Final Essay

                        Finding a Sustainable Way to Conserve Water

            Finding a sustainable yet affordable way to conserve our water during this drought has been tough, with many failures and driven with lack of hope. Water is key to our way of life and for over a hundred years we single handedly have destroyed our natural resources for water because of mass development where water used to be, over pumping our aquifers, contaminating many of our rivers around the world and lastly, not taking our part in conserving it ourselves. My inquiry question is how can California find a sustainable way to preserve our water source with different solutions? Those solutions involve help from corporation involvement, in communities and in your home. If we are not able to find a sustainable route to conserve our water now, future generations will suffer tremendously and our human existence might be destroy faster than we thought.

            There have been many inventions, actions that are currently being tested, used or dismissed for common household use. Some actions that are currently illegal for citizens to do but it are very beneficial are the catching and reusing rainwater. In California if caught doing this in your home, you will be fined for breaking a law. On average a family of four “in the United States uses 400 gallons of water a day.”(American Rivers)  In fact Southern California is struggling to sustain the amount of clean and useable water to their residents. Not only are we a state struggling to find a sustainable route for water, other cities such as Flint, Michigan is currently in finding clean water to provide for their citizens. The Flint water crisis has contaminated thousands of homes with water “elevated lead levels in 40 percent of homes”(Vox), which has life long health issues and developmental complications for mainly children. Southern California does not receive much rain during fall or winter, but when it does, cities allow precious water to flow down the streets, into drains and lastly into the ocean. If made legal to catch and harvest rainwater, communities can provide clean water to families and stop depleting other lakes, aquifers and surface water. Simple changes like that can improve our drought and hopefully one day we can be completely dependent on ourselves. With that being said, companies and households can take their part in finding a sustainable way to conserve water.

Fortunately more actions can be practiced and easy used by, companies and households today to promote and achieve a sustainable route to conserve water. These simple changes such as using water quantity monitors, using water effective appliances, not watering our plants daily and excessively can help perverse more water. Along with doing simple improvements inside your house, you also can to the outside, such as changing your pipes to an efficient piping system. Efficient piping systems are insulated in and around along with being leak proof which limits your household water waste. With that being said, households can also take part in creating drought friendly yards and gardens. Putting grass in our yards requires gallons of water and kills off our natural plants in that area. Creating a drought friendly yard can bring more life; use incredibly less water and bring more wildlife, depending on where you live. Companies can also take their part in conserving the amount of water they use in their building such as, making sure there are no leaky faucets, changing the toilets to an ultra low volume (ULV) or other low water toilets are simple yet effective way on saving water. These positive changes can help be a fun, affordable, and helpful solution in finding a sustainable solution to our water crisis. I have personally tried to help with the amount of water I use daily. I personally drink a lot of water daily and try not to waste any unless it is needed. I also have changed the way I wash dishes, such as turning off the water when I am not using it, taking faster and shorter showers and lastly turning off the water faucet when brushing my teeth, washing my hands, etc. These simple changes have reminded me that all water is precious and by doing my part during this drought, I can help impact others to join me.

            Simple changes can make a huge impact on the environment, the California drought and in our own homes. Changing the law to allow the catching and harvesting of rainwater allows simple yet an affordable way for communities to connect with their citizens and neighboring communities. By adding simple water quantity monitors and using the least amount of water possible in our daily habits can easily help decrease our drought a little. Communities and individuals in their daily lives should consider finding sustainably ways to help our water shortage and ultimately find a solution to our problem. Being involved just in your home will help, teaching others and expanding ideas with one another can help generations to come.

Finding a sustainable yet affordable way to conserve and find alternative routes to collect fresh water has been difficult. My inquiry question that I hope to answer is how can California find a sustainable way to preserve our water source with different solutions? Different inventions have been brought up, currently being tried, used or discarded because it costs too much money. Prior to researching new alternative inventions or ideas, I knew very little on ways to create or harvest water besides the catching of rainwater. That intrigued me to learn more on this fast growing problem that citizens throughout California and other states have to worry about. Evidently, one invention that has been created and now being put to use is the harvesting of fog. When I first saw their ad to promote this new idea to harvest fog, I was confused, but then realized how efficient this was. With further research I found an article written by the company that created the “Optimal Design of Permeable Fiber Network Structure for Fog Water” (Langmuir). The question that constantly came to mind was whether or not other processes would have to be use to remove salt, filter and whether or not the water can be used for human and/or agriculture purposes? In the short video they stated that the water collected and harvested can be used for agriculture and human use because “fog has naturally desalinated by the sun” (Hashem Al- Ghaili Video). By watching that short film

and reading an article page on the harvesting of fog, it has opened more opportunities to decrease the drought.

