Wally's Water Wisdom - IEUA's FREE Education Programs

Hi friends! Did you know International Day of Education is January 24? If you’re a longtime reader of me and my friend Owlie’s blogs, you probably know all about IEUA’s free education programs. But, if you’re a new reader or interested in learning more, allow me to recap!

IEUA offers free education programs to students in grades K-12. These programs include Water Discovery field trips* to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, “Water is Life” poster contest, Owlie’s Virtual Adventures, Solar Cup™, National Theatre for Children, and more! Each of these programs include lessons on water use efficiency methods, origination and sustainability of water resources, and water-saving techniques.
*Due to the current pandemic, in-person Water Discovery tours are not offered at this time.

 If you’re a teacher, you may be thinking, “Wally, I’m not sure if I’ll have time to take advantage of all of these wonderful resources.” Well, you’re in luck! Through our newest award-winning program, Owlie’s Virtual Adventures, you can schedule a virtual field trip with one of our staff members who will do the teaching for you in just an hour and a half!

For more information of each of our programs, check out the video below or head to ieua.org/learn-about-water/.

Happy learning, everyone! I’ll see you all soon with my next drop of water wisdom! In the meantime, maybe you can catch up on some water wisdom too. 😉

Your friend,

Wally

Wally’s Water Wisdom- Five Water-Wise Holiday Reminders

Hi friends! Now that we are officially past spooky season and entering the holiday season, I wanted to share a few water-wise reminders to prepare you for your upcoming get-togethers. By following these tips, we can make sure our drains and sewer systems can enjoy the holidays too!

1. Thaw frozen foods in the fridge overnight instead of under running water.
2. Collect the water used to rinse any fruits or vegetables in a bowl instead of pouring it down the drain. Use it to water a plant or find a patch of grass that could use some TLC!
3. 
   Scrape leftover food scraps into the trash can instead of rinsing them off your plate with water. This ensures that greasy food won’t enter the drains and clog our sewer systems. For even more savings, consider turning the leftover scraps into compost for your garden!
4. Save the cleanup for your dishwasher! Make sure to wait to run your dishwasher until it is completely full.
5. Collect and cool any fats, oils and greases (FOG) before disposing of them in the trash can. Remember: No FOG down the drain!

That’s all I have for today friends! Remember to be sewer safe and water-wise this holiday season. I’ll see you all soon with my next drop of water wisdom!

Your friend,

Wally

Wally's Water Wisdom - Imagine A Day Without Water

Hi friends! Ahh, don’t you just love a refreshing glass of water after a workout, or a nice, cold sip of water to refresh you throughout the day? Me too! What about water to wash your hands or shower with after a long day of playing outside? What would a world be like without any water to get us through these long days?

Imagine a day without water… what impacts would that have on our bodies? Our health? Agriculture? Our ecosystems? Well, that’s exactly what Imagine a Day Without Water is for! On October 21, Imagine a Day Without Water encourages us to learn more about where our water comes from, where our water goes, the impact drinking water and wastewater providers have within our communities, and the overall value of water. 

Water is a finite resource, meaning it may not always be readily accessible. In fact, approximately 97 percent of the earth’s water is in the oceans and only 3 percent of earth’s water is freshwater. However, almost all of the earth’s freshwater is trapped in ice caps, making only 1 percent accessible to us. Making sure we are using the most of that 1 percent is essential, especially with our current season of drought.

Luckily, saving water is as easy as turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, using a broom instead of a hose to clean your sidewalk and driveway, or giving your pet a bath outside on a patch of grass that could use some water.

Well, that’s all I have for today friends! I’ll see you all soon with my next drop of water wisdom.

Your friend,

Wally

Wally’s Water Wisdom – IEUA’s Water Quality Laboratory

Hi friends! Wally here to share some information on IEUA’s state-of-the-art Water Quality Laboratory! In fact, last month, our lab and a few of its staff members were recognized as part of National Water Quality Month, so why not keep the recognition going!

Before we get into the lab, you may be wondering what National Water Quality Month is. Great question! In 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the support of the United Nations founded Water Quality Month to raise awareness of water-use efficiency and the importance of clean water on individual health, collective agricultural needs and the needs of the environment. Especially with California’s current season of drought, there’s never been a better time to practice water-use efficiency in our homes and communities, and celebrate our lab staff for all they do to enhance and preserve water quality!

