Drinking tap water. Reporting leaky faucets. Taking shorter showers.
These are just some of the ways GW students, faculty and staff can reduce their water usage during this month’s GWater Challenge.
The Office of Sustainability is hosting a series of events related to water sustainability this month leading up to Earth Day on Friday.
“The GW community can help reduce its water footprint and impact on our watershed by participating in the GWater Challenge. By thinking smarter about water usage and being mindful of the products and substances we put into our water system, we can help create and sustain a healthy D.C. water system,” said Sophie Waskow, stakeholder engagement coordinator in the Office of Sustainability.
The Office of Sustainability has created “Earth Month Passports,” which include a calendar listing of Earth Month activities such as turning off the water while brushing your teeth, using a reusable water bottle and waiting until you have a full load of laundry to run the washing machine.
The GWater Challenge asks participants to take pictures as they participate in Earth Month activities and send the photos to [email protected]. At the end of the month, all of the participants will be entered into a raffle to win water-themed prizes.
“Water sustains life on our planet. Currently, many of our water bodies are threatened by pollutants, runoff and toxins. As an urban campus, there are many steps GW can take to help reduce our storm water runoff, increase awareness about littering and the products we put down the drain and conserve water on campus,” said Meghan Chapple-Brown, director of the Office of Sustainability. “In the upcoming year, GW will be addressing our impact on our ecosystem.”
This week leading up to Earth Day, GW will be showing a series of films that focus on water sustainability, and on Thursday there will be a water taste test on Kogan Plaza to see if participants can tell the difference between bottled, filtered or tap water.
On Earth Day, GW will be encouraging its community to ride bikes to work or school and receive a free tune-up, helmet fitting and bike safety tips in Kogan Plaza. Later, at the Earth Day Fair, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Kogan Plaza, GW will announce its new water sustainability goals. Coffee, cookies and fruit will be served, and the entire GW community is encouraged to attend.