We are students in the Energy and Sustainability class here at Emerson, devising a project around water conservation. Our intentions in writing this blog post is to further this campus’s water conservation efforts by educating and convincing students of the importance of this issue, as well as promoting strategies students can take action in their everyday lives.
With an increasing worldwide interest in achieving environmental sustainability, the need for responsible water management has never been more urgent. In the context of residential living, where water consumption is often unmonitored, the need for conservation practices becomes even more apparent. While water use is necessary for daily life, we often underestimate our water usage, especially in bathrooms. The American Water Works Association approximates that students living on campus typically consume an average of 94 gallons of indoor water daily (Epic Cleantec). As we search for a balance between comfort and conservation, a key towards a greener future is reimagining the way in which we use our water.
Emerson College has already taken the initiative to prevent excess water usage through hands-free sink faucets, dual-flush toilets, and water-efficient showerheads in the residential halls, as well as rainwater capture on roofs of select buildings. Unnecessary wastewater works against carbon neutrality efforts, using more energy to pump, treat, and heat water. Saving water will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Survey
To further examine the issue of water consumption at Emerson College in the Residence Halls, our project team surveyed Emerson students that lived on campus to understand how they view this issue. Here are some of the results:
Only 15.8% of students often think about their daily water consumption, while 42.1% sometimes think about it, and 26.3% rarely do. 10.5% said they don’t think about it at all, and 5.3% said they don’t think it’s important. Additionally, 21.1% believe that water is currently a stable resource globally, which it is not.
Water is a renewable resource, since “H2O does not cross the boundaries of our atmosphere, either to or from outer space,” meaning that “Earth has held the same quantity of water for eons” (Jerald L. Schnoor). However, according to Jerald L. Schnoor, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Occupational and Environmental Health, and Co Director of the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research at the University of Iowa, more than 99% of Earth’s water is unavailable to humans due to the fact that it is either seawater or stuck in glaciers and ice caps. There is no assurance that water will be readily accessible when needed.
The statistics from our survey showcase just how little students understand about water conservation. That being said, 63.2% of students said that they would be interested in learning more about water conservation. To provide those interested students with actionable information, we’ve compiled the following water conservation tips.
Tips and Tricks to Conserve Water in the Bathroom and Laundry Room
Turn Off the Tap!
When brushing your teeth or doing your skincare routine, remember to turn off the tap when not in use. Leaving the water running is a big waste of resources.
Flush in the Right Direction!
Some toilets on campus are equipped with the dual-flush mechanisms. For these, pay attention to which way you operate the flush handles. Pull the handle UP for liquid waste and DOWN for solid waste.
Take Shorter Showers!
Be aware of how long your showers are taking. Energy is required to heat the water, so the longer the shower, the more energy being used up. While a nice, long shower can feel good, dermatologist Dr. Edidiong Kaminska, MD believes that showers should only last about five to ten minutes (Kaminska). If it is fifteen minutes or longer, your skin will dry out. So, by taking longer showers, you are not only wasting water and energy, but you are also drying out your skin.
Run Full Laundry Loads!
It is important to keep in mind that doing laundry consumes a lot of water. To make the most efficient use of water, it is recommended to run each wash cycle with a full load. Additionally, washing clothes on a cold cycle not only saves energy but is also gentler on certain types of fabric.
Regular Maintenance!
Ensure the efficient operation of your water fixtures to minimize water waste. Put in a work order if you notice leaks in your shower head, faucet, or toilet. Even a small drip can lead to a large amount of water wasted in the long-term. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, “a leak that fills up a coffee cup in 10 minutes will waste over 3,000 gallons of water in a year” (CCAO/ARWEC). This is equivalent to wasting 65 glasses of water every day.
In Conclusion
It is not enough to be simply aware. We all must take action on this pressing issue. The next time you leave the faucet running while brushing your teeth, think of our beloved rivers, lakes and ocean. The overuse of water will lead to a depletion of water sources, wildlife, and ecosystems, an increase in agricultural scarcity, lesser access to safe drinking water, and excess energy will go into treating wasted water resulting in more greenhouse gas emissions that trap the sun’s heat and warm our Earth. Our very existence relies on water. Of all the water on this planet, only around half a percent of it is freshwater which we can easily access (CCAO/ARWEC). Water may seem like an infinite resource from our level of comfort, but in reality, it is far from it.
Our recommendations to you? Pay attention to your water usage, and let others know of these tips and tricks. Every little bit can make a huge difference.
Works Cited
Central California Area Office (CCAO) – American River Water Education Center (ARWEC). “Water Facts – Worldwide Water Supply.” US Bureau of Reclamation, https://www.usbr.gov/mp/arwec/water-facts-ww-water-sup.html.
Epic Cleantec. “Water Reuse and Sustainability on College Campuses” 14 Aug. 2023, epiccleantec.com/industries/higher-education.
Lindberg, Sara. “How Long Should You Shower?” Healthline, 20 May 2020, www.healthline.com/health/shower-time#recommended-shower-length.
Schnoor, Jerald L. “Water Unsustainability.” American Academy of Arts & Sciences, www.amacad.org/publication/water-unsustainability.