Written by Lauren James
Many have heard the old nursery rhyme that laments, “rain rain go away, come again, another day.” Typically, rain is a part of nature for so many people, giving life to vegetation, plants, trees, and much more. That’s why these lyrics are so common around the world, except in some places – particularly the West Coast of the United States right now.
What you see here is an extremely arid climate, with droughts extending from the Oregon Cascades to the entire state of California, Utah, Idaho, up to Montana, and down to south-central Nevada and parts of New Mexico. Scientists have even dubbed it a “megadrought,” considered the worst drought in more than 1,200 years. It’s mainly attributed to human-caused climate change, coming largely from the burning of fossil fuels for energy, writer Eric Mack said in his c|net article “Megadrought in the West is Worst in More Than 1,200 Years.” While precipitation is lacking in most areas around the country, the drought is further caused by the high temperatures of the West Coast.
Julia Cole, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan, found in a recent study featured in the New York Times that “precipitation amounts can go up and down over time and can vary regionally,” but “as human activities continue to pump greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, temperatures are more generally rising.” As this happens, the air is better able to pull water from soil, vegetation, and crops, worsening the drought conditions.
Unfortunately, the current 22-year drought is still in full swing and will last a few more years, according to A. Park Williams, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.
We can’t change the day-to-day weather unless we do things to drastically counteract global warming– and that takes time. In the meantime, if you’re in an area affected by extreme drought, how can you do your part? It’s important to follow state and local restrictions on water use. Also, according to Ready.gov, you can do things like this indoors:
- Take short showers instead of baths (turn on the water only to get wet and lather and then again to rinse off)
- Don’t let water run while brushing teeth, washing your face or shaving
- Use automatic dishwashers only when they are fully load; use the “light wash” feature to use less water
- Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods; defrost food overnight in the fridge or use the defrost setting on the microwave
- Operate clothes washers only when there is a full load, or set the water level for the size of your load
Outdoors:
- Avoid leaving sprinklers or hoses unattended
- Wash your car at a commercial car wash that recycles the water
- If your lawn requires water, do so in the morning or at night when temperatures are cooler
Consider more ways to help conserve water and do your part to support The Nature Conservancy, an organization working hard to save water for people and nature. Let’s do our part to conserve what helps give us life: water.