            During the beginning of the little clip, it starts with showing the mesh surface that catches the fog and has words explaining what the mesh is. The mesh is made up of “combined hydrodynamic and surface wettability model to predict the overall fog-collection efficiency of the meshes” (Langmuir), condenses fog into water to allow the process of catching fog to begin. The mesh is put up high in the sky that is connected to pipes that catch the water that was first fog. The water then flows through the pipes that are then stored in big bins for human and agriculture use. What caught my attention was the little music that was put in the background. It made me want to know more kept a happy, light tone to this new invention of harvesting fog. At first, I never knew it was possible to collect and harvest fog, but after this short clip and short but informative article, I found out that this invention has been happening for a few years. The video also stated that this system is “placed on hilltops in areas with persistent fog and heavy winds” (Hashem Al- Ghaili Video). That brings a question to mind whether the Bay Area would be considered a place where they can put these woven meshes near beaches that are constantly covered with fog and wind. I also liked the fact that they demonstrated how the mesh collected water, where it drained to and what the water can be used for, human and agricultural use. With agricultural and animal water usage not limited at all, most of our water is wasted during their process. This will help them stop depleting our water that is used for human consumption and decrease our drought. By being able to process water that is already naturally de salted by the sun, this will save money tremendously and provide clean, fresh, harvested water faster. A couple statistics were also shown in the short clip, one of them says that the mesh woven a certain way to increase “the fog-collecting efficiency by 500%” (Hashem Al- Ghaili Video). That means with the increase of fog- collecting, there would be an increase of water that is produced and distributed for human and agriculture use alone. By watching this short video on the harvesting of fog, it is inspiring and extremely informative to viewers. This could potentially change the way of life and could be a sustainable and inexpensive route to provide water for millions.

With all of this information, I was beginning to become curious on how big this mesh and how much the cylinders could hold. The video stated that one single cylinder that is “4 m (13ft) long by 10 m (33ft) high net alone can collect 250 L (66 gal) a day” (Langmuir). That is enough water for a family to use in their household daily, including drinkable, washing dishes and showering. With that amount of water caught daily, large amounts of families and business could be supplied with fresh water. We would lessen the amount of water pulled from rivers in different states or countries. Also, our aqueducts would stop being overly depleted then they can naturally be filled up again with water by rainfall. Wild life can begin to migrate to their original homes with huge amounts of water, plants and game to eat. The video also shows huge towers that can be built high in the air to increase the amount of fog to be caught and harvested. They call it the “fog- harvesting towers” (Hashem Al- Ghaili Video), which are also built out of mesh and other building supplies that are needed to ensure the towers are sturdy and reliable. The video demonstrates how they build one of the towers, not as high as the ones they want to consider building. They are light, durable and easily assembled with a handful of workers. Once the small tower is built, they are quickly attached to there systems and begin the process of harvesting fog. This invention has opened many doors to help find a reliable, affordable, and sustainable route to preserve our water along with a way to create more water for citizens. At the end of the short video, it states that countries have actually been practicing and using fog harvesting to provide clean water to people. Those countries that are listed are “Yemen, Morocco, Chile, Eritrea, and Ethiopia” (Hashem Al- Ghaili Video). Those counties that are currently practicing and using fog- harvesting water have been able to supply thousands of people with water and they could potentially spread this idea to other countries, such as the United States. If the United States decided to start harvesting fog, we would have more water to use and save in case of another drought. Places that we could put these towers are the Bay Area, Washington, and Oregon, just to name a few. Each individual state could have their own network for providing water to their residents, allowing them to decrease and ultimately stop draining lakes, rivers and other countries water supply. Towards the end of the video an image of a little girl is brought up. She is drinking water that was harvested from fog and that brings out a few emotions, both sad and excitement. You do not understand how much clean water is not assessable for millions of people in different countries because of how fortunate we are to always have access. With that being said, we take advantage of always having access to clean, fresh water while millions have unsafe drinking water. You also have a happy feeling knowing that drinking clean water saves one life and hopefully thousands of other children, teen, and young adults will be changed forever. Another image that I showed while watching the little girl and others drink fog-harvested water. That brought an emotion of hope and excitement to me because she is able to drink clean, fresh water and I hope that this idea can spread to other counties, such as the United States. I also felt hope in a sense that if the United States decided to find different alternative yet sustainable routes to find more ways to create water, we could potentially help man kind in the long run. Looking at it in the big picture, water would be accessible for all across not only the United States, but across the world to those who do not have access to clean water. A huge problem that billions of people face daily would be resolved and the death of thousands that do not have food or water would decrease tremendously. One of our biggest problems in the United States and around the world could be solved easily.

