Greenversations

By Administrator Lisa P. Jackson

“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve.” Those words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have inspired millions of Americans over the years to step up and serve. And they’re the words that come to mind each January, when we honor Dr. King’s legacy on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Each year, people across the country come together for volunteer service, to strengthen their communities and make a difference for the people around them.

On Monday, January 16, the EPA is honoring Dr. King by calling on volunteers to participate in environmental service projects and help make it a Green MLK Day. In recent years, I’ve joined EPA employees and community volunteers for neighborhood cleanups, urban greening efforts and other environmental service projects. This year, we’re hoping you will mark the MLK Day of Service with a service project that protects health and the environment in your community.

One way to get involved is to participate in projects that help reduce waste, or cut water and energy use in your home and community. Take a look at our WaterSense, WasteWise and Energy Star websites for more information, or check our Green Living page for ideas.

Young people can help their communities raise awareness and address environmental issues through our OnCampus ecoAmbassadors program. This program helps students develop valuable leadership and project management skills as they improve the quality of their campuses and surrounding communities.

There are countless ways to be part of a Green MLK Day: Start using biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaning products. Learn about composting and give it a shot in your own backyard. Pick up litter at a local park or field. Organize a “green club” in your workplace, school or community.

EPA’s Pick Five website can help you find simple ways to clean up the environment in which you live, work and play.

Finally – be sure to tell us about your Green MLK activities. EPA Staff will be tweeting live from various volunteer activities, and you can follow along through @EPALive and @lisapjackson on Twitter. Share your own service experience by tweeting with a #greenMLK hashtag. If you have any photos from what you’re doing, we invite you to share them on our Flickr page.

I look forward to hearing about how you spent this year’s MLK Day of Service taking on environmental challenges in your community.

By Stephanie Thornton & Virginia D. Lee

It’s hard to believe, but it was five years ago—June 12, 2006—that we stood with our colleagues along the San Antonio River Walk in the sweltering Texas heat to watch the EPA Administrator announce the creation of WaterSense. With water shortages becoming increasingly common nationwide, the program was initiated with one simple goal in mind: to help Americans save water.

That day’s announcement was the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of very dedicated people, both inside EPA and from outside organizations. Yet, it was only the beginning. Five years later, consumers can now walk into their local home improvement or hardware store and find the WaterSense label on a wide array of toilets, faucets, and showerheads.  Certified WaterSense irrigation partners can be found nationwide to install, maintain, and audit household sprinkler systems. The first new homes to earn the WaterSense label are welcoming families in states across the country, including California, Texas, and Virginia. WaterSense has also moved beyond the home, with the label soon to be appearing on or already on several commercial and institutional products.  And, most recently, our neighbors to the north have formally partnered with the WaterSense program—so we’re helping Americans and Canadians save water!

We love our jobs because we get to see the results of our work every time we walk into a home improvement store or when we read about activities carried out by our program partners. With the help of the public and our 2,300 partners, WaterSense is looking forward to many more years of saving water for future generations, and we are excited to see what’s in store next. Visit the WaterSense website to get more information on what you can do to save water around your home and to take the I’m for Water pledge.

About the authors: Stephanie Thornton has been with EPA since 2002, and joined WaterSense in 2006, just prior to the program’s official inception.

Virginia D. Lee has worked for EPA for 10 years and joined the WaterSense team in 2005.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

By Veronica Blette

“Uh-oh, that can’t be good,” I thought as I entered my house to hear the sound of running water. I went upstairs to find that the flapper on my toilet had become stuck in the open position, which led to its earnest, yet futile, efforts to fill the bowl all day long. Yes, while I spent my day in the office trying to advance a nationwide ethic of water efficiency, water was running down my drain. My water bill for the month almost doubled as a result of that one day of wasted toilet filling.

So, what’s the connection with 10,000 gallons? That’s how much water we waste in our houses each year through leaks! Across the country, easy-to-fix household leaks add up to more than one trillion gallons of water lost annually, robbing homeowners of 12 percent of their water bill.

Less than one percent of the Earth’s water is available for human use, and managing water is a growing concern in the United States. Using water more efficiently and avoiding waste helps maintain supplies at safe levels now and for future generations.

