Water Conservation Tips for the Winter Months

During the cold winter months, we spend more time indoors and can end up using just as much water—if not more—than the summer months. Excessive hot water usage is a major concern as it wastes electricity as well as water.

Here are some tips to conserve water in the winter months to make conditions easier on the environment and on your wallet.

Insulate Hot Water Pipes

Do you find yourself running the shower or faucet for minutes before using the water because it does not warm fast enough? This is common in the winter months when cold temperatures make it more difficult for water to travel through pipes while maintaining heat. A way to combat this problem is insulating hot water pipes to minimize heat loss. Next time you run the water, you’ll be enjoying a hot shower much sooner!

Invest in a Tankless Water Heater

Along those same lines, upgrading to a tankless water heater can drastically increase the efficiency of your system. Instead of constantly keeping a supply of hot water in a tank, a tankless system heats water quickly on demand. If your current water heater is in good working condition, it’s better for the environment to keep using it. But if it is time for an upgrade, consider purchasing a tankless water heater.

Drip Your Faucet

Although typically a leaking faucet can waste a lot of water, during the time period when temperatures dip below zero you will want to drip your water. This inexpensive insurance prevents pipes from freezing and bursting in your home, wasting a lot more water than a day of dripping could do.

Find where the water comes into your home and drip a faucet at the other end of the house, pulling water through the majority of your system’s pipes. Catch the dripping water in a bucket and use it to water your houseplants!


These easy tips for winter can conserve water when it’s cold outside! Do you have any tips that we missed? Comment them below – We’d love to hear them!

Mystery to Monument: The Devil’s Kettle Water Foundation

In Judge C.R. Magney State Park on the North Shore of Lake Superior lives a fascinating geological mystery: The Devil’s Kettle.

The Devil’s Kettle is part rock formation, part waterfall, and complete conundrum. The Brule River runs until it hits the rocks at the top of a waterfall, then it splits in two. The right fork cascades down like a typical waterfall and the left fork appears to vanish into a large hole below. Then… it disappears. There’s no apparent entrance back into the river for the water that plunges into the kettle. It’s been called the Waterfall to Nowhere.

Image by aaronHwarren via Flickr

Visitors and scientists attempted to solve the mystery of where the water entering the Devil’s Kettle ends up for years. Some tossed in ping-pong balls, branches, and – legend has it – a car to see where they rejoin the river downstream. For a long time, no one could figure it out – the objects just kept disappearing.

That is, until last year when two scientists – a retired professor and a hydrologist – measured the water volume of the Brule River right before it plunges down the falls and again at the bottom. The results? The volume is nearly identical, leading them to believe that the exit to the Devil’s Kettle is a short distance away, according to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

If you’re looking to test your own theories, by tossing in a handful of leaves or nearby branch, be prepared for a bit of a hike. Getting to Devil’s Kettle is about a 2.5 miles round trip, but there are plenty of benches to rest and enjoy the scenery along the way. In our opinion, it’s totally worth it to see one of the coolest water formations in the state!

Looking for other fun water facts and mysteries? Follow us on Facebook and check out our other blogs.

Foods To Keep You Hydrated This Summer

While drinking water is still the best way to stay hydrated, there are some foods that can help you because they consist mostly of water. During the hot summer days, consider munching on some of these hydrating foods!

Watermelon

Is it any surprise this is the first on the list? Consisting of 92 percent water, this melon lives up to its name. Even at room temperature, watermelon is refreshing like a cool glass of water. Even though watermelon is mostly made of water, the rest is low in calories and dense in nutrients and antioxidants. Read about the powerful benefits of water in this article on healthline.com.

Cucumber

Consisting of 95 percent water, cucumbers are a great hydrating food! shape.com claims cucumbers sooth skin irritations with vitamin C and caffeic acid. Cucumbers can also help you lose weight being low in calories while still making you feel full! This vegetables is a watery winner!

Zucchini

Similar to cucumbers, zucchini consists of about 95 percent water! This food is great to add to salads, main dishes, sides, and to eat plain with dip - even made into noodles! Zucchini is an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients. It is healthy for you and hydrating for your body.

