The Seas the Day initiative encourages and empowers people to take ocean conservation personally. Each month, we feature a new conservation theme with ways to help so come back regularly for more ocean-friendly ideas and tips!Created mainly to support our partner ZAMs (Zoos, Aquariums, and Museums and other visitor-serving organizations involved in our growing network) in their efforts to motivate conservation action with their visitors, Seas the Day is for you to tailor for your own purposes. Please use any of the content verbatim and re-post on your own blog, social media channels, website, newsletter, etc. We have a large database of action tips and related content for you to use. Let us know what’s most helpful and what other types of information and resources we can provide to enhance your efforts to motivate action for the ocean.

Seas the Day in August – Water, a precious resource; Use it wisely!

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.”  –Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

Every drop counts! Many of us take it for granted, but the Earth’s water is precious and in many parts of the world clean, freshwater is a rare resource. By playing your part in conserving this valuable resource, you can help the ocean get its fair share of clean freshwater so its wide diversity of life can survive and thrive. Try calculating your water footprint and see what you can do to reduce your impact with these simple tips.

Unused tap water is uncool. Instead,… 

…Challenge yourself to stop as much unused water going down the drain as possible. Think of how much water goes directly from your tap and then straight down the drain. It doesn’t clean or cook anything and nobody drinks it. All that water goes straight into the treatment system to be processed, and then dumped into a nearby body of water.

…Sing shorter songs in the shower. Taking shorter showers and turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, shaving, soaping up, or whenever you’re not using it can help conserve the freshwater that is essential for people and our ocean.

Before reaching for the hose…

…Capture the rain. Try reusing rainwater. Your garden can thrive on water collected from the sky. Collect rainwater in a barrel and water your garden using it during dry spells. You can create your own reuse system or buy rain barrels. 

…Go gray! Using water once is okay but using it twice is even better. Gray water, or “used” water in the house from baths and showers, washing veggies, boiling food, and the rinse cycle in the washer, are all one-time uses. Think how much you could save if you reused it for your plants, indoors and out. 

Other Quick Water-Saving Tips:

 Sweep your driveway rather than hosing it off.

Fix any leaking faucets and hoses.

Make sure dishwasher and washing machines are full before starting a cycle.

 If your appliances have a water-saving mode, make sure it is on.

Buy energy-efficient and water-saving faucets, toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines.