They're spreading! I noticed the small blue stickers first in my dorm by the shower and then next to the sink by my friend's room. What is the story behind those "Turn Off The Tap" stickers?
The stickers were created by Tufts Mystic Water Watch (TMWW) to encourage water conservation on campus.
In the United States, typical water usage per single family home per day is 69.3 gallons., according to the American Water Works Association.
Historically, those living in the United States have had abundant water and did not need to worry as much about saving it. But our luck is running out. Water is now a precious and scarce resource around the world. Reducing consumption will not only save water, but it will save energy and improve the health of our local streams and rivers.
Though you might question the importance of one individual's actions, each person can make a difference. In addition, when thousands of students on campus decrease their consumption, there is no doubt that Tufts' impact on the environment around us can be reduced.
Many common habits, such as leaving the tap on when brushing or shaving, turning the shower on many minutes before actually showering and not taking the time to report leaks, contribute to needless over-consumption of water. These habits are relatively painless to modify, but can make a significant difference. For example, four to 10 gallons of water can be saved every day by turning off the water while brushing teeth or shaving. A slow, steady leak can amount to a loss of 75 gallons of water per week!
By posting stickers in bathrooms, TMWW hopes to remind students to make small changes to conserve water and make it easier to report leaks. Students can inform facilities of leaks in their bathrooms that otherwise might go unnoticed for weeks simply by taking the time to call 617-627-3496 or going to the Facilities Web site and clicking "online service request."
Tufts' Medford campus is located in the Mystic River Watershed - the area of land that drains water into the Mystic River. In addition to promoting on-campus water conservation and awareness, members of TMWW are working to provide a link between Tufts and the communities of the Mystic River Watershed by collaborating on education initiatives, environmental health assessments and encouraging community activism. Through these actions, TMWW hopes to promote recreational opportunities along the river and improve watershed health.
A number of community groups, such as the Mystic River Watershed Association, are working to improve the health of the river and its watershed. TMWW works with these groups, often coordinating student volunteers, to help them achieve their goals. When these groups organize events and Tufts students come to help out, a lot can be accomplished.
TMWW coordinates student volunteers for a river clean-up each semester, trail restoration in the Fells (a large area of conserved land just minutes from campus) and invasive species eradication projects, in addition to participating in Earth Week and Kids Day at Tufts.
If you are interested in any of these projects, please e-mail me, and of course, please do not forget to turn off the tap!