Strawberries

These deliciously nutritious berries are 91 percent water. Plus, strawberries love the hot summer months, getting sweeter the hotter it is when they ripen. Their dark red color hints at their densely packed nutrients. Strawberries are high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Lettuce

At 96 percent water, lettuce is the wettest food on our list of hydrating foods! Lettuce provides a lot of water, but also folate and fiber. These nutrients are specifically important for pregnant women. Plus lettuce is high in vitamins A and K. Choose a salad for lunch and your body will thank you!

While many fruits and vegetables are incredibly hydrating, these five foods top the list! Keep your body hydrated, healthy, and happy by choosing to eat watermelon, strawberries, cucumber, zucchini, and lettuce more often this summer!

Water Volunteering Opportunities in Minnesota

Sometimes making the changes to conserve water in our everyday lives simply is not enough. Sometimes we want to make a bigger impact to help protect our natural waters.


Get involved by volunteering with these organizations in Minnesota which focus on water conservation.

Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP)

A lot of volunteer opportunities to protect water involve collecting samples so that scientists can study and monitor changes. The wetland areas of Minnesota have a volunteer program called WHEP that does just that. Volunteers attend a training workshop and are given clear direction on what to do. A commit of just 20-40 hours through the whole summer is needed to collect the needed samples.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)

The MPCA accepts volunteers to help monitor the ice in their area throughout the state. The formulation and break-up of ice is an important milestone for a lake each year. Knowing as much information about this as possible helps to understand climate change and human influence on the health of Minnesota’s lakes. The lake ice reporting program is currently seeking more volunteers and could really use you! Click here to join in and help stop climate change.

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)

If you are interested in biology, this is the volunteer opportunity for you. FMR seeks volunteers to collect samples of small stream-dwelling bugs to track the health of the rivers that flow into the Mississippi. This is done in the Rice Creek Watershed District and is called the Stream Health Evaluation Program. Signing up means you are committing to spend 35-40 hours volunteering, mostly in the fall. You train with professional scientists to be a part of an important study to keep our streams healthy! Learn more here.


Besides these amazing volunteering opportunities, there are other ways to get involved. Click here to learn even more about how to protect Minnesota’s waters by volunteering in the community.

Reasons to Consider a Career in the Water Industry

If you’re looking for your first career or a new career, there’s a whole industry you maybe haven’t considered – The water industry! The Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association offers several great reasons to consider a career in the water industry.

Career Variety

There are many types of career opportunities in the water industry. These jobs range from those for high school graduates to those with graduate degrees. If you’re looking for an outdoor position or a desk job, the water industry will be perfect for you.

"Right now the thing I like most about working in the water sector is working on projects that rehab or expand existing facilities. There is a huge need to improve existing water infrastructure. My favorite projects have been related to increasing treatment capacities within existing footprints using technology that wasn’t available when the facilities were first built."
– Kevin Young, MN AWWA Member

Stability

Water is important to everyone. This means that there will always be a demand for fresh, clean water – especially drinking water. Where there is a demand, there is stability in a career.

Options for Relocation

Water is needed in every community. This means that if you want to stay where you are, you can. On the flip side, if you have a strong desire to move, you can do that, too! You will have options for relocation while in the water industry.

Room for Growth

Working in the water industry leaves you is room for growth. Depending on your ambition, you will have the opportunity for further training, certifications, and growth.

Sense of Community

A great reason to work in the water industry is the sense of community you have with the customers and your coworkers.

"The most rewarding thing is knowing that the work we do has a direct positive effect on the community." - Allison Wheeler, MN AWWA Member

"The thing I find most rewarding about working in the water sector is being able to distribute safe and reliable water to our customers. They rely on me to supply safe, clean drinking water to them at all times. Our customers also rely on me to ensure that our system is adequately supplied for their safety as well. Our department takes pride in being able to accomplish both on a daily basis." - Eric Volk, MN AWWA Member

"I think the most rewarding thing about being in the water sector is that I am playing a part in providing something that really matters. I’m not just making things look pretty or getting people to buy a product, I’m helping communities provide an essential resource. I can’t think of many things that matter more." - Nicole Gaustad, MN AWWA Member

Using this information, you should now be able to make a decision for your next career. For more information and help, please contact us. We offer even more great resources for a career in the water industry.

5 Ways to Conserve Water in the Winter

Water conservation isn’t something we think much about during harsh Minnesota winters.

