By Lance Green

Did you know that the average American uses anywhere from 80 to 100 gallons of water each day? Or that if all U.S. households installed water-saving features, water use would decrease by 30 percent, saving an estimated 5.4 billion gallons per day? This would save American citizens 11.3 million dollars per day, or more than 4 billion dollars per year.

It’s not just about conserving water. In 2010 the Monona Water Utility paid $91,000 for over 600,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity to pump water to our homes, schools, and businesses. That’s enough energy to supply about 60 single-family households. Generating that energy sends over 500 tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, an amount that would take over 10,500 tree seedlings ten years of growth to absorb.

Mayor Bob Miller declared 2012 our city’s “Year of Water,” urging all citizens to rally around and take positive steps toward water management and use. A wide range of actions and educational efforts are planned by the city, community groups, and The Natural Step Monona (TNS Monona). Heather Gates, Executive Director of TNS Monona states, “The goal is to generate greater interest, more sharing of ideas, and more community action around improving water use and management in Monona.”

Monona’s year-long Water Conservation Challenge will be underway January 3, with 101 households competing to save water, energy, money, and maybe even win prizes, too.

But don’t feel left out. You don’t have to be in the Challenge to participate. This fall, University of Wisconsin students have been recruiting community groups to take on projects to conserve and better manage water. From sports teams to church groups, Girl Scouts to members of city committees, the students have been showing groups ways to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff, and then asking them to commit to a project. These could include water harvesting with rain barrels, landscape changes to prevent unnecessary storm water runoff, home water audits, conservation education, or other small or large endeavors.

We all have good reasons to conserve, but where to start? Here are some sensible tips from the folks at Madison Environmental Group, who run the EnAct programs that help folks take steps to greener living:

* Run full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher whenever possible to save water and energy. Use the low or medium settings if you have less than a full load.

* Replace that old toilet of yours! Many old toilets installed before 1992 are water guzzlers. Replacing them with high-efficiency toilets can decrease the water usage by 2 to 6.5 gallons per flush.

* Train your lawn to drink less. Almost half of household water usage goes to the lawn, but you can reduce that amount by only watering at night, encouraging deeper root growth by watering less, and leaving grass higher when mowing. You could even replace thirsty grass with drought-tolerant plants, and not have to water at all!

Throughout the Year of Water, we’ll use this column to provide updates on all these conservation and management efforts, and inform you about all aspects of the water we share: where it comes from, where it goes, and what the threats are to our lakes and drinking water. We’ll also share conservation tips, and tell you about public events where you can learn more about this vital resource.

The Year of Water kicks off with three big opportunities to learn much more:

January 10: Green Tuesdays – Let the Challenge Begin!

This event is all about helping you save big, both at your tap and on your water bill. Challenge participants and sponsors, community members, and conservation experts and leaders will share: techniques and new products that can help you save water, ideas and stories about conserving, and what conservation means for you and our community. 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monona Public Library, 1000 Nichols Road.

January 25: Energ!ze Monona – The Energy-Water Nexus

With water availability and quality being critical for community security and health, increasing the understanding of the little-known, yet dramatic connections between water and energy will help citizens and the city work together to address the conservation of both. Jeff Ripp, Water Conservation Coordinator of the Public Service Commission, and a Representative from Focus on Energy will present, followed by facilitated group discussion. 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monona Community Center, 1011 Nichols Road.

January 31: Green Tuesdays – Monona’s Water: Cleaner, Safer, Better.

Groups that have chosen to take on water conservation and management projects during the Year of Water will share their plans, ask questions of experts, and get more ideas and help from community members about how to implement their good deeds for Monona. Installing water bottle-filling water fountains or rain gardens, redesigning parking lots, stenciling storm drains…learn about these and more! 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monona Public Library, 1000 Nichols Road.

Find out more at http://www.tnsmonona.org/water/ and http://www.tnsmonona.org/year-of-water/

For more on the EnAct program, contact Madison Environmental Group at 204-2888 or visit www.madisonenvironmental.com.