(photo by Ray Nelson)

Water: an increasingly precious resource 

Of worldwide fresh water,  20% is in the Great Lakes.  We must protect this valuable resource.   

What can you do to help?        

Set a goal to reduce your water use by 25%.  Go through your home room by room.       

Bathroom

The bathroom is where most water is used in homes.

·      Sinks: Turn off faucets when brushing teeth or shaving and place a small amount of water in the sink for washing and rinsing. Wash with cold water to avoid running water until it warms up.

·      Toilet: Check for leaks by putting a couple of drops of red food coloring in the tank. Install a 1.6 gallon low-flow toilet. Do not to dispose of medicine in the toilet. The medicines dissolve, are not detected by the sewage treatment plant and go directly into the lake with the water from the plant

·      Shower:  After the toilet, the shower is the biggest user of water in a home.   Take five-minute showers or less. Install low-flow showerheads.

Kitchen

·    Dishwasher:  Only run the dishwasher when it is full. Run it at night when water and electric usage is lower.  Do not run it during heavy rainstorms as it adds more water to the storm sewers.  If purchasing a new dishwasher, buy a water-efficient model.  Try to scrape food scraps off plates without using water before putting them in the dishwasher.

·     Hand-washing dishes, pots and pans: Wash pots and pans in soap water in one sink and rinse in clear water in a second sink.  Do not leave water running while washing and rinsing.

·    Garbage disposal:  Try to use the disposal as little as possible.  Dispose of waste in the garbage or in a compost pile.

·     Kitchen faucet: Use as little water as you can when washing dishes and cleaning fruits and vegetables. Install low-flow faucets and aerators. Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen faucet so you don’t have to run water until it warms up.

Basement/Utility Room

·      Wash machines:  Try to run full loads.  When buying a new machine, buy a water-efficient model.

Lawn and garden

·      Water the grass as little at possible. When you must water, do so in the early morning or evening and water deeply. 

·      Consider replacing your grass with ground cover that doesn’t need much water.

·      If you have automatic sprinklers, make sure they are not running when it rains.

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Invasive Species

Three common, local invasive water species are:                                                        

     the Asian Carp,

       the Zebra Mussel (from the Caspian Sea) and

       the European Water Chestnut. 

Worldwide shipping, as illustrated by the maps, accelerates the introduction of new species. Most commonly invasive species come in the ballast water of ships.  Once in the Great Lakes ecosystem, invasive species cannot be eradicated – we are simply forced to live with their impacts.

How can we reduce the spread of invasive species?

 By taking the following simple steps.

·    If you are an angler or a boater, power wash your boat and trailer before putting it into another body of water, or let it dry for a least five days

     Drain your bait wells, bait buckets, and other equipment onto land, not into the water.Never release live bait into local waters.

·    Never release live fish or aquatic plants into the wild.

·    Do not leave the bank or shore of any water with any live fish or live fish eggs.

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Phosphorus

 

Phosphorus is contained in many home products and leads to problems:

        Too much phosphorus in our lakes increases algae growth leading to algal bloom. 

        Algal blooms cause serious problems for drinking water and fish deaths.

Phosphorus is contained in products such as fertilizers and detergents.  They enter the water through storm water and land runoff into the rivers and lakes.

       Phosphate-free dish detergents work great!  Enzymes, which are the key ingredient that cleans dishes, are now available and  cheap.

       Some locally available, phosphorus-free brands are EcoVer, Seventh Generation, Ultra Citra-Dish and Wave.  Look for them in natural foods stores, or in the natural foods section of major supermarkets.

   Reduce use of pesticides and fertilizers

·      Plant native species  that can survive without extra pesticides and fertilizers. 

·      Use organic gardening techniques, such as composting and mulching, to control weeds and keep plants healthy

·      Get your soil tested before fertilizing. Soil test kits are available for a nominal fee at Cornell Cooperative Extension (585/461-1000).

·      Do not over fertilize your lawn – one time/year in the fall

·      Use pesticides only after all other methods of pest control have been exhausted. Information regarding alternative methods of pest control is available through Cornell Cooperative Extension.