Thoughts on the drought in early spring

The concept of water conservation is one reason, but people’s awareness is another; families save money by using less water, while in public places such as schools and workplaces, the cost of water isn’t borne by them, so many people are reluctant to spare public funds, driven by the mindset that one should use things only when necessary. Additionally, the water fee might be too low to warrant attention.

Hehe, it is said that water fees in Beijing are going to rise again. Water fees keep rising, yet students at schools and employees in organizations don’t really feel the impact of this. Last edited by Fightinghard on 2009-3-18 21:14 in this post.]

The main issue is that students don’t have to pay for water directly in cash; it’s similar to shopping at a supermarket – using a card is different from paying in cash. Counting out hundreds or thousands of dollars in cash is quite painful, but signing with a card eliminates that feeling. Also, students feel dissatisfied because the school charges so much money; they try to use more in order to feel like they’re getting some compensation for it. As for the school, its expenses are high, so it raises the fees even more in the following year :lol :lol . As for water fees and drought resistance, I don’t think there’s much connection between them. Of course, when it comes to the value of water resources, it’s reasonable to charge whatever amount is necessary. The question is whether those who collect these fees are acting on behalf of nature. All resources are valuable, but can that be used as an excuse for raising prices? For ordinary people, each family uses only a certain amount of water; even if prices rise, they won’t use much less. Those who use more water aren’t bothered by paying a little more. In most cases, the cost ends up being borne by the users themselves, and water usage still remains high. It’s not clear how effective this approach will be in combating droughts, but it might help improve the welfare benefits of certain organizations

The waste of water resources is a very common phenomenon in enterprises and institutions. The suggestion on the second floor to raise water prices is not advisable; no matter how high the prices are, these organizations don’t have to pay out of their own pockets. In my view, the key issue is the lack of awareness regarding water conservation among these people, and it is necessary to raise their awareness in order to address the problem of water waste at its root.

