Referring to Arizona water, Kris Mayes, chairman of the state's Utilities Regulatory Board, once said, "How can you tell how precious water is in a dry state like Arizona?” he said. “It's like credit card advertising: it's priceless” (McKinnon). He was right, because in a dry state like Arizona, water is pretty important. To say that water is “pretty important” to the world is an understatement. We use water to function. And when we think about water we think about saving it. Keep faucets from dripping or turn off the water while brushing your teeth. There are numerous water conservation tips, but people often don't think about the damage that has already been done. Damage as "dead zones". Dead zones in the ocean have existed for years and are constantly growing. So, what are ocean dead zones? It's exactly as the words suggest. Dead zones are areas of the ocean devoid of life. When there is a decrease in oxygen levels in the ocean, marine life is unable to survive (Vogt). They flee or die, leaving those areas vacant as the zones expand. Dead zones end up resembling “biological deserts” (“What is”). Ocean dead zones are caused by climate change, synthetic fertilizers and toxic waste. Increasing biodiversity, stopping the use of synthetic fertilizers and using ecotechnology will help understand dead zones and are worth examining. Since the 1960s, dead zones have doubled every 10 years (McDermott). In 2008 the number of dead zones was 400 (McDermott). They have been found near the coast of Asia, New Zealand, the Black Sea and Australia, to name a few (Yarbrough). They have also been found in Lake Eerie (“The Gulf of”). One of the ocean's largest dead zones is located in the Gulf of... center of map... New Jersey." Nature and science daily news and headlines | National Geographic News. National Geographic Society, May 25, 2005. Web. April 11, 2011. “The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone.” Microbial Life Educational Resources. Web. March 10, 2011. Townsend, Alan R. and Robert W. Howarth Nitrogen Problem.” Scientific American 302.2 (2010): 64-71. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. April 14, 2011. Vogt, D. “Ocean Dead Zones Explained.” Helium - Where Knowledge Rules. June 29, 2010. Web March 16, 2011. “What is a Dead Zone?” National Ocean Service Web March 10, 2011. Weiss, Kenneth R. “Scientists Blame Ocean Dead Zones on Climate Change – SFGate.” February 20, 2008. Web. April 12, 2011. Yarbrough, Darrin A. "The Causes of Ocean Dead Zones - Where Knowledge Rules".. 2011.