            To conclude, watching this short video has helped show different but also sustainable route countries, including the United States can help fix our drought. Inevitably, the California drought will continue to grow because and we will continue to deplete our natural resources if we do not find different alternatives to produce collect and/or harvest water for human and agriculture use. I include agriculture use because that is where most of our water goes to because there is no limitations or regulations for companies to abide by. Not only can states be involved with this process of harvesting fog, but so can communities and individuals. Some communities and houses are naturally covered in fog, which makes it easy for them to begin the process of harvesting of fog. They can buy or make their own mesh and system that catches fog then runs off into their own cylinders, which they can use for their household. It may sound easier said than done, but I believe that if states and communities come together, we can make this happen. We can become efficient and rely on ourselves to find ways to catch and harvest our water. In the end, some states do not have consistent heavy fog and high winds, which is needed to begin the process of harvesting fog. One question that I thought of is how is it possible to catch fog-harvested water for states such as the Mid-West of the United States to receive fog-harvested water? The solution could potentially transport water from states that are constantly covered in fog and high winds. Another solution could be to harvest rainwater as well. I hope to find an answer to find a way to end our California drought with different sustainable alternatives that are inexpensive. In the future, I hope that each state finds a solution to produce their own water for their population and stop draining our natural resources.

The population around the world continues to grow; there is also a higher demand for food, water and other necessities of life. The growth of the California drought has continued to climb without a sense of relief any time soon. As individuals we can do our part into trying to lessen the amount of wasted water but as a whole, we can come up with a plan, which is exactly what Innovative Sustainable Drought Management Strategy Incorporating Forensic Techniques and Policy Framework written by Ashok K. Katyal1 and Ioana G. Petrisor has come up with. With all the solutions that are brought to our attention, individual communities can use a different solution that is beneficial for them. In Southern California, my hometown, Monrovia has been starting to conserve water by replaying their message constantly through ads or through the police department enforcing the laws to citizens that they need to do their part conserving water in their households. Whether it is turning off the water when showering, brushing their teeth, washing dishes to not water their grass or plants everyday. We have let our grass die because it is taking way too much water and around the area, people have changed their yards that are able to survive with the drought. My inquiry question that I hope to answer is how can California find a sustainable way to preserve our water sources with different solutions such as corporation involvement, communities, and in our own homes. The goal and hope is to find a different solution for different cities and states that will allow them to conserve their water. Finding a sustainable but also reliable way can help save millions of gallons of water.

            To begin with, this article is about creating by Ashok K. Katyal1 and Ioana G. Petrisor  “Sustainable Drought Management Strategy”. The goal is to “create public awareness about the causes and impacts and the vulnerability and mitigation strategies (such as water conservation and use restrictions—voluntary or mandatory)” (127). With individuals that have no prior knowledge of management strategy during a drought, this can simply notify what will be taking place in their city. Programs that are free to the community should be set up that “lead and coordinate development of a national drought management plan (DMP), ensure ample drought preparedness, and ensure early warnings are issued to the public before the onset and when drought ends” (126). These programs that are provided to communities can be online or taken at the community center, either way individuals are aware of signs and know what to look for incase of a drought. Starting a nation wide program that can educate and work with drought-affected communities can help find a way to conserve the water that we have now and try to find a sustainable route to create more water. During the drought:

“DTF ensures proper coordination among its committees/groups responsible for monitoring, risk as-assessment and relief response operations, mitigation, and DTF communicates with the political leaders on the status and performance of the mitigation operations. It is important that the roles and responsibilities of government representatives in DTF are clearly defined, and coordinated (Wilhite, 1991b; Fontane and Frevert, 1995)” (126). 