That’s why we are encouraging homeowners to find and fix leaks during the third annual Fix a Leak Week, March 14 – 20, 2011. Be for water and start saving today with three simple steps:

1. Check

First, check your home for leaks. You can detect silent toilet leaks, a common water-wasting culprit, by adding food coloring to the toilet tank and waiting 10 minutes before flushing. If color appears in the bowl, your toilet has a leak.

2. Twist

Give leaking faucet and showerhead connections a firm twist to ensure that pipe connections are sealed tight. For additional savings, twist WaterSense labeled aerators onto bathroom faucets to use 30 percent less water without noticing a difference in flow.

3 .Replace

If you just can’t nip that drip, it may be time to replace the fixture. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which use at least 20 percent less water and are independently certified to perform as well as or better than standard models.

Don’t find yourself in my shoes. Take these simple steps and reduce the potential for leaks lurking in your life. Want to do more? Join my team and thousands of your neighbors by supporting the We’re for Water campaign. Visit and take the I’m for Water pledge and “like” WaterSense on Facebook.

About the author: Veronica Blette leads EPA’s WaterSense program. Veronica has been with the Agency for more than thirteen years and, going forward, will always make sure the toilet is not running before she goes to work.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

Hi, I’m Flo, and I am the spokesgallon for EPA’s WaterSense program! I just got back from kicking off the We’re for Water campaign by traveling across the country to spread the word about water efficiency. Now that I’m home in D.C., I wanted to take a minute to tell you about why I care so much about saving water, and the people I met on my journey.

As many of you probably already know, water supplies in many communities are at risk. Between 1950 and 2005, the U.S. population doubled, while our use of water through public supplies more than tripled. With demand outstripping supply, at least 36 states have projected some degree of water shortage by 2013.

So what can we do? You can start by standing up for water. You can join thousands of your neighbors supporting the We’re for Water campaign and make simple changes at home to save water. Given that each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water every day at home, it’s easy to find a few gallons to spare. We can all start saving water today with three simple steps: check, twist, and replace!

• First, check toilets to reveal any silent leaks.
• Second, if you don’t have them already, twist a WaterSense labeled aerator onto each bathroom faucet to save water without noticing a difference in flow.
• Third, replace your old showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model, which helps you shrink your water footprint while still enjoying a satisfying shower.

It’s really that simple! I spent the past two and a half weeks traveling the country and asking people to take the “I’m for Water” pledge. I met all kinds of great people, from Los Angeles to New York City, all committed to doing their part to protect our water resources. I watched families compete to see who could save more water and even got to hang out with Denver Water’s Running Toilet and Athens, Georgia’s Lily Anne Phibean! I met people at Mount Rushmore, the Gateway Arch, the World’s Largest Toilet, and the Georgia Aquarium – and lots of other sites as well. You should check out www.facebook.com/epawatersense to see some great pictures and video from throughout my trip!

Want to do more? Then visit www.epa.gov/watersense and take the “I’m for Water” pledge and become a fan of WaterSense on Facebook to share why you’re for water and learn more water-saving tips.

About the author: Flo is the water efficiency “spokesgallon” for EPA’s WaterSense program. Her interests include swimming, playing in the rain, and helping people save water.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Did you know your home could be wasting up to 10,000 gallons each year from easy-to-fix water leaks? Many of these leaks are do-it-yourself fixes that could cost only a few dollars to address. Sponsored by EPA’s WaterSense® program, Fix a Leak Week reminds homeowners of the easy steps we can all take to help save water in our communities now and for future generations.

1. Find Leaks
A good method to check for leaks is to examine your winter water use. If it exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, you probably have leaks. Walk around your home with eyes and ears open to find leaks, and don’t forget to check pipes. You can also reveal a silent toilet leak by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank and waiting 15 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak. Be sure to flush afterwards so as not to stain the bowl or tank.

2. Fix Leaks
Many times fixing leaks can be done yourself and doesn’t have to cost a cent. Both faucets and showerhead connections can be tightened or sealed with a wrench or pipe tape. For leaky toilets, the rubber flapper inside the tank is often the culprit. Over time the flapper decays, but replacing it only costs a few dollars. If you don’t feel comfortable with these repairs, a licensed plumber can help. Irrigation systems and outdoor spigots can also be the source of water loss. A WaterSense irrigation partner who is certified in water-efficient irrigation technologies and techniques can ensure your outdoor irrigation system works properly.

