Going green: conserve water

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Do you know how much water your family uses?  More specifically, do you know how much water your children use when they brush their teeth?  We can save a lot of water, just by turning it off during regular tasks like brushing teeth. 

Wendy Allen is with the Green Coast Council and she works with families to teach them how to conserve and be more 'green'. 

Wendy tells us when we have the water running the whole time we brush our teeth, “It's flowing at a rate of almost two gallons a minute. And, it's something our children could learn easily to turn it off while they're brushing. They don't need the water running the entire time.  We often think in terms of just turning it on because it's convenient.  But, the kids can learn to turn it off and save a lot of money and a lot of water."

It's also a good lesson in conservation and only using what you need. 

Wendy says, "Turning off the water teaches them the proper use of water and the value of water because water is becoming a valuable commodity. Parents pay a lot of money for water.  And, you don't think about it because it goes down the drain. But, children can learn very easily to just turn the water off."

Turning off the water is an easy way to focus on the environment, and teach our children they can make a difference.   That's an important lesson because everything we -- and our kids -- do now is making a lasting impact on the future of the planet.  A planet the same children we're educating will eventually inherit.