If you take a look outside, there is no grass or garden maintenance to do and water does a pretty good job of conserving itself by staying frozen, right? Well, sort of.

Take a look inside your home and you’ll find plenty of ways to conserve water, even during these cold winter months!

Here are some water conservation techniques that are particularly helpful in the winter:

Drip Your Faucets

At first, this may seem counterintuitive to conserving water, but by letting your faucets drip while you’re sleeping or out of the house will prevent the pipes from bursting. Consider the wasted water and other dangers during the winter; letting your faucets drip may potentially save a lot of water.

Utilize a Shower Bucket

Dripping your faucets segways nicely into the next point: Find good uses for the water you drip. To conserve the maximum amount of water, place a bucket or bowl under dripping faucets and use the water to flush your toilet or water your plants!

Insulate Your Hot Water Pipes

One of the best ways to warm up on a cold winter day is with a hot shower. You may have noticed that it takes longer for the water to warm up in the winter than in the summer. That’s because your pipes are cold. Insulating your hot water pipes helps the water warm up quicker and wastes less water while you wait for it to heat up. Also, it protects your pipes from bursting.

This is another instance in which a shower bucket would be helpful. Instead of letting all that water go to waste while you wait for the water to heat up, catch it in a bucket and, again, use it for flushing the toilet, watering plants, or any other use you have for extra water.

Locate Your Water Shut-off Valve

Should a pipe burst or some other catastrophic event happen with your pipes, it is VERY important that you know where the water shut-off valve is on your property. When an emergency comes around, the sooner you can shut off the water, the better. You’ll save money on water and damage repairs, additionally, you’ll save hundreds of gallons of water if you can shut that gushing pipe off right away!

Check for Leaks After the First Thaw

During the winter months, day and night temperatures can be drastically different. As your pipes expand and contract with those changes, they are placed under a great deal of stress. This can cause pipes to leak or break, which can cause massive water loss and high utility costs, so be sure to have a plumber check your pipes for damage after the first thaw.


The average person uses almost 70 gallons of water per day, and that’s only indoor water usage. Peak water usage during the summer for a household skyrockets up to 350 gallons per day! Whether we’re talking about water conservation in the summer or in the winter, it should become a part of all of our daily routines.

Visit our website to learn more.

Why America’s Water Infrastructure Matters

When Hurricane Irma hit in September, the aging sewer systems in Brunswick, Georgia flooded, making a very bad situation even worse. It can be hard to imagine going without water for one day, but thousands in Brunswick were not able to take showers, wash dishes, or flush toilets for four days. Our water infrastructure plays a seamless part in everyday life, so when it goes awry, the public notices. This specific example is why upgrading America’s water infrastructure is so important.

The American Water Works Association’s 2017 State of the Water Industry Report suggests that renewing water and wastewater infrastructure is the number one concern of water utility professionals in North America. However, because water infrastructure is out of sight, the seriousness of the issue is often times misunderstood.

MYTH: The federal government already overspends on water infrastructure.

FACT: 96 percent of public spending on water infrastructure comes from states and localities. So even though the conversation often makes national news, local water utilities often carry the financial burden.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States has nearly 52,000 community water systems. Because water systems are such regional operations, this can lead to coordination difficulties.

MYTH: As a public utility, water doesn’t add much to the economy.

FACT: Just 30 of the country’s largest water utilities support $52 billion in economic output and nearly 30,000 jobs annually. That doesn’t even include the millions of households, businesses, and industries that need seamless water infrastructure to function and grow their business.

In Minnesota, agriculture is a very important economic engine, and water systems are vital for its success. That’s because agriculture is one of the largest consumers of water. Water systems are tied directly to this industry and to workers that grow our food.

MYTH: Water costs are rising because water providers want higher revenue.

FACT: Water rates are increasing in many cities to cover the cost of infrastructure upgrades and repairs. In Flint, Michigan, infamous for its water contamination scandal, that will add up to an extra $300 billion on the county’s water bill. That puts many families in danger of not being able to afford their water bills. More public investment could help alleviate some of this cost.


The Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association is committed to providing clean drinking water to Minnesota. For more information, visit our website.

