Charleston Waterkeeper has kicked off the Water the Future campaign.They’re asking lowcountry residents to share images of local waterways, give a little to support the cause, become a member, and spread the word about the Charleston Water keeper mission.

The Sustainability Institute

The Coastal Conservation League, who is celebrating their 20 year anniversary, is working hard every day to preserve our beautiful Lowcountry coast. They have a wide range of programs that are making a lasting impact on our community. The Coastal Conservation League is fighting bridges to small marsh islands, protecting freshwater wetlands, fighting port expansion, and watching out for our rivers just to name a few. With all of these active programs, plus a major effort to get local residents involved, their legacy can been seen throughout the Lowcountry.

Be sure to check them out online, get involved, and make a donation!

Charleston Waterkeeper was founded in September 2008 to preserve and protect the integrity of Charleston’s waterways by defending against pollution and contamination. Their focus is on our three major rivers and the tributaries that feed into them. By being an advocate for water, listening to local residents, and working with local officials, Charleston Waterkeeper is making a positive impact on our waterways that will last for generations. I really dig their abandoned boat program.

Please visit Charleston Waterkeeper online, Facebook, or on Twitter. If you want to get more involved, become a member by making a donation.

In conjunction with Charleston Waterkeeper and Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium, The Sustainability Institute is offering a bunch of water-related workshops this week. These workshops include Water Wise(r), Rainwater Catchment Systems, Green Roof Systems, Green Boat Maintenance, and more – good stuff!

In honor of Charleston Water Week, each day we’ll be featuring a different local nonprofit or business that is focused on water conservation and sustainability. After the jump, check out our list of local water orgs and businesses, as well as links to previous posts about water conservation.

Water-related Organizations and Businesses

• Charleston Waterkeeper
• Coastal Conservation League
• South Carolina Aquarium
• Carolina AlgaeControl
• Solar Hot Water Works
• Mount Pleasant Seafood

Water-related Posts on Go Green Charleston

• MESSA 8K for H20 :: A Run to Support Local Clean Water Initiatives
• Green Water Tips from Mount P Water Works
• Bottled Water Isn’t Safe from Drugs Either
• Conserving Water When It’s Dry
• A Chance to Help our Beaches and Rivers
• Water Saving Tips from Mount Pleasant
• Many South Carolina Rivers Unsafe for Recreation
• Bottled Water Labeled “From the Tap”
• Still Avoiding Bottled Water
• Mt. Pleasant to Monitor Stormwater Pollutants
• Avoiding the Bottled Water

Happy Water Week everyone!

You can still register online for $25 race/$20 walk. If you don’t want to commit, you can always get in on late registration at 8 a.m. the morning of the event, with  the race starting at 9.

• Recycle your dirty fish tank water by dousing your household plants. There’s plenty of good nitrogen and phosphorous, which plants love…just make sure you don’t have a salt water tank!
• Clean your veggies in a pan or bowl, instead of under running tap water. This will save on water usage, and you can reuse the water in plants or for household cleaning.
• When installing new gardens this spring, try to use native species. They use less water, fit into our local landscape, and naturally support native animals.

All good ideas on ways we can reduce the amount of fresh water we use – and every little bit helps. I love seeing utilities and government agencies spreading the word – cheers to MPW!

At any rate, one of the big stories this week is how pharmaceutical drugs are showing up in our nation’s drinking water. This isn’t a surprise – not only are we the most medicated civilization in history (yet, somehow the sickest too), but we’ve been told for years to put leftover prescription medications down the toilet.

I have a feeling there have been a few bottled water fans feeling vindicated by this news, but wait – not so fast. The FDA, who regulates the bottled-water industry, has no standards for pharmaceuticals in bottled water. This is good for the manufacturers, because most bottled water comes straight from the tap (which we’ve just learned is already contaminated with drugs).

Save your money, your life, and your planet – drink tap water!

In my opinion, humans are simply not meant to be raising, slaughtering and eating all of this livestock. It’s neither natural for our planet, nor our bodies. Look at your teeth in the mirror. Do they look like those of a carnivore? I’ll bet not. Molars are for for gnashing and grinding, and if your canines look long enough for tearing flesh, you might want to visit an orthodontist.

The impact of animal agriculture to our planet is devastating. Think of the amount of energy required! First, the crops must be grown and transported for the livestock feed. Then the animals have to be moved to the slaughterhouse. From there, it’s a fun-filled trip to the packing plant! Finally, the meat is wrapped and stamped and delivered to the grocery store. I wonder on road trips which trucks are driving for animal agriculture – more than I think.

It has been estimated that more than one-third of U.S. fossil fuel production goes towards animal agriculture. One-third.

Now, let’s talk water usage. Animal agriculture consumes roughly the equivalent amount of ALL OTHER USES of water in the U.S. combined. One pound of beef requires an input of about 2500 gallons of water- a pound of wheat requires 25 gallons.

Besides the chemicals used in cultivation (think seeping nitrates,) accidental pollution from manure dumps are an ongoing source of water pollution. Meaning our oceans, rivers and lakes are losing fish populations because of cow poop.

The reports are in! Adopting a vegan diet cuts more emissions annually than driving a Hybrid vehicle. I am not a vegan, but I don’t eat burgers.

So what do we eat?

It is so easy to prepare vegetarian dishes (and cheap!!) We include dairy and eggs in our diets. For breakfast I usually scramble an egg and microwave pancakes for the boys, and we all nosh on fruit all morning. I don’t care much for lunch, so I usually make the boys peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Lately I’ve been eating a honking huge genetically-engineered apple at lunch, it’s been freaking me out lately…another post, another time.

I am not a good cook, I am a messy cook. If I am motivated to play chef Jenny, it’s at dinner. Chad and Cooper love sandwiches, Garden Burgers and Moe’s. We all like pasta night. I enjoy making tacos with Boca Burger crumbles. I like making omelettes too. But, mostly, I love having a beer before and M&Ms after dinner.

There are so many wonderful restaurants in the area that offer vegetarian selections. In Mt. Pleasant, we frequent Five Loaves Cafe, Benito’s, Pattaya Thai and Mustard Seed. On the peninsula, the competition is so fierce, almost any chef will accommodate. We enjoy Basil, Mellow Mushroom and Il Cortile del Rey. Eating out is also a little cheaper when the meat is omitted.

It is comforting to know, that years ago, my instinct towards a vegetarian diet is and has been a little better for the planet. Eating a vegetable and fruit-based diet has always felt natural to me. Science is proving that our diet has a huge impact on Earth. We choose what we eat. See what feels natural to you AND your planet.

Since launching in 1988, it has become South Carolina’s largest one-day volunteer cleanup event. And on top of that, it’s our local connection with The Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup. Since its inception, a global family of volunteers has collected over 100 million pounds of garbage from shorelines around the world. That figure makes me kind of wonder what it would be like if they hadn’t…wow.

Here in Charleston County, 11,500 pounds of garbage was collected last year by 951 volunteers – that’s an impressive turnout! So if you fell like getting outside, hanging with friends, and making a difference, check out the Sea Grant website to find a team captain in your area.

• Watering the lawn uses 1000 gallons per hour, so try to cut back.
• Defrost food in the fridge, instead of under warm running water.
• Wash your vegetables in a partially filled pan, not under running water.
• Compost instead of using the garbage disposal.
• Reduce water usage by 20-25% by using low-flow fixtures.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to cleanup outside.
• Fix leaky faucets, toilets, and spickets.

Happy conservation!