March 22nd is the United Nations World Water Day. By early spring here in Oregon we tend to feel like water is abundant, especially the type that falls from the sky. Unfortunately for the world, fresh and clean water is not always available. According to the United Nations, 1 in 6 people in the world do not have access to safe freshwater and a global temperature increase of 2% will result in 3 Billion people experiencing water stress or draught.
Bad news. What can we do to make the world just a little bit better, and help ensure access to clean and healthy water for all?
Think Global, Act Local:
Here are some acts we as individuals can do to protect our water supply and ensure future generations have access to clean water.
- Refill your reusable water bottle at the tap. Buying a bottle of water uses 700% more water than refilling at the tap or watercooler.
- Eat a vegetarian meal. Replacing 4 oz. of meat with a vegetarian option saves 3,000 gallons of water. Learn more here: http://waterfootprint.org/en/water-footprint/product-water-footprint/water-footprint-crop-and-animal-products/
- Compost your garden. Composting reduces watering needs by one third. Learn how to set up a water wise garden here: https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/northwest-water-wise-garden-plans
- Build a rain barrel. A rain barrel that catches water from your roof can be used to water your lawn and garden all year long. Buy a rain barrel at GloryBee LINK.
Scientists predict that as the climate changes, our part of Oregon will get drier. This is a concern for our hydroelectric dams, local agriculture, and the many amazing industries that rely on Oregon’s water supply. With the threat of long term water scarcity in mind, GloryBee has been working on reducing our industrial water used per pound of product sold. Since 2013 we have reduced our total water used by 28%.