Rain, we miss you.

My Ocean View
By Jennifer Roush

One thing I immediately noticed after I moved down here from Morgantown, W.Va., is the difference in the amount of rainfall. In Morgantown, I almost expected it to rain more often than not. It was gray and rainy much of the time. The city itself received 41.2 inches of rain a year.

Since moving down here, I often think, where is the rain? And I don’t think I’m the only one asking that question.

In the statistics I have come across, I found the average annual rainfall for Wrightsville Beach to be around 50.85 inches. To put this into perspective, the annual rainfall in Seattle is 36 inches.
Therefore, as we enjoy the sunny days, we cannot help but notice the lack of rain. And as day after day goes by with little to no rainfall, we see our need for water conservancy go up.

The town issued a water conservation proclamation on Sept. 13 requesting voluntary action. Who took that to heart? Are people turning their sprinklers off and taking shorter showers?

This is a problem all over the state. I believe it’s time to stop waiting, thinking the rain situation is going to turn around, and that it’s imperative to take water conservation seriously.

Below are measures listed in the town’s proclamation:
* Limit lawn watering to that which is necessary for plants to survive.
* Water shrubbery the minimum amount required, reusing household water when possible.
* Limit vehicle washing to the minimum.
* Refrain from washing down outside areas such as sidewalks, patios and the like.
* Use showers for bathing rather than bathtubs, and limit showers to no more than four minutes.
* Refrain from leaving faucets running while shaving or rinsing dishes.
* Limit use of clothes washers and dishwashers and when used, operate fully loaded.
* Install water-flow restrictive devices in showerheads.
* Use disposable and biodegradable dishes.
* Install water-saving devices such as bricks, plastics, bottles or commercial units in toilet tanks.