The Orion Online

Issue date: 5/21/08 Section: Features

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With the temperature already reaching triple digits, many students sticking around for a dose of Chico's summer heat will spend their summers plastered to the couch with pools of sweat collecting in every skin crease and fold.

But thanks to California's complex system of water diversion, all we have to do is turn on the tap and behold - fresh water flows freely to quench our thirsts and fill our pools.

If you've been watching TV lately, perhaps you've caught sight of the ads urging us to conserve water to prevent a shortage.

The messages are reminiscent of those I grew up with in the '90s: Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, keep shower time to a minimum and only run the dishwasher when it's full.

"The 1987-1993 drought served as wakeup call to many," according to the Water Education Foundation Web site.

However, the wakeup call has faded into a distant hum and for many of us imagining a world without water is far-fetched and light-years away.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but while water shortages may not be making headlines now, the truth is our water habits need a revamp pronto or we'll be resorting to water restrictions, collecting rain to water our lawns, desalination and - gasp! - the privatization of water.

For those of you who think the latter alternatives don't sound too bad, lemme tell ya, I lived a year in Australia struggling to abide by the four-minute shower rule. I watched bone-thin cows grazing in barren pastures on TV - not pretty.

I'm not trying to be a total downer or preach unreachable standards of sustainability, but if we all want to continue to enjoy the sight of green lawns, low food costs and having splash attacks in the pool, we better shape up.

So this summer when downing a cool glass of free agua, just remember, practice restraint when using this precious resource.

And if you're like my friend who's had a broken faucet all semester - maybe give maintenance a call? It seems unlimited now, but one day it may not be.

Nicole can be reached at
featureseditor@theorion.com


Related links
Water Education Foundation
Global issues

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