3. Save Water
Fixing household leaks not only saves water but can reduce water utility bills by more than 10 percent. Dripping faucets can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, a showerhead leaking 10 drips per minute about 500 gallons per year, and running toilets 200 gallons or more each day!

For more information and tips about how to save water during Fix a Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak. WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by EPA to help Americans save water. The WaterSense label can be found on toilets, faucets, urinals, and—coming soon—showerheads that use at least 20 percent less water and are independently tested and certified to perform as well as or better than standard plumbing fixtures.

About the author: Stephanie Thornton has worked at EPA for 7½ years and manages marketing and partner relationships for WaterSense’s residential plumbing program.

About the author: Steve Burton* the SW territory contact for Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.’s Private Label Program. Ferguson is the EPA’s 2008 WaterSense Retailer/Distributor Partner of the Year.

We have a two-person household in an average-size home in Oro Valley, Arizona. In November 2008 we discovered the guest bathroom had a slow internal leak caused by an aging fill valve inside the toilet tank. The only reason we thought to look for a leak was the spike in our water bill that month.

We found a slow leak inside the toilet tank in our hall bathroom. The noise was faint. If the fan was on or if you were not directly in the bathroom, you could not tell there was a noise coming from the toilet tank.

The impact this one slow leak had on our water usage/bill during November 2008 is below.

• Sept 2008 $41.97
• Oct 2008 $51.33
• Nov 2008 $148.30
• Dec 2008 $58.66
• Jan 2008 $33.64

This drove home how important it is to check/maintain water fixtures in our home to conserve water and save money. For about $15, we were able to fix a leak that was costing us $100 a month!

* EPA does not endorse any contractor, commercial service, or enterprise.

About the author: Stephanie Thornton is the Partner Outreach Coordinator for EPA’s WaterSense program. Stephanie has been with the Agency for almost seven years.

We all want to do what we can to be more water efficient around the house – we wash only full loads of dishes and laundry, turn off the water while brushing our teeth, and look for WaterSense® labeled products when replacing a toilet or faucet. But one of the biggest water wasters often goes unnoticed: common household leaks.

That’s why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created Fix a Leak Week, which runs March 16 through 20. Leaks can account for, on average, up to 11,000 gallons of water wasted in house each year. That’s enough to fill your backyard swimming pool! The most common leaks are toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves, all of which are easily corrected. Fixing them can save you up to 10% on your water bills.

Nearly all fixture leaks can also be corrected by replacing older models with new, WaterSense labeled products. You’ll stop the leak and give yourself a high-quality, water efficient toilet or faucet that you can feel good about.

One of the easiest ways to figure out if you have a leak is to check your water meter before leaving the house for a two hour period in which no water is being used. When you return home, check the meter again – if it has changed, you have a leak.

For more easy leak detection tips and solutions, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak/. While you’re there, take the Fix a Leak Week Pledge to make your home leak-free!

About the author: Steve Burton* the SW territory contact for Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.’s Private Label Program. Ferguson is the EPA’s 2008 WaterSense Retailer/Distributor Partner of the Year.

We have a two-person household in an average-size home in Oro Valley, Arizona. In November 2008 we discovered the guest bathroom had a slow internal leak caused by an aging fill valve inside the toilet tank. The only reason we thought to look for a leak was the spike in our water bill that month.

We found a slow leak inside the toilet tank in our hall bathroom. The noise was faint. If the fan was on or if you were not directly in the bathroom, you could not tell there was a noise coming from the toilet tank.

The impact this one slow leak had on our water usage/ bill during November 2008 is below.

• Sept 2008 $41.97
• Oct 2008 $51.33
• Nov 2008 $148.30
• Dec 2008 $58.66
• Jan 2008 $33.64

This drove home how important it is to check/ maintain water fixtures in our home to conserve water and save money. For about $15, we were able to fix a leak that was costing us $100 a month!

EPA does not

A lot has been portrayed lately in the media-with a sense of urgency-regarding a possible future food crisis and water shortage due to the increasing demands of emerging economies. The world’s water consumption rose sixfold between 1900 and 1995 – more than double the rate of population growth – and keeps on growing as farming, industry and domestic demand all increase, specially in said economies such as India and China. Yet, every species living in the planet needs water for sustenance and it can’t be consumed by some and on the shortfall for others. Farming, which accounts for 70% of the world’s water consumption, is also essential to the life of all humans.

