In this time of environmental controversy with debate over carbon taxes and alternative energy, one thing most people can agree on is the need to conserve water. We can debate how best to allocate water but, especially in places like the American west, South Australia and Victoria, the need to conserve water is readily apparent.

So in announcing a new AASHE member’s only resource, Campus Water Conservation Efforts, perhaps it’s unnecessary to lecture anyone. This blog doesn’t need to be an apology for water conservation or an echo of your mother telling you to turn the water off when brushing your teeth. Instead, let me challenge you with a story.

I had a friend in college who was perhaps the worst water waster I have yet to meet. In addition to all the standard water sins (leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth, only drinking bottled water, doing a full load of laundry with only one or two shirts, etc.) he had a penchant for the extravagant. For example, on a weekly basis he would turn our communal bathroom into a sauna by closing the door and turning all four showers on as hot as they would go for a good half hour. But the most extreme illustration of his aqua abuse was the time he turned our dormitory into a slip and slide. Yes, you read that correctly. He plugged all the bathroom drains and actually flooded the second floor hallway of our dorm. Aside from the school administration and the students whose carpets got wet, this stunt went over as a great success and became a legend of my time at college.

The true problem that schools and businesses face is not how to conserve water operationally but rather how to getthatguy to take water conservation seriously. After installing low-flow faucets and xeriscaping on your campus, then what? Education, student/employee involvement, making the problem known and making the solutions interactive and ingrained; these are the ways forward for water conservation.

Here is where programs such as eco-reps and peer to peer education can be most effective. These programs can promote responsible living in a way that relates to students and can effect true lifestyle changes. Perhaps with an effective eco-reps program,thatguy would have been a bit more conscientious about his water use.  Have a look at AASHE's Student Sustainability Educators Program resource for information on the good work students are doing in this area.   

There are no quick and easy solutions but we hope that our new Water Conservation resource will be a place to find ideas and a way to start the creative process that will change our culture of waste. Have a look at what schools are doing, especially on the education side. A great place to start is with Stanford’s Water Sustainability, Efficiency and Conservation page.

Good luck with your efforts!

-Justin Mullikin
AASHE Intern

As always, please feel free to provide additions, updates and suggestions for improving this new resource by emailing resources@aashe.org or commenting below.