Australian Gives Advice to Californians

In this article, an Australian offers advice on how to better conserve water, targeting a California audience, which is currently facing a serious drought. The author explains that after facing a ten year drought, last year Australian officials took a large step into preventing further drought and eventually bringing the water supply level to 40% of its original content, as opposed to the 16% it faced at the time. Authorities started what was called the Target140 campaign, which called to bring the daily water consumption of one person from 80 gallons to 37 gallons (140 liters). The program was very successful, bringing the daily water consumption from 80 to 32 gallons in just two weeks. They accomplished this by using a cheap advertisement campaign which got individuals to think about conserving water. Such advertisements heard on the radio and on commercials brought up such ideas as turning the water off while brushing your teeth, taking four minute showers, and only washing full loads of laundry, among other ideas.

The author was very convincing in this opinion editorial by using several statistics which showed how successful the Target140 was and the positive affect a similar campaign could have in the state of California. It is very important that California get out of the current drought that it faces as California is a major supplier of produce. Prices for such produce will continue to rise if this drought continues. Hopefully this particular opinion editorial and others like it will be heard by local California residents as well as political figures. Californian’s need to know of the growing problem that is at hand and how they personally can make a difference.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-whyte4-2009jan04,0,7996717.story