Drought Mitigation
Mitigation means actions that we can take before, or at the beginning of, drought to help reduce the impacts of drought. There are many things that people do to prepare for drought, including finding additional water supplies and conserving water that is already available.

Creating, Storing, and Distributing Water Supplies
Dams
Many people rely on rain and snowfall to meet their water needs, but these sources of water aren't always available when they're needed. To make sure that they have enough water throughout the year, people sometimes construct dams to store water for times of need. About 75,000 large dams have been built in the United States, and the number is growing. However, building dams can have some unwanted consequences, so there is increasing pressure to find new ways of building up our water supplies.

Links to more information on dams:
National Geographic's Geoguide on Dams explains how dams work and the consequences (both good and bad) they have.

For information on dams around the world, check out the World Commission on Dams website.

The U.S. Army maintains a National Inventory of Dams.

American Rivers has some general information about U.S. dams.

Groundwater and Wells
Aquifers contain large amounts of water under the surface of the earth (groundwater). In other words, an aquifer is like an underground lake. Some aquifers are very large, like the Ogallala Aquifer, which lies under portions of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Ogallala contains enough water to cover the United States with one and a half feet of water.

People drill wells into aquifers so that they can bring water to the surface for many different purposes, like crop irrigation or drinking water for cities. But there is only a certain amount of water in these aquifers. Many times people pump so much water from these aquifers that they are reduced to levels that threaten the water supply. Human activities can also pollute these underground water supplies so much that it becomes very hard to purify them enough for human use. This is especially troublesome in times of drought when people need as much water as they can get. Many communities are taking steps to make sure that these resources are protected. See the Groundwater Foundation's website for more information on ways people are trying to protect their groundwater sources.

Links to more information on groundwater and wells:
The Groundwater Foundation Kids' Corner has everything you ever wanted to know about groundwater, plus an edible "cool groundwater activity" (you can build your own edible model aquifer). And check out the Groundwater Foundation's Recharge Report for Kids; it has links to many interesting games and activities.

USGS's Water Science for Schools has more information about aquifers.

USGS's Aquifer Basics has links to interactive maps showing the locations of aquifers in the United States.

Canals and Pipelines
Water canals and pipelines have been constructed in many places to make sure that as many people as possible have access to our common water supplies. Canals like the Central Arizona Project and the Los Angeles Aqueduct carry billions of gallons of water each year to areas that do not have enough water. Smaller pipelines also transport water to millions of people living in cities and rural homes. You can contact your local water authority to see where your water comes from and how it gets into your home.

Links to more information on canals and pipelines:
Central Arizona Project

Los Angeles Aqueduct

The Environmental Protection Agency's Public Drinking Water Programs has links to local drinking water systems.

Desalination
With recent advances in technology, turning seawater into water that is usable for human needs is becoming easier. Although desalination (removing salt from seawater) is still expensive, some U.S. cities, such as Tampa, Florida, are building desalination plants to help meet their growing water needs. When completed, the Tampa Bay Desalination Project will be the largest desalination plant of its kind in the United States. Several more plants are being planned in states like Texas, California, and Hawaii.

Links to more information on desalination:
Tampa Bay Desalination Plant

Community Science Action Guides has a description of the process of desalination.

Water Conservation
Instead of trying to come up with costly new water sources, another idea is to make better use of the water resources that we already have. Here are a few of the methods that people are using to conserve water.

Water-Saving Devices
New devices are constantly being invented that use less water to perform everyday tasks. For example, the largest water users in our homes are showers and toilets, which account for about two-thirds of the water used in an average household. In many cases, new low-flow toilets and showerheads can cut this water use in half. Front-loading washing machines are another water-saving device. Farmers and some companies are also using new devices to reduce water use in their businesses. For example, many farmers are using new sprinkler irrigation systems or drip irrigation systems that can dramatically reduce their water use. Speak to your parents about devices that you could install around the home or at their workplace to save water. Some local water agencies will even pay for water-saving devices, as an incentive to get people to reduce their water use. Check with your local water planning program to see what is available in your area.

Links to more information about water-saving devices:
Water Wiser's website has links to many sites on water-saving devices.

Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping around homes and businesses that uses a limited amount of water. If you've ever been to Arizona, you've probably noticed that instead of grass lawns, many people cover their yards with decorative rocks and low water use plants. These lawns use little or no water but are still attractive. Many people across the country are using this technique to reduce their water use. You can still plant grass, shrubs, and trees using the xeriscaping method. The key is to use only as much water as the plants need, and to choose landscaping designs and plants that make the best use of available rainfall.

Links to more information about xeriscaping:
What is Xeriscape?

The City of Albuquerque's About Xeriscaping page has facts and tips.

The WaterWiser website has xeriscaping links.

Colorado Springs Utilities has answers to Frequently Asked Questions about xeriscaping.

Water Recycling
In the past, people usually let water run back into the ground, down drains, or directly into rivers when they were finished using it. But now many people are trying to find ways of reusing water. For example, some cities are treating their wastewater and reusing it to water golf courses and city parks. Another example is a Denver water park, Water World, which has begun to recycle splash water into other parts of the water park. These and other conservation measures allow businesses to reduce water use or else expand their businesses by using their existing water supply more efficiently.

Links to more information on water recycling:
The Environmental Protection Agency answers some basic questions about water recycling.

The WateReuse Association has answers to frequently asked questions about water reuse.

Water Banking
Water banking is a water management strategy that some U.S. states are using to allow the temporary transfer of water from those who are willing to lease it to those who are willing to pay to use it. It isn't much different from normal banking, with water being used instead of cash: farmers and other people who hold water rights agree to temporarily let others use their allocation of water in return for a fee. The hope is that the market system will help balance the supply and demand of water and lead to more efficient water use. However, some fear that this system will benefit wealthy users while neglecting environmental needs and those unable to afford the water.

Links to more information about water banking:
University of Nevada-Reno fact sheet

Arizona Water Banking Authority

Using Less Water in Our Lives
People are beginning to develop other unique ways to reduce the amount of water that they use in businesses and everyday lives. Water World, a Denver water park, has stopped putting ice cubes in drinks, saving them an estimated 30,000 gallons of water per year. Other businesses are trying to find ways to reduce the amount of water that they use. Check out the links below to find out about things that you can do around your home, school, and community to reduce water use.

Links to more information about water conservation:
You can find the link to the Delaware River Basin Commission's Drought Information for Kids page by scrolling to the bottom of the blue frame on the left-hand side of the page.

New Jersey AWWA's Water Zone for Kids

The EEK! (Environmental Education for Kids) water page, Water Wonders, comes from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

City of Phoenix kids' page

The city of Arlington, Texas, Water Kids Page

The New York City Water Saver's Workbook

Many local (city or town) governments have websites. Check out the website for your locality to see if they have water conservation tips for your area.