Imagine The Difference You Could Make

It was the hottest summer in 50 years. It had not rained in weeks. It felt like an oven. The lawns looked like they were dried out. The grass was brown. The Quabbin Reservoir was low. The Quabbin Reservoir was only half full.

Two MWRA workers named Jerry and Grace were keeping a close eye on the water levels. They felt worried. They had never seen anything like this before. If this dry spell continued, what would they do? The first thing they thought of was how to conserve water. Saving water is easy. You can start saving at your own home. Here are some helpful indoor and outdoor tips.

Jerry thought that the bathroom would be a good place to begin. For example, turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth. Another example is never to use your toilet as a wastebasket. Taking short showers is a good way to save water too. Filling your bathtub only half way saves water and money on your heating bill! Maybe you could try to find and fix leaks.

Grace knew that there are many ways to conserve water outside of your house. Water your lawn at night. Try not to over water your garden. Collect rain water in rain barrels. Use plants that prefer drier soil.

If Jerry and Grace could teach their friends and neighbors these helpful tips, imagine what a difference they could make every day, not just during a water shortage. Jerry and Grace knew that the MWRA website had brochures that could help teach their friends and neighbors what to do. So they printed as may as they could. They planned to put them in as many mailboxes as possible. Guess what happened as soon as they hit the streets? It started to pour down rain!