Finding Water Leaks In Your Home: Rising Costs and Wasting Water

Realizing you have a water leak days or even weeks after it began may be a costly and devastating discovery. The damage even a small drip can cause to your home is unbelievably destructive. Not only can a leak cause damage, but wastes water and increases your water bill. Being vigilant in finding water leaks in your home can help prevent all these problems.

Water Heaters

A common leak culprit is your water heater. If you notice water on the cement area around your water heater or water stains on the floor, there might be a problem with your temperature and pressure relief valve. This mechanism is very important to keep functioning properly as it can cause your water heater to malfunction if not serviced. Your water heater can also leak from the top as multiple plumbing lines go in and out of the appliance. Learn about testing your water heater for leaks and what you should do when you find one in this helpful article.

Leaking Toilets

One of the most common leaks occurs when a toilet flap is not properly closed, causing the pump to endlessly cycle water. An easy way to test this is to drop food coloring into the tank (just lift the cover) and watch the water in the bowl. If the water in the bowl changes color, you have a leak.

It is also common for toilet tanks to become unbalanced from the base when people lean back against them. Check periodically that there are no drips behind your toilet. Sometimes leaks are as easy as replacing chains or tightening bolts, but if you are unsure, it is best to call a plumber. Do not leave a leak unchecked.

Recognize Water Damage

Water damage can show up in many forms. Look for ripples in the drywall, mold or rot along baseboards, peeling and cracking plaster, or discolored ceiling tiles. The best way to find a hidden leak in your home's plumbing is to be aware of and investigate anything suspicious. If you see something you are unsure about, try to assess if it is damaged and where the damage is coming from. Often, you’ll find plumbing you were unaware of leaking and slowly deteriorating your home's building materials.

If you live in a home with metered water, check your meter for leaks. This is easy to do and will allow you to check your whole home's water outflow at once. Contact your water supplier if you suspect you have a leaking water meter.


Controlling leaks is an important aspect of limiting water consumption. When you care for the water in your home, you help care for the water in our entire planet. Fix a leak right away to cut costs, prevent damage to your home, and reduce water waste. Don't forget to always USE WATER WISELY.

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

At least 60 percent of your body is made up of water. It’s important to drink as much as water as you can to help replenish your body every day. Sadly, water is only the second-most popular beverage in the United States–after soft drinks. That’s a scary realization, since overindulging on sugary soda drinks is an enormous health hazard.

When you’re not drinking enough water, your body will give you warning signs that something isn’t right. Here are a few other warning signs:

You Can Feel it in Your Bones

Just as a car needs oil to run properly, your body needs water to do well. If you don’t have enough water in your body, your joints will begin to break down and you could injure yourself while doing normal activities. According to an article by Lifehack.org, the cartilage that protects our joints is made up of 80% water. This means if you’re not getting enough water, you can risk injury while running or jumping or even when performing daily activities or making sudden movements.

You Don’t Recover Well From Illness

Your grandmother always told you to drink more fluids to help you recover from an illness; she was right. Your body requires a minimum amount of water each day to function at a normal level and get the toxins out of your system. These amounts vary depending on your body type, activity levels, and several other factors, but illnesses will dehydrate you faster than normal - especially if you are vomiting, have diarrhea, or have a fever. When you get sick, increase your water intake even more. Even things like soup, fruit juices, and gelatin help with your fluid intake.

You Feel Sleepy

Fatigue is one of the first signs you’ll encounter from being dehydrated. If a lack of fluids turns into full-blown dehydration, it can cause an imbalance in your sodium, potassium and electrolytes, therefore, making you sleepy and lethargic.

You Get Hungry Out Of Nowhere

When you don’t drink enough water, your body receives mixed signals on hunger. According to an article on Spright.com, “Your hypothalamus, the portion of your brain responsible for controlling feelings of hunger and thirst, responds similarly whether you’re thirsty or you haven’t had enough to eat.” Dehydration causes you to believe you need to eat when you actually need more liquid in your system.

You Don’t Age Well

Water acts as a natural (and much cheaper) facelift as it flushes out the toxins in your body. Hydrating yourself on the inside will result in a dewy and fresh-looking skin on the outside. If you’re dehydrated, things will start to look dry, cracked and unhealthy.