Our lab’s main functions are to manage water quality testing, enhance performance and improve the process of sample analysis. Construction of the lab began in 2016 and you can find it located right next to Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 5. In total, the lab collects approximately 18,000 samples and performs 64,000 various tests each year. This includes gas chromatography, metals analysis, bioassays, and more! All of this just means that our lab plays a large role in ensuring clean water is distributed throughout our region or discharged into nearby bodies of water.

While our lab is crucial to providing high-quality water, don’t forget that you too can contribute to a clean water supply by simply picking up after your pets, throwing away your trash and using reusable bags and straws instead of plastic ones.

That’s all I have for today friends! I’ll see you all soon with my next drop of water wisdom!

Your friend,

Wally

Wally's Water Wisdom - The Importance of Smart Irrigation

Hi friends! Did you know July is Smart Irrigation Month? Smart Irrigation Month was founded by the Irrigation Association® in 2005 and advocates for water-use efficiency through effective irrigation practices.

Smart irrigation practices include adjusting sprinkler nozzles so that they hit the desired area, upgrading your irrigation controller to a weather-based controller, repairing leaks, planting California natives, using mulch instead of grass, and even grouping your plants by similar watering needs (also known as hydrozoning).

Smart irrigation is not only easy, it’s extremely important! Why? Water is a very precious, limited resource. Especially during California’s current season of drought, saving water wherever and whenever we can is essential. However, smart irrigation techniques will benefit your garden as well! Did you know most plants tend to die due to overwatering, not underwatering? With these techniques in place, you’ll ensure your garden and lawn are healthy and thriving.

That’s all I have for today friends. Keep up the great, water-saving work and I’ll see you again soon with my next drop of water wisdom!

Your friend,

Wally

Wally’s Water Wisdom – St. Joseph School Garden Dedication

Hi friends! You know I always have exciting news to share, and today I’d like to give a shout out to my friends at St. Joseph School in Upland! On March 15, their school held a Dedication Ceremony for their very first water-wise garden sponsored by the Garden in Every School® Program! 

The Garden in Every School® Program educates students about water-wise usage through a beautifully landscaped garden filled with water-wise plants and efficient irrigation! Since the program’s inception in 2004, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency has reached over 19,000 students through this award-winning program! 

St. Joseph was one of three schools awarded with a program grant for the 2020/21 school year. Funding for the grant was provided by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and its member agencies, including the city of Upland. Over the past six months, parents, teachers, students, and program staff worked hard to create a beautiful garden. Check out some of their garden photos below for some water-wise inspo! I couldn’t be-LEAF how great it turned out! 

To learn more about the Garden in Every School® Program and how to apply, visit IEUA’s website! 

That’s all I have for today, friends! I’ll see you all soon with my next drop of water wisdom! 

Your friend,

Wally

Wally's Water Wisdom - Summer Gardening Tips

Hi friends! Wally here with some tips and tricks to help your garden thrive in the upcoming summer heat! Though summer does not technically begin until June 20^th this year, California’s warm climate persists year-round, so it doesn’t hurt to get a head start!

First, clear out your garden of any dead plants to make room for new ones! California natives such as poppies, lavender and sage are some of my personal favorites.

Next, use compost to revive your soil. Compost can be easily made at home using items such as leaves, grass clippings, fruit/vegetable scraps, dried twigs, and shredded newspaper. After letting your compost sit for 3-6 days, it’s ready to use! Spread a layer of compost over your soil and mix it in. Your plants will thank you!  

Once you’ve planted the flowers of your choosing, make sure to refer to your city’s local watering schedule to keep them healthy. Remember: the best times to water your lawn are in the morning before the sun rises or at night after the sun sets! Especially during these historically dry times, using water wisely is always imperative.

I’d love to see your water-wise garden, so feel free to send my friends at IEUA some pictures to their social media channels @IEUAWater!

That’s all I have for today friends! I’ll see you all soon with my next drop of water wisdom!

Your friend,

Wally