Be conscious of water use during drought Published April 30, 2015 By Ken Wright 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On April 22, millions of people across 192 countries took part in the 45th observance of Earth Day. The annual event began in 1970, aiming to support environmental protection efforts and discuss the most pressing environmental issues. The global effort to protect the environment and natural resources encompasses a broad spectrum of challenges, one significant challenge for many Californians is water conservation . The heightened concern comes during a drought that brought the driest period in the state's recorded rainfall history, according to the San Jose Mercury News. With lakes and reservoirs across the state at record low water levels and snow pack, Governor Jerry Brown, recently directed the State Water Resources Control Board to implement mandatory water reductions across California to reduce water usage by 25 percent. "Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow," Brown said. "This historic drought demands unprecedented action. Therefore, I'm issuing an executive order mandating substantial water reductions across our state. As Californians, we must pull together and save water in every way possible." David Nahai, former chairman of the California Regional Water Board, recently told L.A. Weekly that even if the drought ends next year with an enormous amount of rainfall, Californians still needs to save a massive amount of water this year. Otherwise, it will only become more difficult and expensive for everyone who lives here. "Even beyond the current drought, climate change is upon us," Nahai said. "We have to adapt." While every day is a good day to establish good habits, the convergence of Earth Day 2015 with California's quest to protect one of its valuable natural resources presents an opportunity for each person at Travis Air Force Base, California to do all they can for the greater good. According to Mr. Roger Kasper, senior treatment plant operator at the Travis Air Force Base, California, water treatment plant, operated by the City of Vallejo, the base used 86.6 million gallons of water in the first quarter of 2015; enough to fill the reflecting pool of the Lincoln Memorial nearly 13 times. While that's a lot of water by any objective measure, it's 7.43 percent less than the amount used in the same quarter a year ago. The base's overall reduced water usage is in large part due to base residents and Balfour-Beatty Communities, which manages base housing at Travis. Though people often complain about residents being required to keep lush green yards on base, the fact is that the vast majority of yards on Travis are closer to gold than green. According to Mr. Mark Dupree, Balfour-Beatty community manager, the company has taken the water shortage seriously and has taken steps to reduce the amount of water it takes to sustain Airmen and their families living on base. "We now have master meters for all housing residents and encourage common-sense savings," Dupree said. "When we compared the water usage during the first quarter of 2014 with the first quarter usage this year, we saw a 13.8 percent decrease in water usage by housing residents. That savings is testimony to our efforts, and those of our residents. We're not there yet. We need to conserve more, so we are formulating a plan with the base to get to Vallejo's mandated 16 percent reduction." As the water supply diminishes, the price of every drop increases. The first place many people feel the sting of increased water prices is in their monthly water bill, but increased food prices affect far more people every day. It takes an enormous amount of water to produce our meats, fruits and vegetables, and the agricultural industry, which uses 80 percent of California's water supply, passes those costs along to consumers. As summer approaches and the grill beckons for a juicy steak, consider that just one 10-ounce cut of beef requires more than 1,000 gallons of water to be produced. Add a small salad, bread and a glass of apple juice and the total jumps to more than 1,200 gallons according to data from the Water Footprint Network. With such a surprising amount of water needed to sustain a community, it doesn't take long to calculate just how much more expensive the necessities of daily living could become if people don't take steps to increase the water supply today. The Environmental Protection Agency provides helpful suggestions for reducing water use and getting the most from what you must use: Fix a leak. · Small household leaks can lead to gallons of water lost every day. That's why it's smart to check plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. In the bathroom, where over half of all water use inside a home takes place: · Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing teeth. · Showers use less water than baths, as long as you keep an eye on how long you've been lathering up. Or better yet, turn off the water while you lather. In the kitchen- whip up a batch of big water savings: · Plug up the sink or use a wash basin if washing dishes by hand. · Use a dishwasher; and when you do, make sure it's fully loaded. · Scrape that plate instead of rinsing before loading it into the dishwasher. · Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool. · Thaw in the refrigerator overnight rather than using a running tap of hot water. · Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal. In the laundry room--where you can be clean and green: · Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine. In the yard--be beautiful and efficient: · Create a water-smart landscape that is both beautiful and efficient to give your home the curb appeal you desire. · Timing is everything. Knowing when and how much to water allows you to keep a healthy landscape. · Upgrade to a WaterSense labeled controller if you have an in-ground irrigation system. · Find a certified irrigation professional to install, maintain, or audit your irrigation system to ensure it is watering at peak efficiency. Other outdoor uses--drop that hose and keep it covered: · Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps rather than hosing them off. · Wash the car with water from a bucket, or consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. · If you have a pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation when the pool is not being used.