Ensuring that people and wildlife have the clean, safe water they need is a huge challenge. Colleges and universities can help meet that challenge. They now use tremendous amounts of water for consumption, landscaping, heating and cooling, cleaning and other purposes. Reducing this water usage can thus conserve water, making more water available for other important uses. That’s why many higher education institutions are beginning to make significant infrastructure and policy changes to cut the amount of water they use.
As a student, you can help reduce your campus’ water footprint and ensure that clean water is accessible to all. Possible projects include developing plans to eliminate sales of bottled water on your campus, changing campus policies to cut pesticide and fertilizer use or switching to more environmentally responsible irrigation techniques, and lobbying your state legislators to enforce or strengthen the Clean Water Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Suggested projects/campaigns for students:
Participate in Campus Conservation Nationals Water Usage reduction competition
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Lobby your state legislators to enforce or strengthen the Clean Water Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act
Change campus policies to cut pesticide and fertilizer use or to switch to more environmentally responsible irrigation techniques
Interested in pursuing a water resources career? Check out the water resources careers outlook in the EcoLeaders Career Center to learn more about careers in the field, hear from professionals, and map out your career plan.
