TO THE EDITOR:
Water conservation is worth more than just a lowered water bill. According to the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council, 58 North Carolina counties, including Orange County, are currently under abnormally dry conditions. Overuse of water, especially during dry periods, can deplete groundwater resources and lead to further shortages.
But all is not lost for our water. There is a simple way to both reduce water consumption and to decrease runoff, which can carry pollutants into the water supply: Use a rain barrel.
Rain barrels provide a dual function, trapping water that would otherwise become runoff and using this water to irrigate plants. The water returns to the groundwater supply, helping replenish this resource. Barrels can be made easily from old trash cans or other bins.
If you don’t want to do it alone in your garage, there will be a make-your-own rain barrel workshop at Hope Gardens at 2200 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon.
We encourage participants to bring their own old trash cans or recycling bins, but we will provide a few for those who do not have any old bins.
Even if you choose not to use a rain barrel, other measures, such as low-flow shower heads and front-loading washing machines, can diminish water use. Installing low-flush toilets can save between one and three gallons of water per flush.