These committees are created throughout your city with designated jobs that each individual is willing to take charge or and work professionally with one another Uncertainties can consist of natural disasters, such as tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes, which cannot be stopped but we can do everything in our power to ensure that we have water, which is an essential for mankind. With that being said, I can explain how this management system works and strategies to be considered along with other communities beginning with the DTF. The DTF draws “its members from government agencies, academia, environmental and civic bodies/NGOs [that are] appointed by the leader of the nation/state with responsibilities for a few topics…” (5). The individuals that are appointed for a government position should be someone with experience with communities that have been or currently in a drought stricken area.  From the DTF, it leads to the DTM, who come up with strategies that “identify sections of the population and sectors of economy at risk and to develop mitigate strategies that enhance resilience and reduce their vulnerability” (5). With the government being in control of the DTF there will be reliable and responsible people. Government officials are more likely to be listened too and understand how too runs a government drought management plans.

            In addition to the how the DTF would run, there are a few strategies of the DTM that should be taken into consideration are: “…develop region-specific water conservation and water user strategies to improve efficiencies; Establish criteria/triggers to declare drought, to authorize various mitigation initiatives, and to develop an early warning” (5) just to state a few. These strategies can help manage the diverse population when they are make huge decisions. The “DTF should identify groups/stakeholders likely to be affected by drought, and they should be duly consulted—however, DTF committees should decide the level of participation so that it is economical and does not unduly slow the process” (5). These committees are created to help ensure everyone has equal work along with ensuring that they are making the right decision at the time. Those committee members are members that are currently living in an area-experiencing drought and understand what it is like to have to cut back but now they are willing to make choices that affects a whole community. The next committee is a monitoring committee. They:

“Should regularly share its assessment of the current status and future predictions of various drought indicators (such as the status of surface and groundwater, reservoir storage, snowpack, temperature, soil moisture, crop/livestock, and domestic water needs) with stakeholders through easily accessible media (such as television, radio, newspaper, extension bulletins)”(6).

This committee is in charge of making education predictions that could be the possible future outcomes of the drought or other natural disasters. Lastly, it is the Risk Assessment committee (RAC) which is “responsible for recommending mitigation strategies to the DTF that are cost effective, efficient, and water conserving, as well as technically feasible, socially and culturally equitable, and amenable” (6). RAC ensure that everyone is not going over their designated budget and making sure they are practicing drought mitigation. Drought mitigation is the practice of the population making a few adjustments and adaptations to allow civilization to flourish during difficult times. These few committees each control a certain part of the drought management system and they all are huge, but important contributions.

            In this drought management plan, there was no information or tips that big corporate industries could change their pattern for the future. This article called, Water Reuse and Sustainability Attract Industries, where big breweries such as Anheuser-Busch InBev, Miller- Coors, and Cape Code Beer have changed the way they process their beer and currently using recycled materials and water. An EPA report in 2012 stated “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications. Many industries and commercial and institutional establishments have sought these certifications and have used reclaimed water to enhance their green profile” (Water reuse and Sustainability Attract Industries, 1). These few breweries along with snack food companies, mining industries and power plants, just to name a few have been conserving and reusing water to promote a better environment and saving money. Incorporations are changing the way they work because of the entire backlash they receive when their process of creating their products and with the public knowing their changes, they revenue can increase tremendously. In Escondido, California, they treat “all of their brewing wastewater with an aerobic digestion and then uses the purified water for cleaning” (Water reuse and Sustainability Attract Industries, 2).

            Cape Cod Beer located in Hyannis, M.A, which practices and utilizes the reusing of water and donating the leftover grain to farmers to feed or use as composition. By them reusing water, they save thousands of gallons and save money in the long run. The Lauganitas Brewing Co. founded and invented the Cambrian Innovation also known as the EcoVolt that was put on the market in 2013. This bioelectrically enhanced treatment for wastewater that Lauganitas Company has been using ever since it was invented. In the making of beer, most people do not know how much water and wheat is used and wasted. With the companies taking responsibility, they can reuse water to clean out their operation systems, give away wheat to farmers so it does not go to waste and lastly they can keep their water usage to a minimum. Their practice in ways to conserve water, they can also help promote water conservation on their labels, website and when their product is being sold in public areas.  

