Wally's Water Wisdom - Fall Into Water-wise Season

Hello friends! As the new school year continues and the weather slowly begins to change, we bid farewell to the summer season and welcome the new fall season! Come with me as we explore why fall is a great season for both nature and our water-wise friends. 

What marks the transition to fall?

Fall is usually the transition from hot summer days to welcoming cooler temperatures. During this transition, days may feel shorter, the leaves begin to change color, and the temperature begins to decrease. Fun fact: The Earth's axial tilt, along with its movement around the sun, is responsible for the change in seasons.

Fall weather typically starts off with warmer days and cooler nights during the month of September. During October, you may notice both cooler days and nights, as well as see leaves begin to change color. (More on that in a ‘wetlands talk’ social media video, so be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook! 😉) Once we reach November, we typically experience colder weather alongside possible early frost and rainfall in many parts of the world.

What happens in nature during the fall?

As days become shorter and colder, many plants change from their reproductive state to their dormant state. During this time, trees and shrubs stop producing chlorophyll and instead send a form of sugar to their roots which helps them prepare for winter. As temperature and daylight decrease, other pigments in the leaves are exposed, resulting in a change of color. Look out for this change in various other plants and flowers throughout the season!

Wally’s two favorite water-wise fall tips: 

Although water may not be used as frequently as it is during the summer, being water-wise is still just as important during the autumnal season! Let’s not forget that I am a water droplet at the end of the day. 😉 

• Monitor water usage when it comes to plant care. Instead of weekly watering, the cooler weather may allow you to transition to bi-weekly watering. You may also choose to pay close attention to hand water only dry areas instead of your entire yard!
• Tidy up surfaces with a broom instead of a hose. Throughout the season, leaves tend to fall off trees due to the reduction of auxin they receive. As a result, they may form large piles on your sidewalk or driveway throughout this time of year. While it may seem easy to clear your landscape with a hose, we recommend you sweep, not spray!

Keep in mind that there are many other ways to preserve water this fall, but it’s important to remember to always monitor your water habits year-round. 

Happy fall, friends! I be-leaf you can make a difference by being water-wise.

Wally’s Water Wisdom - Participate in World Water Week 2024

Its August, which means it is time to make the most out of the last bit of summer! For most people, that means swimming in your backyard or a day by the beach; however, for my friends at IEUA, they think about August a little differently. That’s because in August, IEUA is celebrating the end of summer and World Water Week! World Water Week is a week dedicated to water conservation and responsible water usage worldwide, both today and for future generations. So, while you may be spending the 

summer soaking up the sun or playing in the water, be sure to keep acting as those great environmental stewards that I know you are!

I even created a fun way to help you keep ‘water’ on your mind. Here are a few tips that can help you save water this month and in the future:

Water your yard in the morning. By watering your yard during the cooler hours of the day, the water is more likely to be absorbed fully into the soil. Cooler temperatures can help reduce the amount of water needed to fully sustain your yard. Since the temperature usually rises throughout the day, especially in California, precious water could be lost to evaporation! This tip could also prevent overwatering your yard.

Always be sure to turn off the faucet when it’s not in use. It can be very tempting to leave the faucet on out of convenience while brushing your teeth or washing your hands. However, it is important to save as much water as possible and turn off the faucet while it is not actively in use, whether that be while you are scrubbing your teeth or scrubbing the dishes.

Take shorter showers to reduce the amount of water being used every single day. Did you know that the average showerhead releases approximately 2.5 gallons of water every minute? That’s right! This equates to about 25 gallons of water in just 10 minutes! Limit showers to five minutes or fewer for an easy way to cut down on your daily usage.

Engage with your local water agencies to learn how you can help protect our most precious resource – water. If you are within IEUA’s service area, opportunities to engage with us include participating in our Water is Life Student Art Poster Contest (Stay tuned!), signing up for a field trip through our Water Discovery Program, or visiting us at various local community events.

Hint hint: IEUA will host an outreach table and fun activities at the Waterwise Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, October 5. Follow us on social media to learn more.

Reduce, reuse, recycle – Wally always reminds his pal Owlie to practice the three R’s to help prevent pollution into our waterways. Reduce – Try to reduce your production of trash and energy. For example, turn off the lights in any room that’s not currently in use. Reuse – One easy way to reuse an item is to ditch the plastic water bottle and consider using a reusable water bottle instead! Recycle - Check out the labeling of an item before discarding it into the trash. It may be recyclable or compostable!

I hope you take these techniques with you as you finish off the summer continuing to be water conscious!

Your friend,

Wally

 

  

Interested in having a FREE garden at your school?

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency will be hosting a MANDATORY Garden In Every School Workshop Saturday, February 28, 2015 for schools interested in participating in the 2015-2016 program. To be eligible, schools must be in IEUA's service area which include the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Upland, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, and Fontana, and have not participated in the program in the past.

IEUA's 2015 "Water is Life" poster contest

IEUA is sponsoring the 2015 “Water is Life” poster contest.  

Deadlines to receive all “Water is Life” student entries will be Thursday, February 26, 2015 by 5 p.m.   

School is back in session and it’s time to start planning the year ahead!

Teachers, check out our educational brochure for amazing programs related to water quality, conservation and the local ecosystem.  IEUA provides environmental education field trips, workshops for teachers, poster contests for students, materials to schools, and did we mention it’s FREE!  Don’t miss out on these amazing programs for all age levels!  Don’t forget to share with your teacher friends and your child’s school too! 

For other great resources and program information visit http://www.ieua.org/education/education.html or contact Andrea Carruthers at 909.993.1935 or by email at acarruthers@ieua.org to request a brochure be sent to you.