The drought is severe this year. Since the beginning of spring, a severe drought has struck northern China. These areas are all major production regions for wheat, the key food crop in China, and the severity of the disaster is unseen in decades. It’s time for us to do something for farmers and rural areas! One must know how to be grateful while alive. Facing farmers, we can’t be lofty. Save water by starting with small actions in our daily lives! Water, like air and sunlight, is indispensable in our lives. Although more than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, we can access and use less than 0.26% of the total water volume. In China, the per capita water supply is only 2,400 cubic meters, which is one-fourth of the world average; as a result, the country is ranked among the 13 countries with the lowest per capita water availability. Of the more than 600 cities at or above the county level in our country, over 300 suffer from water shortages; if immediate action is not taken, China will face a severe freshwater crisis. WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is seeking suggestions from volunteers for \"simple tips on saving water in daily life,\" hoping that everyone will take action, contribute together, and work toward reversing the situation of water scarcity. Water for the kitchen: 1. When cleaning cooking utensils and tableware, if there is a lot of grease, you can first wipe it off with paper before rinsing. 　　2 Use water from washing rice, noodle cooking broth, or overnight tea to clean dishes and utensils; this helps remove grease, reduces water usage, and minimizes the pollution caused by detergents. 　　3 To clean areas with heavy dirt or grease, first use used tea bags (rinsed and dried) dipped in some cooked oil to apply it to the dirty spots, then wipe with a cloth containing detergent to remove the stains easily. 　　4 When washing vegetables, do not wash them directly under the tap; instead, place them in a container filled with water. Also, arrange the washing order properly – for example, first peel and remove dirt from vegetables with skins, and then wash them ； First, wash the leafy and fruit vegetables, then wash the root and tuber vegetables. 　　5 Do not use water to help thaw food. 　　6 Use an egg cooker instead of a large pot of water to boil eggs. Water for personal cleaning: When washing hands, face, or brushing teeth, do not keep the faucet on continuously; instead, turn the water on intermittently. For example, when washing hands or face, turn off the faucet while applying soap; when brushing teeth, turn off the faucet after filling the cup with water. 　　8 Reduce the frequency of bath sessions; when taking a bath, control the amount of water used – about one-third of the bathtub’s capacity is sufficient. 　　9 Collect the clean water released for preheating, to use for washing clothes. 　　10 When taking a bath, stand in a collection container to collect the used water, which can then be used to flush the toilet or clean the floor. Do not keep the shower head on for a long time; first wet your body and hair, then turn off the shower head, and use bath gel and shampoo for the final wash. 　　11 Use water-saving faucets that allow for adjustable water flow. 　　12 Bathing too frequently is not beneficial for skin health; 2 to 4 times per month is the ideal frequency. Showering uses up to 80% less water than taking a bath in a tub. Take intermittent showers; don’t hesitate to put the water off when scrubbing, and turn it off promptly ； The water left after taking a bath can be used for washing clothes, flushing the toilet, mopping the floor, and more. When taking a shower with a showerhead, learn how to adjust the ratio of cold to hot water ； Do not keep the sprinkler on all the time, nor should water be left running unchecked. Take a quick shower: wet your head and feet, turn off the showerhead, scrub with soap or bath gel, and rinse thoroughly in one go ； Do not wash clothes \"by the way\" while taking a bath ； Don’t fill the bathtub to the top when taking a bath; 1/3 to 1/4 of the tub is sufficient. Water for washing clothes: 13 – Wash clothes in bulk to reduce the number of washes. 　　14 Reduce the use of washing machines; avoid using the full auto mode as much as possible, and hand-wash small pieces of clothing. 　　15 When rinsing small pieces of clothing, turn down the faucet, rinse them under running water, and place a basin underneath to collect the used water; instead of filling several basins and rinsing multiple times. This makes it easy to clean thoroughly, reduces the total amount of water used, and allows the collected water to be reused. 　　16 The water after rinsing can be used as washing water for the next laundry load, or to mop the floor. 　　17 When washing clothes, use an appropriate amount of detergent, and choose phosphate-free detergents to reduce pollution. 　　18 Clothes should be washed together to minimize the number of washes ； For small items and small amounts of clothing, hand washing is recommended ； Use an appropriate amount of detergent; using too much will result in significant water waste. When washing a small amount of clothes, setting the water level too high not only fails to clean the clothes properly but also wastes water ； Washing clothes together also helps save water ； Using the water from rinsing to wash dirty clothes can save a lot of fresh water. Water conservation in the bathroom: 19 If possible, opt for a new type of water-saving toilet. 　　20 If using an old-fashioned toilet that is not water-saving, a beverage bottle filled with water can be placed in the toilet’s tank to reduce the amount of water used for flushing. (Note: When using this method, care must be taken not to hinder the movement of water in the tank.) ) 21. The toilet is not an LJ-type toilet; do not pour leftovers and other debris into it, to avoid waste resulting from flushing such debris. 　　22 Collect water from washing clothes, vegetables, taking baths, etc., to flush the toilet. Regularly inspect the water tank equipment, replace or repair it as needed, and avoid putting cleaning products such as dish soap into the tank, as this can cause the rubber components inside the tank to age and lead to leaks, resulting in waste. 　　23. Toakerets have high water consumption; placing a few water-filled Coke bottles or cans inside the tank can help reduce the amount of water used for flushing. It’s best to switch to a water-saving toilet. If the toilet tank is too large, a two-stage tank accessory can be installed ； Diagnosis of leaks in the tank of a toilet. If the inlet valve fails, water will keep flowing out through the overflow port. A failed drain valve can cause water to keep flowing from the toilet, as well as the water supply pipe continuously feeding water into the tank ； Use the cleaner wastewater from the household to flush the toilet, thus making better use of water ； Regardless of size or thickness, LJ should be removed from the LJ channel, rather than being flushed away with water in the toilet. Other water usage: 24. When eating out, try to use the same plates as much as possible to reduce the number of plates that need to be washed in the restaurant, thereby cutting down water consumption. 　　25 Develop the good habit of turning off faucets whenever possible. 　　26 Use reclaimed water to clean vehicles. 　　27 Teach children to save water and encourage them not to play water-consuming games. 　　28 Don’t waste leftover tea and mineral water; use them to water plants. 　　29 Before filling the thermos, do not discard the remaining water inside; it can be collected along with other circulating water for reuse. 　　30 Adjust the tap valves to control the water flow; develop the habit of deliberately turning down the faucet, which can help save a considerable amount of water. 　　31 Choose plant wax for car washing without water use – it saves water and is beneficial for car maintenance. 　　32 In winter, be sure to take measures to prevent outdoor water pipes from freezing and cracking. 　　33 Collect rainwater and make use of it. 　　34 When going out or attending meetings, bring your own water bottle or small bottled water to reduce waste of remaining bottled water. 　　35 Call for the use of permeable paving stones in municipal and residential construction. Plant shrubs and trees to replace large areas of lawns. 　　36 Calls for communal bathrooms and water heating stations, with the use of payment cards for bathing and fetching water. 　　37 Do not throw LJ into rivers or lakes, and do not discard used batteries carelessly to prevent pollution of natural water resources.