            In conclusion, these committees may seem small and not important, but in fact they can be extremely important and can work together to make this drought management plan work. Each committee has it’s own job, which is extremely important and balance each other. I see it more of a checks in balance but communities can take part in helping their hometown out. The DTF being controlled by government officials makes it easier for they’re to be order throughout the whole system. Community committees that are ensuring that there are specific protocols that fit for them can run the other two committees. Each community may have different issues that need to be followed while others don’t. It all depends on their ecosystem and current drought status as well. These committees are made to highlight the struggles and issues that are currently happening as well as future ones that may happen. With this drought management plan, it can help make sure that we are not going to have another drought as well as trying to figure out a plan that starts to fix our drought. Along with a drought management plan, conserving water in huge companies such as brewing companies, they can help conserve water and also promote their change to millions. Together, they can change the way companies use, recycle and give away products for different usage can save billions of gallons of water and continue to help promote the conservation of water. By keeping my inquiry question in mind, a nation wide program can help regulate the drought management plans, as a community everyone can take part and work together to find the best plan that works for them, and lastly, an individual can do their part in saving water any way possible.

Finding a sustainable, yet affordable way to conserve water in households may seem to be extremely difficult and time-consuming, but it is not. Just like in life, we find things that we enjoy and willing to put time and effort towards; this could become a way to involve your family and become aware the growing drought in California. My inquiry question that I hope to answer is how can California find a sustainable way to preserve our water sources with different solutions such as corporation involvement, communities, and in our own homes. I know that with this interview, it will be a huge step in the right direction with the hope of fulfilling my inquiry question. Prior to this interview, I conducted my own research and knew different alternatives that could be helpful for families and individuals that could conserve water in their homes. With the help of my close friend, Jenson Talmo, I was able to find out more information on finding a sustainable way to conserve water at his home in Sierra Madre, California. A brief back story of Jenson, Him and his wife have been practicing conserving water for the past four years and continue to spread their knowledge and passion with friends, families and strangers around their community and surrounding cities. This became a passion to Jenson from the help of his mother and close friend Leigh Adams. Jenson and his mother both landscape houses using drought friendly plants and constantly remind individuals and clients that they need to be careful with how much water they use on their plants, convince individuals to take out grass because it takes up so much water and lastly give tips and advice on common ways to conserve water in households. In the end, he wants to spread his knowledge and love for conserving water with hopes of making the world a cleaner place.

             In the home of Jenson Talmo, him and his wife live in a back house of one of the homes in Sierra Madre. He takes care of the owner's back yard along with many clients in surrounding cities. The first question that I asked Jenson was how long has he been practicing conserving water in his household. His response was "I have been actively conserving water for about the past 4 years [not counting the years that he wasn't aware of him conservation practice]." His practice has helped keep the amount of wasted water to a bare minimum. His practices include saving "water in the sink that can be used for watering plants outside. We use a bucket in the shower to collect water until it gets warm. We then use that water to flush the toilet, which we try to only flush when needed." Jenson demonstrated this process by putting a large bucket under the showerhead and once it was warm enough, he grabbed the bucket, poured the water in the toilet instead of flushing and turned off the shower. Both him and his wife try to take the fastest shower possible, including turning off the water when you wash your hair and body. He also told me that on average, "just one flush is two gallons of water" now multiple it by everyone in this country, which amounts to an incredibly large number of water used just for toilets alone. I now understand why they only flush the toilet when needed and it is an easy step to practice in households. I would definitely consider doing this in my future house because it is an easy way to conserve water but also it saves money on your monthly water bill. After the demonstration, he led me outside to show me their system outside to conserve water, which leads to my next question. I asked him what does he do to conserve water outside of his household and I was truly amazed by such small space he had, he was able to control where water flowed, where he collected it, how he re-used it and even used water to feed his chickens. Jenson started by

"Simply using any containers I could find to collect rain runoff; buckets, trash barrels, tubs, watering cans, etc. I also use the roof gutters and rather than going out to the street, I direct the rainwater throughout the yard using trenches, rocks, and thick layers of mulch. The mulch and rocks help to absorb and slow the rain runoff and allow the water to soak into the ground better. Under the mulch is a diverse habitat of beneficial microbes, insects, and fungi that help the surrounding vegetation and retain moisture."

