This summer we’ve experienced significant heat and humidity, and everyone looks for ways to cool off. Swimming pools, splash pads, and sprinklers get a lot of use this time of year. Perhaps you’ve joined us for one of the Creeking in the Parks programs. Creeking is one of my favorite things to do. I love Dry Fork Creek, located in Governor Bebb MetroPark, in part because most people know Governor Bebb as the home of Pioneer Village. Creeking in the Parks is not just a great way to keep cool, but a fantastic opportunity to learn more about local habitat and ecology.
With July 28 being World Conservation Day (#celebrateeveryday), it’s a good time to remember that we need to do what we can to conserve water. Although more than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, most of that (96.5%) is in the oceans, and only 3% is freshwater! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to make my morning coffee with saltwater.
As the heat and humidity continue, don’t forget that our plant and animal friends need to cool off as well. Rather than turning on the faucet at home, take advantage of what nature offers us. Sure, in Ohio, the hottest temperatures are in June, July, and August, but we still receive a good amount of rain – on average more than 3 inches per month!
A rain barrel is a great way to gather water for use in gardens and at home. Overflow from rain barrels can help replenish groundwater supplies, too. Rain barrels that capture stormwater, rainwater that flows off hard surfaces gathering pollutants, reduce pollution by limiting the amount of rain that goes directly back into storm drain systems to be discharged into rivers and lakes. You don’t need to purchase a fancy rain barrel; there are plenty of DIY options out there.
Don’t have a rain barrel and don’t want to make one? There are many other things we can do to conserve water that don’t require any special equipment. We can shorten our showers. Showering for just two minutes less can save up to 1750 gallons per person per year! When washing our hands, turn off the faucet while soaping up. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth. If you need to water your yard, do so in the early morning or late evening to reduce the amount of evaporation. Consider a drip hose rather than a sprinkler.
At MetroParks of Butler County, we try to do our part to conserve water. Did you know that at Chrisholm MetroPark Historic Farmstead, we have “off the grid” composting public toilets that were the first of their kind in Butler County? In other words, you don’t flush after using our toilets! Even “low flow” toilets still use more than one gallon of water per flush; older toilets can use more than seven gallons of water per flush! We are saving water by not using any. Pretty cool, huh?
What are you going to do in August to help conserve water?
About the Author:
Marianne Cotugno is an outdoor educator with MetroParks of Butler County, who enjoys exploring the outdoors and helping others to do the same. Her favorite activities are hiking, kayaking, SUPing, and spending time with her family.