On January 19 during Adult Education time, First Church will hear from Paul Botts, executive director of The Wetlands Initiative, about restoring marshes and other wetlands in our area.
Even though we live beside the Great Lakes, the greatest freshwater bodies in the world, clean water is a precious resource. We all need to reduce our use to save clean water in a warming environment. Here are some tips to reduce your water use at home:
• First, take shorter showers and turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Small changes like these add up!
• Save and reuse water when running your faucet to get hot water. You can use this for watering plants, for example.
• Attach a rain barrel to your downspout and collect rainwater to use for watering outdoor plants. (Be sure the top of the barrel has a tight mesh screen over the opening to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there.)
• Replace faucets and shower heads with low flow versions. New, water efficient toilets also use much less water than older ones.
• Run your washing machine only when you have a full load.
• Maintain your appliances. Check for and repair any water leaks.
Small changes at home can help our region retain precious fresh water. And to learn more about the importance of water, be sure to attend the Wetlands Initiative presentation on January 19th at 9:15 a.m.!