Water is something most of us take for granted.
It’s hard not to. You turn on the tap and there is what seems like an endless supply of clean water. Even when the electricity goes out, in Greensboro we still have water.
However, the Greensboro Water Resources Department is asking people on Wednesday, Oct. 21 to “Imagine a Day Without Water.”
But even if you accept the challenge to try and go a day without using water, the Water Resources Department doesn’t want you to try and go a day without using any water at all, as in flushing the toilet or, in these times of COVID-19, not washing your hands.
However, on that day, if you accept the challenge, you will be asked to not take a shower. The average American uses 17.2 gallons of water to take a shower. There isn’t a statistic for this, but it’s considerably less when the electricity does go off and that shower is icy cold.
Other things you are asked to go without on your day without water are brushing your teeth, washing your face, cooking, drinking coffee, water, tea, beer or wine, using the air-conditioner in your home or car, watering plants or your lawn, using paper products, using cooking utensils, washing clothes, cars, pets dishes or anything else, or going fishing, boating, swimming or other water recreational activities.
The day without water is designed to remind people what a valuable resource clean water is and how important a clean water supply is to our daily lives.
Greensboro has 3,000 miles of water and sewer lines that have to be maintained, and the city’s goal is to replace 1 percent of those lines every year, which means the lines are expected to last a century.
Water Resources Director Mike Borchers said, “As we kick off the campaign, I encourage everyone to consider the importance of this precious resource and how our way of life would be so dramatically changed without an adequate supply of it. Join me in the challenge to reduce how much water we use on Oct. 21.”
Mr. Hammer,
Thank you for the very good article supporting the campaign “Imagine a Day Without Water.” As you mentioned, it is a good opportunity to reflect on the importance of this limited resource and look at ways we can use it in a more efficient manner.
Respectfully,
Mike Borchers, Director Water Resources
Water is the most necessary thing to put away in case of extreme need (anarchy). You can live for weeks without food, a few days without water.
We filter our tap water, and store it in clean milk containers. We are not so weak as to buy bottled water for use at home. What a waste of money.
I have always maintained that it would be easier for all citizens of Greensboro to conserve water if those same citizens were billed by the gallon instead of the consumption unit. Each unit equals 748 gallons and the charge is the same for any usage up to that 748 gallon mark Using the shower example from the article, I can save 258 gallons per month by showering every other day(17.2 galsX30 days/2=258 gals.). If I do that, I still have to save an additional 490 gallons to reflect a cost savings on my monthly bill. Even the water department talks in terms of gallons when it comes to conservation, but changes horses when they talk about your water bill.
I will always try to conserve water. However, I am sure not everyone shares my same thoughts on the matter. I once heard someone say, “If I am going to pay for 748 gallons, then I will use 748 gallons.”
Great reminder that we need to be good stewards of all our natural resources.
Well said sir!
Please help me with water conservation,several years ago we started a water conservation drive .We did so good that in a few months city said we’ll have to raise rates because you are not using enough water.Is this just another ploy by our water people in Greensboro just to raise your taxes on water again.Please don’t disregard this note.
All I know is that my water billed has ziptuppled over my lifetime. From less than $20 a QUARTER, to…gasp! We don’t water any plants. We shower every other day, together (that’s always fun), we wash full laundry & dishwasher loads.
Our water bill now is just another sneaky tax.
Sigh. it is a race to see if I go broke, or die first. (I know which one you are pulling for.)
Conserve water so you don’t notice rate increases so sudden. Same mess that Duke Energy is selling.
I like how the comments here immediately turn an environmental issue into how they can personally save money (or how water conservation is a waste because they won’t personally save money or the government will use that as an excuse to charge more for less water) and describe other peoples’ personal choices about how they spend their own money as “weak”.
Pardon my while I sip from my bottle of Voss.
You are pulling for me to die first….