Laurie Abkemeier

“Pabich, who holds a PhD in environmental engineering, presents a passionately personal account of fulfilling her dreams as a WaterKeeper that contains quantitative data and scholarly insights without being the least bit off-putting. Pabich’s chagrin at her monthly water bill tallying 30,000 gallons for two people jolted her in ways that many readers will relate to. Her self-image as a water deva (spirit), author, teacher, and public champion of sustainable water use compromised, she designed what she calls the Water Deva Challenge. Reducing her water footprint meant making small changes in her life in a high-alpine-desert locale, from enjoying her homemade solar shower despite having to disrobe in a backyard with a less-than- solid fence to developing a system for the judicious harvesting, collecting, storing, and distributing of rainwater while contriving arid landscaping alternatives to “our deeply embedded cultural attachment to the lawn.” Pabich winningly works DIY information into her humorous memoir.”