Imagine a Day without Water

October 01, 2019

Could you go a day without water? No water to drink or make coffee. No water to shower, brush your teeth, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Firefighters couldn't put out fires and farmers couldn't water their crops. 

We know that water is essential.  That’s why we want you to know about a nationwide educational effort called “Imagine a Day Without Water.” On October 23, the Value of Water Coalition is coordinating a national advocacy and educational event, Imagine a Day Without Water, to raise awareness about the most essential resource we have: Water.  Across the country, water agencies, mayors, engineers, contractors, business leaders, community members, schools, organizations, corporations, environmental advocates, and more are joining together to educate people about how water is essential, the challenges facing water and wastewater systems, and the need for investment.

Even though water is absolutely vital to everything we do, it too often is forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind. Many people take water service for granted. Clean, safe, reliable, and affordable water comes out of the tap and flows down the drain without a second thought. But the massive infrastructure, much of it underground, which brings water to homes and businesses, takes it away, and treats it, is aging. A water main breaks somewhere in the U.S. every two minutes. Most pipes have an average life expectancy of 50 years, but in many major cities, water pipes are more than 100 years old. Communities cannot afford to go a day without water if those systems reach their breaking points.

What is the message of Imagine a Day without Water? Keep reading . . . 

Safe Drinking Water

September 01, 2019

The last time you turned on a tap to brush your teeth, or fill a glass, or add 1/2 cup of water to a recipe, did you happen to wonder about the safety or cleanliness of the water? Almost certainly not. You didn't have to. You could rest assured that your drinking water was free from harm— untainted. This is one of the great privileges of living where we live . . . and when we live. 

Healthy Lawns

August 01, 2019

Lush green lawns, bright colorful flower gardens, bountiful vegetable harvests —these add beauty and enjoyment to your home. We all love healthy lawns. What are some good practices that help promote healthy lawns, and conserve our nature resources, such as water?  How can you water wisely? Mow wisely?

From Sea to Shining Sea

July 01, 2019

July 2019. This month, North Americans will be celebrating the birth of their country, their identity as a people and as a nation. From Winnipeg to Washington, D.C., from Calgary to Corpus Christi, from Toronto to Tallahassee, we will watch fireworks and watch parades, we will sing and laugh and make merry. And EAT. Whether your celebration will include barbecue and watermelon, or haddock and butter tarts, there will certainly be some good eats. Join the celebration!

Summer Weather Safety

June 01, 2019

Summer doesn't officially begin until June 21 here in the Northern Hemisphere (the summer solstice is the day when the sun reaches its highest elevation, making it the longest day of the year), but summer weather often jumps the gun. 

May 31 was National Heat Awareness Day, and the summer heat certainly seems to have settled in and made itself at home here in the waning days of spring.It is crucial to know the dangers of summer weather, and be prepared. Here are some helpful tips:

Drinking Water Week

May 01, 2019

Did you know that May 5-11 is Drinking Water Week? A week to celebrate WATER! May 5 kicks off this year’s Drinking Water Week with an invitation to “Protect the Source." "The American Water Works Association and the water community across North America will celebrate Drinking Water Week by recognizing the vital role drinking water plays in our daily lives, and how we can take personal responsibility in caring for our tap water and protecting it at its source. “When we get to know our local drinking water sources, we come to understand that it is our duty as consumers and community stewards to protect and preserve them,” said AWWA Chief Executive Officer David LaFrance. “Drinking Water Week provides a great opportunity to learn the various ways in which we can each protect our source water so it’s available for future generations.”  AWWA

The glory of GARDENING

April 01, 2019

The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.  —Alfred Austin

April is National Garden Month, and it's a great time to get your hands dirty. "Every April, communities, organizations, and individuals nationwide celebrate gardening during National Garden Month. Gardeners know, and research confirms, that nurturing plants is good for us: attitudes toward health and nutrition improve, kids perform better at school, and community spirit grows. Join the celebration and help to make America a greener, healthier, more livable place!" -National Garden Month

Fix a Leak Week

March 01, 2019

Mark your calendars, folks: March 18-24 is the EPA's eleventh annual Fix a Leak Week. Household leaks can waste more than 1 TRILLION gallons of water each year. Yes, 1 TRILLION—That's a one with 12 zeros behind it (1,000,000,000,000). Those drippy faucets and leaking toilets are more than an annoyance; they cost you lots of money, and they waste LOTS of water. So, this March, hunt down those drips! Chase those leaks!

Winter Weather Woes

February 01, 2019

This winter has brought more winter weather woes than usual, as the polar vortex has hit North America, bringing with it record-breaking cold. The past week has seen the coldest weather in a generation. Schools have been called off, businesses are closed, flights are cancelled, the US Postal Service has suspended service in some states, and thousands of homes have been without power. Chicago has been colder than Mt. Everest base camp. The U.S. Midwest has had lower temperatures than the South Pole. This is dangerously cold. 

A new dawn, a new day, a New Year

January 01, 2019

January. 2019.

A brand new year, a brand new day — clean and shiny, spotless and gleaming, hopeful and exciting. Untouched and unspoiled, like a present that has just been unwrapped. A time to look back on (and learn from) the mistakes of the previous year, and look forward with hope and resolution to the new days ahead. And as we celebrate, and hope, and resolve, and plan, we do so along with people all over the world, and down through the ages. In fact, people have been celebrating the beginning of the new year for over 4,000 years. So, who first celebrated New Year's Day? Why do we celebrate on Jan 1?