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Join the Challenge to Reduce Water Usage!
100-Gallon Challenge Issued to Mark 40th Earth Day
Help reduce sewer overflows to Lake Michigan, basement backups at your home, and polluted stormwater runoff by taking the 100-gallon challenge whenever your favorite forecaster calls for heavy rain.
In honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the Urban Ecology Center, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), and Sweet Water are encouraging families and neighbors to customize their own plan to reduce water usage inside the home and increase water storage in the yard whenever your favorite forecaster calls for heavy rain. Installing a rain barrel on your downspout alone can capture 55 gallons of water that you can use during dry weather to water trees, gardens, and flowers.
“We each use about 65 gallons of water a day inside our homes,” said Ken Leinbach, Executive Director of the Urban Ecology Center. “With 1.1 million people in MMSD’s service area, just think of the difference it would make if everyone took the challenge.” Leinbach continued, “Small changes at the household-by-household level can yield huge benefits to our area rivers, and ultimately to Lake Michigan, the source of most of our drinking water and the place many of us flock to for recreation and relaxation.”
There are dozens of ways to cut down that will not significantly impact your daily activities. You can begin with these:
- take a short shower instead of a bath
- do the laundry tomorrow if there’s heavy rain today
- don’t leave the water on while brushing your teeth or shaving
- install water efficient faucets, showerheads, and toilets to reduce indoor consumption by 1/3 or more