To Our Valued Readers,
In a recent article, Michael Kimmelman shared a remarkable insight into Los Angeles’s water usage: the city has actually decreased its overall water consumption, despite a growing population. This might seem surprising, but it highlights a powerful truth.
According to Michael’s reporting, this achievement stems from Los Angeles embracing a strong conservation culture, initially driven by a series of severe droughts in the 1970s. These challenges led to both straightforward, practical solutions, like improved plumbing, and broader shifts in societal attitudes and public policy. A 2024 survey from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California revealed that a remarkable 90 percent of residents prioritize daily water conservation, even when not facing immediate drought conditions.
Inspired by Los Angeles’s success, we reached out to readers nationwide to gather their perspectives on water conservation and the personal steps they’ve taken. We received an overwhelming response, with over 500 individuals sharing their insights.
Why Saving Water Matters
The urgency of water conservation recently hit home in New York City. Last fall, the city issued its first drought warning in two decades, as dry conditions fueled wildfires. For Manhattan resident Daniel Cortez, who grew up in Westchester County, this served as a stark reminder. He noted that New Yorkers often take water for granted, and that the 2024 drought underscored that water supplies are not endless and even local forests are vulnerable to fires.
Beyond immediate water availability, experts emphasize water conservation’s crucial role in reducing carbon emissions. Ashlynn Stillwell, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, explained, “Any water that we conserve is also energy conserved.” She highlighted that processes like treating, transporting, and heating water are all incredibly energy-intensive.
Overuse of water in the Northeast has led to alarming consequences, including dried-up rivers and significant fish die-offs. Shimon Anisfeld, a Yale professor and author of “Water Management,” urged, “We all need to use water, but use it reasonably.” He advises consciously reducing consumption to protect the ecological health of the vital river systems that supply our water.
So, what practical steps can we take to reduce our water footprint? Here are some excellent starting points:
Assess Your Home’s Water Usage
A great first step is to conduct a thorough audit of your household water consumption. This process can not only reveal where you’re using the most water but also help identify hidden leaks that waste precious resources.
Since national standards were implemented in 1992, water-efficient fixtures and appliances – such as toilets, showerheads, and washing machines – have become widespread and continue to improve. Even greater savings are achievable; a 2017 report by the Natural Resources Defense Council estimated that equipping every household with the latest high-efficiency devices could reduce average indoor water use by an additional 35 percent or more.
In regions susceptible to combined sewer overflow, timing your use of water-intensive appliances can significantly help protect local waterways. Several municipalities, including the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, provide alert systems that notify residents when to reduce water consumption to prevent these overflows.
Consider Outdoor Water Use
Watering outdoor spaces places considerable demand on our freshwater resources. However, effective ecological landscaping strategies vary greatly depending on your location. In arid regions, swapping water-guzzling lawns for drought-tolerant plants is crucial. In areas with more consistent rainfall, simply allowing traditional grass lawns to naturally brown during summer dormancy can be an adequate solution.
Dan Wiitala, residing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—a region abundant in water—shared his family’s long-standing commitment to avoiding lawn watering after purchasing their Lake Superior property. This year, he’s furthered their efforts by planting native vegetation, consciously allowing the natural landscape to thrive.
In Northern California, college student Shreya Ramachandran took an innovative approach by installing a gray-water system at her family’s home. This system reuses water from their dishwasher and washing machine to irrigate trees and shrubbery. Driven by this success, Shreya founded a nonprofit, The Grey Water Project, to champion this practical form of water recycling.
Professor Stillwell utilizes rain barrels, not only to alleviate local drainage issues and prevent combined sewer overflows but also for an added benefit: “I haven’t used my outdoor faucet to water my garden all year because I’ve used my rain barrel, which helps mitigate flooding in my city.”
Small Daily Actions, Big Collective Impact
Numerous readers shared simple, yet impactful, habits that anyone can easily integrate into their daily routines:
- Taking shorter, less frequent showers.
- Collecting and reusing water that typically goes down the drain, such as water from waiting for the shower to warm up or rinsing fruits and vegetables in a basin.
- Turning off the tap while shaving or brushing your teeth.
- Only flushing the toilet for solid waste.
- Running dishwashers and washing machines only when they are completely full.
- Scraping food off plates instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher.
- Washing your car with a bucket and sponge instead of a running hose, or using car washes that recycle water.
- Sweeping sidewalks and driveways with a broom rather than hosing them down.
Professor Stillwell notes that individual actions also serve to “model behavioral change for others, and that’s where that can start to snowball.” She adds, “While it might feel like, ‘I’m just one person, what can I do?’ When you multiply that by several million, we get somewhere.” This emphasizes the cumulative power of collective effort.
Indeed, the sentiment echoes a headline from the Times approximately 60 years ago, during a period of dwindling reservoir levels: “Saving Water Is Game Any Number Can Play.” The message remains as relevant today as it was then.
— Anna Diamond
Revisiting Local Resilience Efforts
Water resources often fluctuate dramatically, shifting between severe droughts and intense storms or floods—a trend exacerbated by our changing climate. This instability often leads to difficult decisions and stalled progress as communities strive to balance immediate needs with long-term environmental risks. The “Headway” initiative launched in 2021 with an essay by Michael Kimmelman, examining the ambitious project to redevelop East River Park in Lower Manhattan. This effort aimed to bolster New York City’s coastline against future flooding, yet it sparked significant debate among local residents who had diverse priorities, such as safeguarding the park’s mature trees, alongside the crucial goal of flood mitigation.
Today, the initial phase of the East River Park redesign is nearing completion, and Wagner Park, located on Lower Manhattan’s west side, has also undergone a similar transformation as part of the broader coastal resilience plan. Michael recently reviewed both projects, reflecting on what their outcomes reveal about the nature of progress and why achieving it can often feel so challenging. — Matt Thompson
The Headway initiative receives funding from various foundations, including the Ford Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors acting as a fiscal sponsor. The Woodcock Foundation also supports Headway’s public engagement efforts. It’s important to note that these funders have no influence over the selection or focus of stories, the editorial process, or any review of content prior to publication. The Times maintains complete editorial control over all aspects of the Headway initiative.