My Volunteer Water Project

June 1, 2021 - May 1, 2022

Kristin Blood

Environmental BC

Points Total

0 Today
0 This Week
986 Total

Participant Impact

up to

125

plastic bottles

not sent to the landfill
up to

50

pounds of trash

have been saved
up to

0.3

pounds pesticide and excess fertilizer

prevented from entering watersheds
up to

1,970

gallons of water

have been saved

Kristin's Actions

Waterwise Home

Install a Toilet Tank Bank

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water each day by installing a toilet tank bank.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Waterwise Home

Fix Leaky Faucets

I will fix faucets or report leaky faucets to facilities that have been wasting up to 9 gallons (34 L) of water per faucet every day.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Waterwise Community

Hazardous Waste Collection Drive

I will organize or participate in a volunteer community hazardous waste collection drive project.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Waterwise Community

Storm Drain Stenciling Project

I will organize or participate in a volunteer community storm drain stenciling campaign.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Waterwise Community

Eco-Friendly Community Beautification

I will organize or participate in a volunteer community beautification project using eco-friendly gardening practices from one or more of the waterwise activities shown in Waterwise Beautification.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Waterwise Community

Take the Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation

I will discover the power of my community working together by completing the WNMC Pledge and pledging to save 500. gallons of water.

Completed
One-Time Action

Waterwise Home

Conserve Toilet Water

I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.

COMPLETED 43
DAILY ACTIONS

Waterwise Home

Brush My Teeth Without Running Water

I will save up to 8 gallons (30 L) of water each day by turning it off while brushing my teeth.

COMPLETED 43
DAILY ACTIONS

Waterwise Home

Use Reusable Bottles

I will use a reusable bottle and stop purchasing bottled water, saving 3 disposable plastic bottle(s) a day.

COMPLETED 43
DAILY ACTIONS

Waterwise Home

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.

COMPLETED 43
DAILY ACTIONS

Waterwise Beautification

Share Your Project On Social Media

I will share an image or video of my project on social media and tag @wylandfoundation along with a caption highlighting the benefits of eco-friendly gardening.

Completed
One-Time Action

Waterwise Beautification

Use Native Plants When Possible

I will plant 1 square feet of native species, landscape with water-efficient plants in order to reduce general water usage, and minimize fertilizer and pesticide use.

Completed
One-Time Action

Waterwise Beautification

Plant a Tree

I will reduce stormwater runoff, promote better air quality, and reduce CO2 from our atmosphere by planting 1 tree(s) in my home or in my community.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Waterwise Community

Litter Removal

I will organize or participate in a volunteer litter clean up to keep trash from entering our storm drains and waterways.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

Waterwise Community

Identify a Local Freshwater Hope Spot using the Wyland Foundation Google Earth Portal

I will show my support for a favorite lake, river, stream, wetland or place along the coast.

Uncompleted
One-Time Action

Feed

Reflection Question
Waterwise Community Litter Removal

How do you feel about your community when you see lots of litter? How does litter find its way downstream?

Kristin Blood 4/26/2021 7:53 AM

This week I have worked with my husband and two children, as well as three other residents and their combined four children. As we cleaned we were in awe of the type of things we found and the amount of trash we found. The kids kept asking why people litter and were eager to find as much trash as they could. With the current, wind and such trash can be carried downstream. We were lucky to have many folks willing to get right along the water's edge and clean up debris that was stuck in the muck and tangled in branches. Between all three groups that went out we collected over 100lbs of trash. It was fulfilling and well worth our time, effort and scratches earned!

Read More
- Steve Creech 4/30/2021 11:10 AM
  
  We were doing storm channel clean ups of our own and we wondered the same thing. It changes your whole perspective, doesn't it?
  
  Read More
Reflection Question
Waterwise Beautification Use Native Plants When Possible

What sort of native plants could you use for beautiful gardens, lawns, and living spaces that are more waterwise?

Kristin Blood 4/22/2021 6:05 AM

I recently visited the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary where I picked up native seeds to plant here at my home. I also have a friend who shared Blue Indigo seeds with me to plant. I have been more conscious of using native plants since my formal education, realizing how invasive species can be a detrimental to an area.

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Reflection Question
Waterwise Beautification Share Your Project On Social Media

How can you use your social media footprint to make an impact on the environment? Who do you admire currently and what are they doing on social media to show how they are making our environment better?

Kristin Blood 4/22/2021 6:00 AM

I can use my social media post to encourage others to join me in caring for our environment. I do not follow anyone on social media to admire what they are doing, however I have a friend who is consistent in posting about her organic gardening techniques. Her doing this encourages others and demonstrates a different way to interact with food more locally - your own backyard.

Read More
Kristin Blood 4/19/2021 12:48 PM

The water project for me is going well. These are natural things I already do in my daily life. I do however forget to check in and log my activities. Would be cool if there was an app or something that was directly on my phone and would make it faster.

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Reflection Question
Waterwise Community Take the Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation

Water is a free resource, but what are the steps needed to get water to your home? What other resources are needed to ensure you have access to water? Energy? Infrastructure? What are some of the ways smart water use helps the national economy?

Kristin Blood 3/29/2021 1:09 PM

I don't usually see water as a free resource, there is always a cost to using something, the cost may just not be seen in $$ signs. To get water to my faucet, there needs to be an intake of water from a source, cleaning process, sanitizing process and delivery. To get the water from point A (origin) to me it takes energy (fuel of some sort). There have to be pipes in place, there has to be infrastructure for the cleaning/sanitizing. As I stated in previous posts, water is a commodity we take for granted in our great lakes region. It is something that is scarce in some places, not only water but CLEAN water. We need to cherish it and use it wisely.

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Reflection Question
Waterwise Home Conserve Toilet Water

What would a sustainable water future in your region look like? What needs to change?

Kristin Blood 3/18/2021 11:40 AM

Living here in MI most people don't think about water conservation or saving water, it is so abundant. I grew up in Arizona where a drought is always going on and we take water conservation very seriously, every ounce is a gift. I think what needs to change in our region is the way we see water. Rather than an infinite source, we should see it as limited.

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Reflection Question
Waterwise Home 5-Minute Showers

Five-minute showers are an impressive step toward reducing your water footprint. What is the next step you can take?

Kristin Blood 3/18/2021 11:38 AM

In our showers our family attempts to reduce our soap trash by using bar soap or buying in bulk. We also have removed loofahs and use wash cloths instead, again reducing waste.

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