Water is very important to your overall health. Becoming dehydrated too often can do plenty of damage to your body, and as you’ve probably heard, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables that are high in water content is also a good way to stay hydrated. Staying full for the entire day is just as important as staying hydrated.

For more information on hydration, visit the Minnesota Chapter of the American Water Works Association.

The Effect of Clean Water on the Economy

Water pollution, chemical spills, and algae blooms can wreak havoc on a community, not only by affecting the water supply and animal populations but also through many seemingly unrelated industries that tend to suffer with “dirty” water.

Keeping our water clean through regulations like the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act directly bolster the local economy by providing safe water for food & beverage production, fishing, shipping, tourism, and real estate. Even indirectly, clean water supports the Minnesota communities in which we live, work, and keep our companies profitable.

As Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner, John Linc Stine, explains, "We all want clean water. We all recognize the value it brings to Minnesota: both in terms of tangible economic benefits such as increased property values and a robust tourism industry, and intangible benefits that enrich our lives as Minnesotans. We must work together to find creative, cost-effective solutions to paying for it. We can achieve water quality when we all do our fair share.”

Most obviously, clean water makes for great Minnesota activities and is key to tourism. From the North Shore to Minnehaha Falls and everything in between, out-of-towners and local folks alike expect sparkling water and clear shorelines. Tourism in Minnesota is a $14 billion industry, with much of it centered around the waters that give our state its name—the land of “sky-tinted waters.”

Our clean water provides us with a healthy fishing industry and makes shipping on Lake Superior possible. The real estate industry, particularly when it comes to lakeshore properties, relies on unpolluted waters and healthy ecosystems to keep up property values.

Additionally, food & beverage industries need good quality water for production. The beer industry has become more vocal in standing up for clean water, because, “You can’t make great beer without clean water.” Put simply, “Clean water is essential to more than a great-tasting pint—it’s also critical for our health and our economy at large.”

In fact, the majority of small businesses put a high value on preserving water quality over cutting corners at the potential detriment to clean water. In this poll by the American Sustainable Business Council, 71% of small business owners agree that clean water is necessary for jobs and a healthy economy, an opinion that was held across party lines.


So let’s celebrate our beautiful waters and be diligent about keeping ecosystems and water supplies healthy. It’s just good business.

Learn more at mnawwa.org

Must-See Waterfalls in Minnesota

We appreciate the importance of water in every aspect of our lives. Water has the power to carve out valleys, move mountains, sustain life, and elicit awe. The natural wonders created by water can be appreciated right here in Minnesota. Here are some must-see waterfalls that will surely impress. Plan to visit one (or all of them) this summer with your family!

Minnehaha Falls

Arguably the most famous waterfall in Minnesota, Minnehaha Falls is a peaceful site amidst the urban landscape of Minneapolis. Visitors can bike and walk along the expansive park and get a close-up look at the gushing water. There's even an on-site restaurant to make a day of it. For a fun winter expedition, check out the beautiful colors the ice creates when the falls are frozen!

Minneopa Falls

If you are in the Southern part of the state, the most beautiful waterfall to visit is Minneopa Falls in Mankato. Minneopa State Park includes the 40-foot fall, as well as a smaller, scenic waterfall dropping just up river. Find the perfect angle to capture both falls in one epic viewing. All this set in gorgeous scenery and rocky bluffs make this a great escape.

High Falls of the Pigeon River

Located in the northeast corner of the state where Minnesota borders Canada, High Falls on Pigeon River is the tallest waterfall in the state at 120 feet. The falls thunder down a rocky cliff and flow into Lake Superior. A 1-mile hike from the nearest parking lot will allow you to visit this recluse and the natural landscape is sure to take your breath away.

Gooseberry Falls

The epitome of the north shore experience, Gooseberry Falls is just beyond Duluth in Two Harbors, MN. With 5 sets of falls through a rocky river gorge, the Gooseberry River flows out to an agate beach and into the largest lake in the world–Lake Superior. While the main falls are just a quick walk from the visitor’s entrance, there are a few others that can make for a fun hike in the nearby pine forests and rocky cliffs in this adventurous landscape.

The Cascades

Cascade River State Park is also along Lake Superior, making this the third must-see waterfall on the northern shore of Minnesota. The Cascades are a series of smaller waterfalls bumbling down a rocky slope. There are many to see; enough for an entire day of marveling as you hike.


