"And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so." (Genesis 1:9)
Genesis 1:1–13 describes the first three days of creation. We learn that by the end of the third day, God created a foundational environment of light, heavens, seas and earth. God created the physical laws that caused the dry land to appear and provided water and vegetation to sustain life upon planet earth.
The bible has many references to water. Water represents life. Water associates with birth, baptism, purity, fertility, and refreshment. Christ walked on water and transformed it into wine. However, water can also be destructive with floods water drownings, and erosion. God’s abundance of grace flows like that life-giving water to us all. In our daily lives, using water efficiently and carefully has a direct correlation to our energy use.
Hot and dry weather has led to drought conditions across most of Minnesota, forcing communities to implement water restrictions. Increases to the state’s population, leads to a growing demand for water – which puts stress on our water sources. During a drought, we see water levels in rivers and streams go down. This greatly affects the health of fish and other wildlife and increases the potential risk of wildfires.
Everyone can take steps, inside and outside their homes, to conserve water—our gift from God. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has helpful guidelines to conserving water.
Schesinger, W, Water Use, Translational Ecology, April 4, 2017, http://blogs.nicholas.duke.edu/citizenscientist/water-use/.
· Turn off the faucet while your brushing teeth – a running tap can waste over 1 1/2 gallons per minute.
· Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a running tap.
· Take short showers instead of baths. A four-minute shower uses 20 to 40 gallons of water.
· Use a watering can or a hose with a trigger nozzle instead of a sprinkler to water the yard.
· Keep a reusable container of drinking water in the refrigerator.
· Position sprinklers so water lands on lawn or garden and not on paved areas.
· Mulch plants and trees in your yard.
· Don’t overwater your lawn; most lawns only need about 1” inch of water each week.