From Monday, Sept. 2 at 8 a.m. to Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at noon, the University of Idaho’s Student Sustainability Cooperative and Vandal Entertainment will celebrate the five-day water conservation program, “Water Week”. The event aims to discuss the urgency of conserving water in the Palouse and beyond and will include practical activities to introduce you to new perspectives. If you’re wondering why conserving water is necessary when it seems abundant, this event might open your eyes to a reality you don’t often hear: we are running out of usable water.
Water Week is a five-day program with different events that you can attend to learn the “whys” and “hows” of water conservation. The program includes trivia competitions, workshops, a movie night, Q&A sessions and more.
Sept. 3
Water Week begins at the Lookout Bar and Grill at the University of Idaho campus at 6 p.m. with trivia where you can showcase your knowledge about water. Take your chance to win a special prize for first place, fully sponsored by Vandal Entertainment.
Sept. 4
Events on this day will take place in the Clearwater Room of the Idaho Student Union Building, from 10 a.m. to noon. Experts from different fields will speak about various aspects of the current water crisis, sharing their knowledge and experiences. You can attend any or all the presentations depending on what new information you want to learn.
Sept. 5
The day will kick off with Aqua Fest, where you can compete in a consumption obstacle course. Participants will also celebrate National Groundwater Day with community organizations and have the chance to learn water conservation tips from local groups. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Idaho Student Union Building Green.
Sept. 6
Come to the University of Idaho Swim Center with friends to enjoy a movie night, win prizes in trivia and more. The swim center will be screening “Raya and the Last Dragon,” and if you want a comfortable spot, arrive early. The swim-up movie night will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Don’t forget to bring your floaties!
Sept. 7
Meet at the Tower Lawn at 10 a.m. to volunteer with the Student Sustainability Cooperative. You can help place “No Dumping” documents across the campus on storm drains to remind students and employees not to pollute water sources. Joining this volunteer work will earn you two hours of community service on campus. The SSC will offer the first 60 signed-up students limited-edition biodegradable Water Week stickers.
Our daily water comes from underground sheds that fill over years as water filters through the soil, primarily from rain. As the population grows, so does our need for water. Since these watersheds can hold a limited amount of water and take years to refill, wasting water drains them faster than they can replenish. Our insincerity has the dangerous potential to deprive us of a resource that is vital for life.
While water is available almost everywhere, usable water is not. A large portion of the world’s water is saltwater, and many freshwater sources are often contaminated with bacteria, harmful microbes and hazardous substances like arsenic. Safe water sources are therefore not as available as many think, highlighting why water conservation is urgent for both the present and the future.
To see the Water Week events in full detail, click here.
Saugata Debnath can be reached at [email protected]