Why Everyone Should Conserve and Protect Water

Prepared by Rusty Sturken for Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful

September, 2008

Image from http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2008/world_water/water_01.jpg

World Water Distribution

Image from http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/scan2.gif

http://www.recycleworks.org/images/water_map.jpg

Drought Watch -- USGS State Information on Drought

http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/images/pa07d/us/pa07d_dwc.gif

Drought effects on Drought effects on GeorgiaGeorgia

1.1. Very strict watering restrictions Very strict watering restrictions have been in place for many months have been in place for many months across northern Georgia and metro across northern Georgia and metro AtlantaAtlanta

2. The states of Georgia, Florida and 2. The states of Georgia, Florida and Alabama have been fighting over the Alabama have been fighting over the water from Georgiawater from Georgia

3. Lake Lanier’s water levels have 3. Lake Lanier’s water levels have been near their lowest levels since been near their lowest levels since 19601960

Lake Lanier January, 2008

Lake Lanier January, 2008

Lake Lanier January, 2008

Aerial view of Lake Lanier 12/8/07

Photo courtesy of Ginger Alexander 12/8/07

Water PollutionWater PollutionWater Pollution Water Pollution is the addition is the addition

of any substance that has a of any substance that has a negative effect on water or negative effect on water or the living things that depend the living things that depend on the wateron the water

*chemicals*chemicals

*sewage*sewage

*garbage*garbage

*soil/silt/mud/etc.*soil/silt/mud/etc.

Water PollutionWater PollutionPoint Source PollutionPoint Source Pollution is a specific is a specific source source of pollution that can be of pollution that can be identifiedidentified

*oil spills *oil spills *chemical dumping*chemical dumping

Nonpoint Source Pollution Nonpoint Source Pollution is a widely is a widely spread source of pollution, such as road spread source of pollution, such as road runoff or farm runoff, that is difficult to runoff or farm runoff, that is difficult to link to a specific point of originlink to a specific point of origin

*farm or road runoff*farm or road runoff *acid rain*acid rain

Cuyahoga River Fire of 1952

Image from http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/events/earthday/cuyahoga_fire650.jpg

Ezzon Valdez Oil Spill

Image from http://staffwww.fullcoll.edu/tmorris/elements_of_ecology/images/exxon_valdez.jpg

What can you do to What can you do to help?help?

• Fix leaky faucetsFix leaky faucets and plumbing and plumbing

• Follow Local Watering Follow Local Watering RestrictionsRestrictions and only water lawns and only water lawns or plants when they need itor plants when they need it

• Don’t run water when you don’t Don’t run water when you don’t need toneed to, like when brushing your , like when brushing your teeth teeth

What can you do to What can you do to help?help?• Take shorter showersTake shorter showers, this can save , this can save

hundreds of gallons of water each monthhundreds of gallons of water each month• Only run full loadsOnly run full loads in the washing in the washing

machine and dishwashermachine and dishwasher

•RecycleRecycle • PaperPaper

•AluminumAluminum• PlasticPlastic

• GlassGlass

Identify sources of pollution Identify sources of pollution and help clean them or report and help clean them or report them to proper authoritiesthem to proper authorities