All of our natural resources are vitally important in our lives, but this year iConservePA.org will turn its attention to water.  H2O: Home 2 Outdoors will seek to draw attention to how water is with us everywhere in life, and how simple actions we take can protect and conserve this precious, limited resource.

A few facts to consider:

-- More than 3 million rural and suburban residents in Pennsylvania rely on a private well for drinking water. Pennsylvania is ranked #2 in the nation for the number of households on private wells.

-- More than a quarter of our household water use goes down the toilet.

-- Each of us consumes about 80-100 gallons of water a day. An average residence uses 100,000 gallons a year inside and outside the house.

-- Pennsylvania is blessed with 86,000 miles of streams and rivers of all sizes, some only around for short periods of the year; 4,000 lakes, reservoirs, and ponds; and 400,000 acres of wetlands.

iConservePA.org will connect you to information, events, workshops, programs, videos, websites that will help you become more attuned to the water in your life. Look for new web content and contests to start in April.

Here’s a start with some upcoming events:

-- "Backyard Buffers & Rain Barrel Making," a free presentation to inform residents on water conservation and stormwater management practices. Attendees will learn to construct fully functional rain barrels from recycled food grade barrels March 27 in Darby and April 30 in Drexel Hill. Register online or contact Diana Andrejczak at 610-353-1555 ext. 232. Online registration is preferred.

-- PA Watershed Conference will be held April 5-6 in State College. Watershed associations, sportsmen’s clubs, Trout Unlimited chapters, and others who work daily to protect the great natural beauty of Pennsylvania’s waters are expected to attend.

-- Drinking Water Education Series will be held four Thursdays in April at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center near Wind Gap, Northampton County. This four-part series will focus on where our water comes from, how it gets to us, what factors could compromise its quality, and how you can ensure that clean water is available for you and future generations.

For more information, visit the iConservePA.org website.

3/11/2013