“A definite purpose, like blinders on a horse, inevitably narrows its possessor's point of view.” —Robert Frost
At a recent conference, a fellow attendee stated to me that, “no more than 10,000 water conservation professionals exist in this country.” He then went on to question whether our magazine had exceeded its relevancy by extending its readership into numbers well beyond what he believed to be the “correct” audience.
And so, the gauntlet had been thrown. It has always been my belief that “big picture” thinking and an open-minded approach are the best tools for solving the problems of water resource management in an increasingly hostile environment. We will not be able to overcome the challenges of decreasing supply and increasing demand, if we continue to allow ourselves to be corralled and controlled by narrow definitions and divisive actions.
While the day-to-day activities of a landscaper in San Diego, CA, probably differ radically from a municipal water utility manager in Des Moines, IL, aren’t they still, ultimately, on the same team? Aren’t they both, in the end, tasked with delivering a quality product to their customer, while simultaneously protecting the source and delivery system for that product? And, what purpose does it serve to tell that landscaper or that utility manager, “Sorry, but, based on a strict job description, you are not a ‘water conservation professional.’”
What does an exclusive membership accomplish? Aren’t we better served by a broad, all-encompassing definition, that encourages anyone involved at any point in the water supply cycle to become personally and professionally vested in the cause of water efficiency and conservation? I believe that two heads are better than one, that a chorus of voices is always louder than the soloist, and that when it comes to protecting this precious resource, the best plan involves a multitude of helping hands.
So, who is the “water conservation professional?”
I think the first clue lies in our perceptions of water conservation and efficiency. In our January 2008 issue, I addressed the confusion surrounding these terms, stating: “From point of view of the magazine, the term water efficiency is as a blanket statement meant to include not only water efficient technologies, but also conservation efforts and public outreach.”
Additionally, in my first editorial for this magazine, I laid out my view of what “water efficiency” means. “The concept of “water efficiency” stands upon two pillars: conserving our water resources and protecting our water supply. The web between these two pillars is complex and interdependent, and within such a finely woven tapestry, scarcity can beget aggression between already tense groups. Water can spark violent feuds and political turmoil. In fact, the word “rivals” comes from the Latin rivalis, “one taking from the same stream as another.” We all know a finite amount of water exists on the planet. The use or waste of this water by one entity can directly create a lack and a crisis for somebody else.”
Thus, in my mind, a “water conservation professional” defines any individual who is responsible for everything from source-point protection, to conservation and drought strategies, from private and public water systems, to public outreach and the development of new water-related technologies. It includes the guy working for the non-profit that pushes for legislation to protect our water sources, as well as the woman designing the latest and sleekest conveyance system for a large urban area attempting to heal its badly damaged infrastructure. If you work with water, either physically or conceptually managing it, then you, my friend, are “water conservation professional.”
And right now, we need your help.
In the November 2007 issue of this magazine, I discussed our growing global water crisis: “Whether you like it or not, we are in the middle of a water crisis. You can blame it on climate change, aging infrastructure, or green-lawn addicts; whichever devil you choose, the outcome is still the same: a diminishing supply struggling to meet an ever-growing demand. What we need is a plan.”
In that same editorial, I went on to highlight the integral elements of any plan to overcome our current water dilemmas. “In order to diminish the amount of water we use and increase efficiency in the way we use it, we need widespread customer education and community support. We need money. We need research and development. We need leaders. We need visionaries.”
If you are wondering who those leaders and visionaries are, they include every person reading this magazine. Take a look in the mirror, because when it comes to water efficiency and water conservation, the power to make changes and improve circumstances lies in your hands—the water conservation professional.