It’s important to use water wisely. While yes, we have big oceans, and yes it rains, water is limited. Over the years  water supplies have remained at basically the same level but demand has further and further increased, which is where we’re going to run into problems.

As noted in the award-winning documentary FLOW…

• Of the 6 billion people on earth, 1.1 billion do not have access to safe, clean drinking water (www.charitywater.org).
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency currently does not regulate 51 known water contaminants (www.foodandwaterwatch.org).
• The average American uses 150 gallons of water per day, but those in developing countries cannot find five (www.charitywater.org).
• Water is a $400 billion dollar global industry; the third largest behind electricity and oil (CBS News).
• California?s water supply is running out there’s only about 20 years of water left in the state (Maude Barlow, author of Blue Covenant and co-author of Blue Gold, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians).
• There are over 116,000 human-made chemicals that are finding their way into public water supply systems (William Marks, author of Water Voices from Around the World).

And that’s just the tip of what appears to be a quickly melting iceberg. Water loss also is thought to be occurring due to global warming, and of course people in developed nations waste water every single day without giving it a second thought.

As one way of raising awareness, Rain Bird, a leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, developed the Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition, which is now in it’s third year. The competition uses the power of film to increase awareness and the discussion surrounding the need for more responsible water use, giving both amateur and experienced filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their film making talents. The 2009 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition finalists were just recently announced. I watched all six films and the two I like best are Small Changes by Jennifer & Christopher Gandin Le – Austin, TX and One Single Bucket by Megan Schuyler and Diana Opong-Parry – Spokane, WA.

All the finalists will be featured guests during a special screening event on September 23, 2009 at The Getty Center, where 2008 Jury Prize Winner, David Sutera, will serve as master of ceremonies. Two winners will be announced and awarded cash prizes of $6,000 for the jury’s selection and $3,000 for the audience favorite.

Check out all six finalists videos at the Intelligent Use of Water and visit FLOW to learn more about the importance of water conservation.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Intelligent Use of Water Finalists