With so many beautiful waterfalls along Lake Superior, a drive to the north shore of Minnesota would make a wondrous summer vacation. But if you would like to see some awe-inspiring waterfalls closer to you, consider Minneopa and Minnehaha Falls as excellent choices, too. It is important we all take the time to appreciate the powerful qualities of life-giving water we take for granted in this world!

You can find more information about Minnesota water on the Minnesota AWWA website.

Four Water Organizations That You Should Know About

Water is vital to the existence of every community, but millions of people across the world don’t have regular access to sanitized water. Water organizations around the world develop educational opportunities to help developing countries. Initiatives include understanding water sanitation and hygiene, addressing health concerns and issues related to unsanitary water, raising funds to support sustainable water technologies, and providing immediate access to drinkable water.

Water for People

Developed in 1991, Water for People was created out of the American Water Works Association. This non-profit organization serves in Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Malawi, Nicaragua, Perú, Rwanda, and Uganda. It aims to improve the quality of life in these communities by supporting the development and accessibility of high-quality drinking water and sanitation services. Water for People also encourages partner countries to invest in sustainability so that everyone can have a hand in reliable access to water and sanitation for years to come.

Pure Water for the World

Pure Water for the World serves communities in Central America and the Caribbean. This non-profit organization is committed to ending illnesses caused by unsanitary water sources by providing education about preventable waterborne diseases and managing sustainable and sanitary water systems. By providing educational workshops on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), the Pure Water for the World team works with local community programs in order to develop customized solutions to a community’s water problems.

Charity: Water

According to Charity: Water, nearly 663 million people drink from contaminated water sources. Based in New York but operating in over 20 countries, Charity: Water raises funds to develop water technologies for developing countries. These water technologies range from hand-dug and drilled wells, rainwater catchments, gravity-fed systems, water purification systems, and latrines.

Through the Pipeline initiative, Charity: Water helps communities to maintain water technologies long after they are installed by providing funds to train and equip local mechanics to repair systems in need, develop innovative technologies, and educate the community on clean water sustainability.

Drop in the Bucket

Drop in the Bucket’s mission is to grant clean water access to children seeking an education. One of the ways Drop in the Bucket confronts the issue of clean water is by drilling wells at schools in sub-Saharan Africa. The presence of wells on a school campus grants greater accessibility to clean water and sanitation systems to students.

Because young girls are often tasked with the chore of fetching a family’s supply of water, having wells at school improves the chances that more girls can attend and graduate school rather than spending the majority of their day traveling to get water.

Getting Involved in Minnesota

If you are wondering how you can get involved, the Minnesota Section of the American Water Works Association will be sponsoring the annual Water for People Benefit Concert on April 29th at Bogart’s in Apple Valley. Featuring musical guest Big Bob and the High Rollers, the proceeds of the Water for People Benefit Concert will support the initiatives of Water for People. For more details, visit the Water for People Benefit Concert web page.


When you help support water charities with your time or money, we can come together to address the issue of clean drinking water. See what you can do to contribute to water education in your local community, and become a member of the American Water Works Association. Learn more at www.mnawwa.org.

The Best Smartphone Apps for Conserving Water

We are well into 2017 and the high water (use) season is right around the corner. What can you do to keep a little money in your pocket? To get started, think about all the ways that you can conserve water and not let your hard earned money flow down the drain. In fact, with all the available phone apps out there, let your phone do all the work of conserving water! Take a look below at the best apps for conserving water.

Dropcountr

This app takes a look at your entire individual water usage either hourly, daily, or monthly, allowing you to more deeply understand how your resources are being used in comparison to homes near you. Dropcountr even sends you personalized tips on how to conserve money as well as water by sending you rebates. The greatest benefit of this free app is that it connects water utility services directly to the consumer!

Water Timer

This interactive app helps to cut down on those long leisurely winter showers. Water Timer calculates the water and money that you could save from shortening your showers.This app is only available on iOS devices.

Water1der

If you are looking to teach water conservation to kids and teens, the Water1der app is an excellent choice. This app includes easy-to-read information and games that range from word scramble to multiple choice to true or false questions. The content of the games covers everything from the water cycle and water usage to water pollution and conversation. This app is only available on iOS devices.

