GoGreen.OK.gov is an OK.gov initiative showcasing how Oklahoma eGovernment is helping to reduce the carbon footprintby reducing paper consumption and citizen travel to government facilities.

Welcome to the 36th "Green" Tips Message. This message is sent to all subscribing users on a weekly basis providing simple tips on becoming more Green! This article is part of Earth911’s series, where they showcase ways to green your life in various areas.This week's message provides simple tips on:

Ways to Green Your Water

1. Change Your Mindset

One of the easiest ways to start greening your water use is to rethink the water you flush, wash and drink as a finite resource. People who are now coming to that realization about fossil fuels are taking the initiative and changing their habits, and it should be the same with water. Following two easy rules will provide for cleaner, more abundant water wherever you are:

• • If you aren’t using it, turn it off.
  • If you don’t want to drink it, don’t put it down the drain. In most cases, the substances we pour down our drains and the water we drink are closely connected.

2. Check Out Your Water Footprint

Everyone knows about carbon footprints these days, but it can also be helpful to calculate your water footprint. Water footprints take into account the amount of water it takes to grow, process and transport products to your neighborhood, and they help provide a global perspective on water issues.  

Waterfootprint.org has a calculator that can help you determine how water-intensive your lifestyle is. For example, beef is tremendously water-intensive, because of all the water used to grow the cow’s food. It takes almost 1,900 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef. Meanwhile, you can eat an apple for a mere 18 gallons.

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