Small actions make a big difference

Persistent rain, strong winds, erratic temperatures and flash floods have marked Ohio’s transition into summer. The month of June will go down as one of the top 10 wettest in history. Fellow editor Kelli Rodda, who is based out of Fort Worth, Texas, has also reported that the rains have finally put their immediate drought concerns to rest, after several dry years. North Texas received a record breaking 17 inches of rain in May.

However, that’s not the case everywhere, nor should we rest on our laurels just because some areas are out of the danger zone for now. As you’ll read in this month’s cover story, the western half of the U.S. is still plagued by a drought that took up residence about four years ago and has had California in a state of emergency for more than a year and a half. It’s estimated that this is the worst drought this part of the country has experienced in the past 800 plus years. And the dry spell is continuing. You can get the whole story here.

Don’t live in an area currently affected by drought? Just like the effects of the global economy trickle down to the North American market, the drought affects all of us in some way, shape or form. The prices of foods commonly produced in California will rise as the supply diminishes. Customers will be looking for a different type of plant to be able to comply with water restrictions, which may cause something of a trend in other areas. And most importantly, droughts can happen just about anywhere, so none of us can afford to ignore the problem, even if it’s not in our hometown.

So as we move into the warmest months of the year, consider making a few small changes where you can to conserve water: check the piping and irrigation systems for leaks at your store; avoid watering plants at the store during the hottest times of the day to avoid losing water by evaporation; steer customers away from water-hungry plants and toward drought-tolerant options; teach them how to water wisely; and commit yourself to simple efforts like taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth. Taking care of our water supply now will help guarantee the supply in the future.

kvarga@gie.net