I. Introduction
A. Attention: Imagine the recycling truck pulling up to the curb, extending its mechanical arms to grasp the plastic bin, raising it high in the air, and splashing its contents into the truck in a steady stream of clear water.
B. Connect with Audience: When people think of recycling today, they usually think in terms of bottles and bags, but did you know water can also be recycled? Although more than two thirds of our planet is covered in water, our freshwater supply is a very small fraction of that amount.
C. Thesis: Since our lives depend on freshwater, we all need to do our part to keep from wasting it.
Transition statement: It is hard to imagine because of the vastness of our oceans, but the Earth's freshwater supplies are actually very low.
II. Body
A. Need: Since we need freshwater to survive, to grow the food we eat, and to run the processes that run our lives, it is important to realize that even though 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater, less than 1% of that is actually available for human use ("Human Appropriation," 2006).
1. As the human population continues to grow, we have made greater demands on this limited resource, now appropriating nearly 30% of the accessible supply and with estimates that we will be using as much as 70% by 2025 ("Human Appropriation," 2006).
2. It is estimated that the average US household uses as much as 100 gallons of water per day as compared to French households that use an average of 44 gallons ("Water Consumption," 2007).
3. The minimum amount needed for each person per day is estimated at approximately 8 gallons per day ("Water Consumption," 2007). Clearly something needs to be done.
B. Satisfaction: One way to reduce total household water consumption is to recycle water.
1. When people discuss water recycling, they are generally referring to man’s intentional reuse of water supply. “Water recycling is reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, and replenishing a ground water basin” (McGovern, 2010).
2. Lightly used water such as that used in the shower, bathtub, dishwasher, and washing machine is called grey water.
3. According to the "Water Consumption" (2012) report, as much as 40% of the water used in the home could be recaptured as grey water with additional water available through capturing A/C condensation and collection of rainwater.
C. Visualization: Like the recycling programs around the country that make it easy to recycle plastics, recycling water doesn't require you to make major changes in your lifestyle.
1. There are a number of ways that water can be recycled within the home, most of which produce non-potable freshwater.
2. Systems have been developed that that collect 10-15 gallons of water from outdoor air conditioning units, bathtubs, and clothes washers that can then be fed into ground irrigation systems (Clark, 2012).
3. Water from indoor aquariums or stale water from the pet bowl can be used to water indoor plants which is another way of recycling water while low flow toilets can be installed that use a third of the water of normal toilets.
Transition statement: Making these changes enables you to save a great deal of money on the water bill each month at the same time that you are helping the environment by making less demands on it.
III. Conclusion
A. Call to Action: Recycling water can be as easy on your lifestyle as choosing a different bin to throw away your plastics and can be even more important to the welfare of the planet and your pocketbook.
1. Look around your house today and seal up any leaks you find.
2. Be conscious about the amount of water you use when brushing your teeth, taking a shower or bath, and set dishwasher settings to economical water use.
3. Finally, consult the internet or water efficiency experts to discover ways to capture grey water in your home and put it to effective use.
B. Close with impact: Once you've done that, you can rest easy, knowing you're helping the planet and enjoying all that extra money after cutting your water bill in half.
Works Cited
Clark, Josh. "What is gray water, and can it solve the global water crisis?" The Learning Channel. 2012. Web.
"Human Appropriation of the World's Fresh Water Supply." University of Michigan, 2006. Web.
McGovern, Cheryl. “Water Recycling and Reuse: The Environmental Benefits.” Region 9: Water Program. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010. Web.
"Water Consumption." Safe Drinkable Water Foundation. 2007. Web.