Rain Harvest

If you are looking to begin harvesting your own water, look to Rain Harvest. This app estimates how much rainwater you could potentially collect from a rain storm. This is done by formulating rainfall, efficiency, and the total area that could catch rainwater.

Apps allow us to do everything from keeping track of our fitness to streaming music to finding shops and restaurants while on the go. In addition to these water conservation apps, you can find apps on landscaping and irrigation tracking, water fountain locaters, water leak calculators, and more! Find the perfect app to help your household conserve water.

For more information on water conservation, visit the American Water Works Association of Minnesota.

How Much Water Is Used To Produce The Food We Eat

If you want to conserve water and lessen your environmental footprint, you might consider taking shorter showers or only washing clothes when they are really dirty. However, the most effective way you can reduce your water usage is by choosing more carefully what you eat. This is because the food we eat makes up more than 2/3 of our total water footprint. This might surprise you until we take a closer look at how much water is used to produce the food we eat every day.

The LA Times posted a website article during California's terrible drought in 2015 that included an intriguing tool. You can select various foods to put on your virtual plate and it will tell you how many gallons of water went into producing those items. Take, for instance, a plate consisting of a pork chop, pasta, an apple, and a glass of milk. This plate used 500 gallons of water to produce! The majority of the water came from the 330 gallons it takes to raise a pig and butcher it to get that pork chop on your plate. In fact, the majority of our water usage when it comes to producing food comes from meats. If you are looking for ways to lighten your water footprint, simply eat less meat in your diet. Instead, replace them with eggs or beans for protein.

If we are considering our meal items, why not choose the one that used significantly less water to produce? For instance, if you are choosing a starch for your meal, potatoes only use 34 gallons of water per pound versus corn which uses 146 gallons per pound. The difference between coffee versus tea? Tea only uses 108 gallons of water per gallon of brewed tea contrasting coffee which uses a whopping 1,056 gallons of water to produce one gallon of brewed coffee. These efforts can really add up!

This article can help you choose between common foods like beer vs wine or asparagus vs broccoli. The foods you choose to eat can be very mindful of the environment if you educate yourself.

While it may seem drastic to cut these foods out of your diet entirely, knowing the amounts of water it takes to produce them can make you more mindful of your choices. You can find more information on water preservation on the MN AWWA website.

Eat Your Way to Better Hydration

As everybody knows, water is an essential part of life. It’s an important factor in keeping your body hydrated, regulating body temperature, transporting oxygen, flushing out waste and bacteria, and so much more. You are supposed to drink eight glasses of water a day, but that can be awfully hard to commit to. Did you know, however, that you can get some of that water from fruits and vegetables? Certain fruits and vegetables can help you towards your water intake goals and provide your body with minerals, fiber, protein, and more.

A Well-suited Workout

Do you buy expensive power bars and workout supplements? Your might be surprised to learn that fruits and vegetables make for an excellent post-workout snack as they can replenish your body with amino acids, vitamins, and electrolytes. And water and fruit are much better at hydrating your body post-workout compared to sports drinks and energy drinks.

Hydration “SuperFruits”

Fruits like strawberries and watermelon contain 92 percent water per volume. Grapefruits, cantaloupe, peaches, pineapples, cranberries, oranges, and raspberries each hold at least 85 percent water per volume. Eat these as snacks throughout the day, or incorporate them into recipes like fruit salads, fruit kebabs, smoothies, fruit pizzas, and more!

Aquatic Veggies

Vegetables are another excellent source of hydration. Cucumber, lettuce, zucchini, radish, celery, and tomatoes each contain at least 95 percent water. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, peppers, and spinach are also excellent sources of hydration and nutrients. Swap them into your favorite recipes, and challenge yourself to use these vegetables creatively when cooking for optimal hydration and taste variety.

Aim to eat four servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables a day to get the most nutrients you can and in order to reduce your risk of diseases and cancer.

Eating fruits and vegetables high in water content is an excellent way to stay on top of your health and fitness goals, keep you full throughout the day, and to stay hydrated! For more resources on water and hydration, visit the MN American Water Works Association.

