto: AFP
Rain Barrels
Waterwise Wednesday: Happy 4th of July!
We wish you a Happy Fourth of July.
Here’s some water tips to keep the holiday fun and enjoyable.
1. Stay hydrated to avoid heat illness.
2. Be a safe swimmer.
3. Practice safe boating
4. Soak spent fireworks before disposing.
5. Have fun!
Photo © Creative Commons Zero (CC0)
Infiltration Practices
Waterwise Wednesday: Urban Heat Island
Ever notice how downtown is warmer than a park on hot summer day? That’s the heat island effect. Heat reflects off of concrete, buildings, pavement, and streets causing the immediate air temperature to rise as much as ten degrees.
Trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and ground cover plants shade surfaces and evapotranspire (water emitted from leaves is evaporated). These processes cool the surrounding air. Hence, the cooling effect of a park or greenspace.
