Water Facts

Did you know... 
... 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water is found in a single lake in Russia called Lake Baikal
... it take sup to 2900 gallons of water to make a single pair of jeans
... the expiration date on a bottle of water is for the bottle, Not the water
... approximately 400 billion gallons of water are used in the US in a single day
... the average European uses half the the daily amount of water as the average American
... a gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs

My Your Our Water

Lake Powell

Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado River that was created by the flooding of Glen Canyon by the Glen Canyon Dam.  Due to high water withdrawals for human and agricultural consumption in combination with regional droughts, Lake Powell is only at 45 percent capacity and is at risk of reaching the lowest level on record by September of 2015.  
The changing water levels in Lake Powell have been  monitored by NASA and can be viewed here.

My Your Our Water

Three Ladies and A Trike

Conversation and Conservation were both easy with these two charming ladies. Not only do they turn the water off when they brush their teeth but they whipped out their smart phones and texted River to 77177 in support of Change the Course. Way to go ladies!

My Your Our Water

Did you KNOW?

Every day portable restrooms save 125 million gallons of fresh water?

The average toilet uses 6 gallons of water per flush.

Dare we say, if it's yellow, let it mellow?

My Your Our Water

Trikers

Katie and CJ were on hand to answer questions about My Your Our Water. Thanks for sharing your water and art knowledge with the world. We raise a glass of cold water to your support.

My Your Our Water

water

life.

cleansing.

womb.

My Your Our Water

At Night

My Your Our is lighting up the Arizona Canal at night, calling attention to our water.

This image was submitted by Ryan T. 

My Your Our Water

Magic

" I love the beach, especially going to the beach with my fmaily and friends. There is something, as cheesy as it sounds, magical about the ocean.

This image of Morro Bay at the Sea rock as submitted by Stephanie C. from Clovos, CA.

My Your Our Water

Growing  A Sidewalk

"Water should not be taken for granted."

 This image of wasted sprinkler water was submitted by Rachel T.

My Your Our Water

Scottsdale Waterfront

If you live in Scottsdale and have not been to the waterfront in Old Town,  what's stopping you?Take a stroll on the Arizona Canal by the Soleri Bridge and check out  the illuminated My Your Our floating in the Canal.

My Your Our Water

Dry Dock
Folsom Lake is located at the base of the Sierra Foothills which is about 25 miles east of Sacramento, California. The lake was formed by the Folsom Dam which was constructed in 1955 to control the AMerican River. As a direct result of the current draught, the once submerged mining town, Mormon Island, has resurfaced.

This image of the shrinking lake was submitted by Felix A.

My Your Our Water

Student Triker

This is a Christina. Her enthusiasm for the Trike and for water conversation was unquenchable. We will over look her red chucks since she went all out and put on the My Your Our Water trike helmet.

My Your Our Water

Water Umbrella

Not all water falls under the same quality umbrella. In the United States public water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which requires multiple daily tests for bacteria and makes results available to the public. Bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration which only requires weekly testing and does not share its findings with the EPA or the public.

My Your Our Water

Chattanooga 

Ruby Falls, a 145 foot waterfall is located  1,120 feet below the surface of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee.The Falls are located at the end of the main passage of Ruby Falls Cave, in a large vertical shaft. The stream is fed both by rainwater and natural springs. It collects in a pool on the cave floor and then continues flowing through the mountain until it finally joining the Tennessee River. This image was shared by Tony S.

My Your Our Water

Two Towers

Reedley is a small city in Fresno County, California. For those unfamiliar with west coast geography, Reedley is in the heart of the the San Joaquin Valley, "The world's Fruit Basket". A single family dwelling is charge $12.75 for 15,000 gallons of water which translates to a water rate of $.85 per 1,000 gallons.   To put that water rate into perspective, for $12.75 you could purchase approximately 5 bottles of Evian. 

My Your Our Water

A Skip and a Jump

Tenaya Lake, originally named "Pie-we-wack"  or Lake of the Shining Rocks", is an alpine lake located in Yosemite National Park.  The lake basin was created by the Tenaya Glacier which left behind the surrounding backdrop of granite rock. In 2011 funds were dedicated to the restoration and conservation of the lake habitat through rerouting hiking trails away from sensitive wetlands. This image was shared by Andrew D.

My Your Our Water

Pooling Resources

The average pool uses  roughly 18,000 gallons of water.

Conversely, it takes approximately 18,000 gallons of water to raise 4lbs of steak.

Interested in water footprints? click here

My Your Our Water

Ducks not Decoys

More than 90% of California's wetlands have been degraded or destroyed. The remaining wetlands provide home, nesting and food for over 350 bird species including 26 whose survival is in danger. Over 200 species live here year round- the others use it as a stop on the globally important Pacific Flyway.