Summer Water Activities for Your Family

August has arrived, which means many children across the state are scrambling to cram as much summer fun in as possible before the new school year begins. During the hottest month of the year, this usually involves water of some kind. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of water-related activities that you can do with your kids right in your own backyard:

Simple Backyard Splash Pad

Many homeowners are wary of at-home water activities because they wreak havoc on your lawn. You can have just as much fun at home without installing a pool or killing your grass; all you need is a tarp. It’ll act as a splash pad, slip-n-slide, and all-around water activity area—just add water. The best part is, when you are done, just roll up the tarp and put it away!

Sponge Ball Fight

Do your kids love water balloons, but don’t like to clean up the empty, broken balloon pieces after the fight is over? Check out these DIY splash balls for a fun, clean alternative to a summertime classic. Using sponges and buckets of water, this version of the game will be quicker, easier, and a lot more fun!

Duck, Duck, Wet Duck

This game is pretty self-explanatory; it’s just duck, duck, gray duck with water! Replace the word “Gray” (or goose, if that’s how you play) with “wet” and squeeze a sponge over the player’s head! If you’re looking for a cool, quick accessory to the game, you can use the sponge splash balls mentioned above.

Water Limbo

This one is also simple and requires just a hose with a nozzle. Instead of playing traditional limbo, use a hose with a nozzle attachment in place of a stick and take turns trying to go as low as you can.

Summer is the time to visit the lake, pool, or nearest body of water to keep cool. If your kids can’t always make it to the lake, there are tons of great water activities that you can do right at home.

What are your favorite backyard water games? Comment below, we’d love to hear them!

How to Purify Water While Camping

When camping, one of the most important items of need is access or the ability to obtain clean water. It will be your source of hydration, energy, and sustenance. While bottled water is convenient, it can add a lot of weight to your camping gear haul, not to mention the burden on the environment caused by producing bottled water. Learning to find a source and purify water when camping can eliminate a few gallons from your camping gear and can help eliminate plastic waste from the environment. And it’s easy to learn!

Purifying your own drinking water is simple, inexpensive, and, most importantly, ensures a safe and sanitary source of drinking water. Consider the following methods when purifying water while camping:

Finding a Source

If you are camping in a state park or campground, there will likely be a supply of water nearby, such as a well or spout in which you can find water. From there, filtering isn’t usually an issue, unless you are worried about taste. To find a smart supply of water in more rugged terrain, look for clear, flowing streams. Lake and pond water are stagnant and more likely to hold contaminants and bacteria. Collecting condensation from tree branches and leaves can be effective, but takes a lot of patience. Treated snow and ice are smart options for when you are winter camping.

Portable Filters

Portable water filters can be an effective, albeit more expensive option for purification. With effective maintenance, portable water filters are compact and easy to use and there is a variety of options on the market. Look for filters equipped with either carbon or ceramic filters or look for filters that treat water with iodine or other chemicals to kill viruses.

One option is the SteriPEN - a small, battery-powered device that emits UV light and destroys bacteria. All you need to do is dip the pen into your water bottle and stir for about a minute. The newer version of the SteriPEN comes in an even smaller, more travel-friendly design and includes a micro USB charging port, though it boasts 40 purifications between charges.

Boiling

Boiling water can be the most effective way to purify water. In small batches, bring water to a rolling boil for at least five minutes to kill any microorganisms existing in the water. Wait for the water to cool, and remember that this method does not remove non-living contaminants, so you may need to filter it slightly beforehand. Boiling water is often the easiest for large groups like families and requires just a boiling pot over a campfire.

Image by Martin Cathrae via Flickr

Iodine Treatment

Another simple method for water purification is iodine treatment. It is often considered the most effective at killing most pathogens, although it will not remove sediment. Coming in the form of iodine tablets, crystals or liquid iodine, this is a process that is easy, inexpensive, and lightweight. Dissolve iodine in water while stirring constantly for at least 30 minutes. Use five drops of liquid 2% iodine for every quart of water and follow the manufacturer's details for iodine crystals and tablets. The iodine can leave a slight aftertaste, but neutralizing tablets are also available and effectively counteract the aftertaste.

When camping, water will be your biggest asset in keeping you energized, regulating body temperature, and in enhancing your physical performance. Make sure to keep a steady supply of water with you at all times and challenge yourself to learn how to purify water in the event of camping emergencies.

For more information on water conservation and protecting our resources, visit our website.