When Philippe Cousteau and Cathryn Berger Kaye first met to discuss co-authoring a book for teenagers about the precarious state of the planet's water environment, the pair had no way of anticipating that an oil spill in the Gulf would draw even more attention to the worldwide water situation.

Last month, "Going Blue: A Teen Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers & Wetlands" was rushed to press by Free Spirit Publishing in Minneapolis because of the book's timeliness.

"All of us feel pretty helpless about the Gulf crisis, but the broader issue remains -- water is in crisis everywhere," said Judy Galbraith, president of Free Spirit.

While images of damaged wildlife and shoreline have dominated the media over the summer, Kaye believes teens concerned about the situation in the Gulf should consider taking action on behalf of their own local water environment.

"Not everyone can help with rescue efforts in the Gulf, but the message of our book is to be water smart right where you are," said Kaye, who is an international service-learning consultant. "Everyone has water issues in their own back yard."

Written in a teen-friendly format, "Going Blue" is a resource guide based on a the service-learning model (where youth volunteer -- and learn from -- various projects). This is set in five stages: investigation, preparation, action, reflection and demonstration. The book is filled with photos, stories, facts and tips about ways to care for the water environment whether at home (reducing a shower by one minute saves 7 to 10 gallons of water) or in the community.

The "Teens in Action" sections spotlight stories about real kids from around the world, including students in grades 6 to 8 from Blake School in Minneapolis who conducted a hazardous products inventory project in their own homes, researched proper methods of disposal, and presented the results to their school community.

Another topic addressed in the book is bottled water: 34.6 billion single-serving bottles of water are sold in the U.S. every year and 9 out of 10 of those bottles end up as garbage or litter. Additionally, about 40 percent of bottled water is actually tap water.

This is the kind of basic information that Kaye hopes teens use to change their own habits and those of others around them.

"It's our every-day actions that matter so deeply," she said.

Cousteau, the co-author, is a grandson of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, and CEO of EarthEcho International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring young people to take action on behalf of what he calls "the water planet."

Since the spill, Cousteau has witnessed firsthand its devastating effects during dives in the Gulf and trips along the oil-covered marshes of the Louisiana coast.

"This disaster reminds all of us that an environmental tragedy is a human tragedy every time," Cousteau said in a phone interview. "It is a very visible reminder of the consequences of our dependence on fossil fuel."

He believes teens already have power and influence when it comes to affecting environmental change right in their own communities.

"Water connects all of us, no matter what issues young people are interested in, whether it is local food, government or law," he said. "They can make whatever difference they feel passionate about making. It's all about helping them become better citizens of the planet."

It's that natural energy and creativity that teenagers have that can lead them toward change and help them learn from others working for the same cause, said Galbraith of Free Spirit.

For his part, Cousteau believes the stories in "Going Blue" about the efforts of teens around the globe offer models for young people.

"It is inspiring to see what other people are doing," he said. "Hopefully, teens will see that if others can make a difference, anyone can."

Julie Pfitzinger is a West St. Paul freelance writer. Have an idea for the Your Family page? E-mail us at tellus@startribune.com with "Your Family" in the subject line.