On the other hand, climate change has brought excessive rainfall to some areas and droughts in others affecting farming practices and the food supply chain. While many people have grown aware of the climate change issue, efficient use of water in our home to industrial and agricultural practices still needs to be taken into account. I recently read an article in The Economist that blamed the problem of a future water shortage on bio-fuels and while it correctly pointed out our that one third of the world’s population could be affected by the scarcity of water by 2025 it offered no real solutions to the issue at hand.

Climate change aside, we have to understand that every day activities also affect our fresh-water supplies. This is not a distant problem, but rather one for which every single citizen is responsible. Erosion from incorrect land use provides excess sedimentation which in turn diminishes our reservoirs accumulation capacity while introducing pollutants that affect not only water quality but ecosystems as well. According to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service soil runoff can impact, directly or indirectly, water quality and water usage. Surface and stormwater runoff from urban activities also impact our rivers and lakes by delivering pollutants into them.

In my six years at EPA I have participated in countless beach, lake and river cleanups. The amount of trash and sediment from illegal dumping that goes into our water bodies might surprise anyone who has not seen it. Large toys, stoves, tires, construction materials and even cars, just to name a few, all have been retrieved from our reservoirs, creeks and rivers. Education is the key to prevent a water shortage in the future. After all water is finite and we all need it.

Sobre la autor: Brenda Reyes Tomassini se unió a la EPA en el 2002. Labora como especialista de relaciones públicas en la oficina de EPA en San Juan, Puerto Rico donde también maneja asuntos comunitarios para la División de Protección Ambiental del Caribe.

Informes presentados recientemente por los medios de comunicación advierten con sentido de urgencia acerca de una potencial crisis por escasez de alimentos ligada a una escasez de agua debido a las demandas cada vez mayores de las economías en desarrollo. El consumo de agua en el mundo aumentó exponencialmente-entre 1900 y 1995-más del doble del crecimiento poblacional y sigue en aumento debido a la creciente demanda que tiene para usos industriales, comerciales y agrarios en las economías antes mencionadas como India y China. Todas las especies en el planeta necesitan agua para vivir y no podemos segmentar su uso. La agricultura, que consume el 70% del agua a nivel mundial, es también esencial para nuestras vidas.

Adicionalmente, el cambio climático ha traído exceso de lluvia en algunas regiones y sequías en otras, lo que ha afectado la agricultura y la cadena de alimentos. Aunque muchas personas conocen sobre el cambio climático, el uso ineficiente del agua en nuestras casas, industria y agricultura también ha impactado adversamente nuestros abastos de agua. Recientemente leí un artículo en la revista The Economist en el que se culpaba a los bio combustibles por las posibles carencias de agua en el mundo. Aunque ciertamente planteaba que un tercio de la población mundial sufrirá por escasez de agua en el 2025, este artículo no ofrecía soluciones reales al problema.

Dejando el cambio climático a un lado, tenemos que comprender que son nuestras actividades diarias las que afectan nuestros abastos de agua dulce. Este no es un problema distante o ajeno, más bien uno sobre el cual cada ciudadano es responsable. Por ejemplo, la erosión ocasionada por el mal uso de la tierra puede causar sedimentación, lo que a su vez reduce la capacidad acumulativa de nuestras reservas. Esto también arrastra contaminantes que afectan no sólo la calidad de nuestras aguas sino también nuestros ecosistemas. De acuerdo al Servicio de Conservación de los Recursos Naturales de los Estados Unidos  las escorrentías impactan, directa o indirectamente la calidad de nuestras aguas y su uso. Los contaminantes de las escorrentías urbanas también impactan adversamente nuestros ríos y lagos.

En mis seis años en la EPA he participado de muchas actividades de recogido de basura en playas, lagos y ríos. La gran cantidad de basura y sedimento que llegan de forma ilegal a nuestros cuerpos de agua no debe sorprender a nadie. Juguetes grandes, estufas, llanta, materiales de construcción e inclusive autos, por nombrar algunos, han sido sacados de nuestras reservas, quebradas y ríos. La educación es la solución para prevenir una escasez de agua en el futuro, real o potencial. Todos podemos hacer algo para proteger este valioso recurso. Después de todo el agua es limitada y todos la necesitamos para vivir.