| | Louisiana's three aquifers. The Sparta Aquifer is losing more water than can be replenished. (Illustration by Betsy Neely) |
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| | Robin Bridges, facing the group, teaches water conservation each year to sixth graders in Claiborne Parish at an event called "Water Fest." |
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| | North Central Region agents set up exhibits on water conservation at fairs, festivals and other educational events throughout the region. |
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“Reduce the use.” That’s the mantra of a water conservation campaign spearheaded by the LSU AgCenter in North Louisiana, where people are dependent on the gradually disappearing Sparta Aquifer.
This aquifer, which is an underground layer of gravel and porous stone that holds water replenished through rain, is losing 12 million gallons per day that aren’t being replaced. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, current use from the aquifer is 64 million gallons per day while the breakeven usage is 52 million gallons per day. And this is where the drinking water for 15 North Louisiana parishes comes from.
“We take water for granted, and we can’t continue to do that,” said Robin Bridges, AgCenter agent in Claiborne Parish. “It’s like a bank account. If you take more out than you put in, then eventually you’ll run out.”
To help stem the aquifer depletion, LSU AgCenter agents have mounted a major campaign to encourage water conservation. This campaign has involved many programs over the years, but a new initiative this year took aim at all the school children in the LSU AgCenter’s North Central Region.
Turn Off Faucets
4-H coordinator Karen Martin enlisted the 4-H agents to make contact with all the schools, kindergarten through high school. The agents distributed guides for the teachers and 55,000 fact sheets with a survey on the back for the students. The students took home the surveys to help assess water use for one week.
“You can conserve water without depriving yourself or changing your lifestyle,” Martin said. “That’s our message. Kids are a good vehicle for getting at their parents and other adults.”
This teaching event took place during the second week of May, which is National Drinking Water Week.
“We were shooting for awareness,” Bridges said. “People were surprised at how much water they were using.”
No. 1 on the list was to turn off the faucet while brushing teeth. Leaving the water running uses an average of 5 gallons of water.
“The kids added this up for their families during one week and realized this was a lot of water wasted,” Bridges said. “It’s not unusual for a family to use 50 to 75 gallons of water per day.”
Follow the water-saving tips taught to the school children.
Here’s your chance to take the survey. See how much water you use and can save!
Reaching Sixth Graders
Bridges has focused water conservation education on sixth graders for the past five years through a program called “Water Fest.” Every spring for two days, the Claiborne Parish schools bus sixth graders to the Lake Claiborne State Park. Bridges involves educators from the AgCenter and other state and federal agencies to teach the children about water conservation and water quality.
New for 4-H Camp
Martin introduced a new track at 4-H camp this past summer called “CSI: Wet and Wild” to teach about aquifers and water conservation. More than 1,000 4-H’ers took part over the course of the 10-week camp.
“The CSI stands for crime scene investigation taken from the television show,” Martin said. “The 4-H’ers investigated where their water comes from and ways to conserve it.”
On the Road Again
Another new effort is executed through use of the “Sparta Conservation” educational trailer. It was rolled out for the first time at the Ruston Peach Festival in June 2006.
- More than 450 people visited the exhibit during the four-day event in Ruston as AgCenter educators and volunteers used the trailer as a backdrop for informing the public about conserving water and the importance of the Sparta Aquifer.
- The trailer was later used at the Farmerville Watermelon Festival in July and the Lincoln Parish Library in August. It will be scheduled throughout the year and beyond at festivals, fairs and other events in the North Central Region.
Getting Noticed
The heroic efforts of the LSU AgCenter to help preserve the Sparta Aquifer have not gone unnoticed. Here are a few comments:
“It’s a critical public education effort. From a voluntary standpoint, citizens can practice good personal habits without changing their lifestyles and reduce [water pumping] easily by 5 million gallons.” – Rep. Hollis Downs, R-Ruston
“We commend the LSU AgCenter for realizing the importance of saving the primary source of fresh water in North Louisiana. We urge other governmental groups to follow the AgCenter’s lead and not wait until the Sparta sands are dry. By then, it will be too late. We must act now to save the Sparta Aquifer.” – Ruston Daily Leader editorial
“It’s going to be through the younger generation that we are going to be able to provide sustainability.” – Paul Coreil, vice chancellor and director, LSU AgCenter
The LSU AgCenter is one of 11 institutions of higher education in the Louisiana State University System. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, it provides educational services in every parish and conducts research that contributes to the economic development of the state. The LSU AgCenter does not grant degrees nor benefit from tuition increases. The LSU AgCenter plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, enhancing the environment, and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family and community programs.