"There are over 800 acres of wetland in Watsonville along the central coast- it is important to birds, mammals, fish, insects, etc and hopefully people!" 

This image was submitted by Pat S in Watsonville California.

My Your Our Water

Painting Water

"Water is a part of my art. Here in the Central Valley we have been in drought for a long time. We don't see water. Water is life."   Here is my painting, I am left to create my own water.

This image was shared by Mirabelle  from Fresno, CA.

My Your Our Water

Things with Wheels

Out on the canal the Trike encounter a SRP work crew. Maintenance along the canal can entail just about anything you can imagine- even fixing a bit of steel railing that was rusting or helping out a tricked out trike with loose fender. Thanks!

My Your Our Water

Fog

Fog is a cool atmospheric phenomenon that occurs most often in locations with nearby bodies of water, but thats not always the case. Simply put, fog is a visible mass consisting of cloud water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the ground. It is considered a form of low-lying cloud, and is heavily influenced by nearby bodies of water, topography, wind conditions, and even human activities. Fog has been known to be devastating for sailors through out maritime history. The creation of audible signals such as bells, gongs, canons and the foghorn, warn vessels of navigational hazards. 

My Your Our Water

TRIKING 101

The Arizona Canal extends far to the west and the east. If  Triking the multi use path and traveling east, one can find herself crossing under the 101 freeway system. The canal continues across the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land: the Pima, "Akimel O'Odham" (River People) and the Maricopa, "Xalychidom Piipaash" (People who live toward the water).  The Maricopa tribes lived together along the Gila and Colorado rivers and migrated towards the Pima tribes. They banded together for protection against the Apache and Yuman tribes. The Pima are descendants of the Hohokam who farmed the Salt River Valley creating the elaborate canal irrigation system that is still used today.

My Your Our Water

Soleri

A stone skip from the My Your Our water installation on the Scottsdale Waterfront is the Soleri Bridge.  After visiting My Your Our water, Tatjana E snapped this photo of the water refections of the Arizona Canal on the underside of the bridge.

My Your Our Water

Legend of the Falls

The  dramatic Iguazu Falls are along the Iguazu River (which means Big Water in Guarani) which borders Argentina and Brazil. The legend is that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman called Naipi. This young woman fled with her mortal  true love Taroba. In a terrible fit of rage, the deity sliced the river creating the falls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.  

This image was submitted by Elvira B from San Jose CA. She had the opportunity to learn  about My Your Our Water during a trip to Arizona and a visit to the Scottsdale Waterfront.

My Your Our Water

After the Rain

The average annual rainfall for Arizona is 8.04 inches. Needless to say when it rains, it is an event. This image was shared by Miguel M after the rain.

My Your Our Water

Without Water

Gaujyihoua Y   from Fresno CA shared these images from her visit to Huntington Lake as well as her experience of having no water for three days. 

"Everyone knows that water is important but I don't think anyone realizes "how important" it is until they don't have it. Just last year, my family and I (and probably the entire apartment complex) had to go through three days without water because the pipes were broken. It was during the middle of the summer and we were unable to shower. We had stock piled water to be used for hand washing, drinking, and making food.  Just imagine the people who never have access to clean water throughout the course of their lives. My point is, water is a necessity of life. We use it for everything and we take it for granted until we have almost nothing left."

My Your Our Water

Isabella & Emily

This dynamic duo was out and about enjoying the activities along the Scottsdale Waterfront when they took the time to chat about water. Little Isabella listened intently  about the canal as a working waterway that delivers water to her bathroom sink. Thanks for turning the tap off while you brush !

My Your Our Water

At the Carwash, again

The carwash industry is a $23 billion economic sector that obviously relies on water. Using anywhere from 25-60 gallons per car, many professional car washes are moving towards recycling systems that make water conservation not only easy but economically smart. The incentive to save and re-use water increases the profit margin... what's not to like? This image was submitted by Sarah K in Knoxville, TN.

My Your Our Water

Cape Fear 

Sorry, no  Bobby De Niro here, just the stunning Cape Fear River - a blackwater river. It is a deep slow moving channel that runs through the swampy wetlands of North Carolina emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The abundant vegetations  decay in the water raising the acidity level and deepening the color similar to that of a well steeped tea. This image from Wilmington, NC was submitted by Bradley T.

" I  hope this beautiful place is around for the next generation to enjoy."

My Your Our Water

The Littlest Triker 

It's never too early to trike or to learn the value of clean water. This sweet mother daughter team are ardent art supporters and water conservation connoisseurs. Joanna and Luisa would have taken over Triking duties if given the opportunity.  Who could resist water facts from this double team?

My Your Our Water