He showed me how he aligned his garden in a way that allows his garden to collect as much water from rain as possible. The gutters collect water that runs off from the roof, flowing down the roof gutters and down to the plants. The trail for water is like a river; it is filled with rocks and mulch that helps water soak into the ground easier. This can be simply made by anyone willing to take time and some effort to complete this process, which in the long run will help limit the amount of water you waste and use the water that mother nature provides.

 I then proceeded to ask him what was his first invention to conserve water. His first invention that he made was the "simplest laundry-to-landscape system" which in fact was easier than he thought it would be. He simply ran a "thick flexible tube from the washing machine out into the yard." The tube ran to "a row of bamboo [on the side of the house] that cools and provides privacy to one side of the house" which was easily hidden from plain sight by covering it with dirt and other plants. His invention was quite incredible and he was able to use the water from the washer. It usually is lead out through this tube and to a drain that eventually leads to the ocean. He never believed that his first invention that was so simple yet efficient would lead him to his current ways to conserve water. Lastly, I mentioned the research article that I analyzed for essay 3, which is a drought management plan that could potentially be used to in the future. The government would control a drought management plan but communities would make their own plan that is suitable for their environment. I asked his opinion on a drought management plan in Sierra Madre and his answer was simple but straight to the point. He begins with stating that as a community we should "actively educate everyone of what a drought is, and ways to easily do in our homes that in the long run will save a lot [as long as everyone is involved]". He and I both agreed that everyone should be involved because without everyone's cooperation, there will be a huge hole in this drought management plan. By actively educating communities on what a drought is, what to look for and how to take your part in stopping the drought in any ways possible, it makes people conscious of situations and know what to do when a problem is in front of them. He continues to explain that there should be a change in water allowance for cities to follow and he extremely emphasizes individuals grow their own garden. I was curious on why he would want communities to grow their own gardens and he explained to me that government hides the fact that agriculture and animals have no restriction of water while almost everything else has a restriction. They are one of the biggest reasons we are suffering in our drought because they do not have any restrictions or regulations on the amount of water that they use. By growing our own garden, we can control the amount of water we use, stop buying food from them, which also creates a decrease in the amount of agriculture, and animals that they produce and decrease a huge amount of water being wasted. With our short, yet a huge eye opener to conserving water in Jenson's view, I believe that I may have found the answer I have been looking all semester long.

 As I was driving home after my interview with Jenson, I could not help but think how we got in this position of being in the worst drought our country has faced. As human beings, we tend to find ways to blame others for our problems, find loopholes but never looking at the future and what may become of this so- called easy way out. We have put ourselves in this massive problem and continue to push it aside believing with the power of our government and billions of dollars spent, we would be out of this problem. This problem will not be solved unless we do something about it. Instead of looking in the present, seeing these billionaires with bright green grass lawns and hiding the fact that most of our water are used for agriculture, we need to stop letting them control our thoughts and make a change. Jenson was able to open my eyes to how easy it is to create a way to reuse water, catch water and use limit the amount of water being used. Cities water allowance should be changed and become more strict with the amount of water a household uses. Homes should change their front yards and backyards to drought friendly yards which include taking out grass, planting drought-friendly plants, create a system that allows rainwater to flow down to your plants and lastly let the ground soak up as much water as possible by using rocks and mulch. I do feel like after this interview, including all of the other research I have done finally, my question of finding a sustainable way to conserve water has been answered. It does not matter how much money you have, you need to be willing to fully participate in changing your life style around. Once you commit, you can spread your knowledge to friends, neighbors and your community to start their process of change. In the end, this will benefit us as humans and hopefully, one day we can stop destroying our Earth and Mother Nature.

Citations:

(2013). Retrieved March 01, 2016, from https://www.facebook.com/ScienceNaturePage/videos/782538405211753/

Optimal Design of Permeable Fiber Network Structures for Fog Harvesting. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2016, from http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/la402409f (Pg13269-13277)

Katyal, Ashok K., and Ioana G. Petrisor. "Innovative Sustainable Drought Management Strategy Incorporating Forensic Techniques And Policy Framework." Environmental Forensics 13.2 (2012): 122-139. Environment Complete. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.

Eartheasy. (n.d.).  http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

What is the Flint water crisis? (2016). Retrieved from http://www.vox.com/cards/flint-michigan-water-crisis/what-is-the-flint-water-crisis