Many places around the world are experiencing drought and water scarcity. People are living with less water than they need. According to the World Wildlife Fund, roughly 1,1 billion people still don’t have access to water. That’s a lot of people. And despite the data, many people still don’t know how to use water sustainably.
Water affects everything: education, health, food and security. There are many examples of vulnerable cities facing water crises, such as Beijing, Cairo, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Istanbul, Lahore and Bangalore.
Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems and the world’s population alive are running dry or becoming polluted. An important strategy around the world has become the re-use of wastewater.
With this strategy individuals are able to recover water, nutrients, or energy. In turn countries are using wastewater for irrigation – which represents 7% of irrigated land in developing countries.
We’re in a water crisis. The story is similar everywhere and because of this, by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. Due to the water shortages, there are warnings of conflict and mass migration, which some experts say is already happening in Syria.
In a nutshell here’s why water conservation is key:
- Fresh water is scarce around the world.
- Humans need water to survive.
- A large amount of water is used to irrigate farmland for food production. The farming industry in South Africa are the leading direct users of water, consuming roughly 66% of water in South Africa.
- Water is essential for manufacturing (especially in heavy industries which require a lot of water as a power source or for cooling).
- Conserving water can save energy. To pump water and to use the sewage system, energy is required. By saving water you can reduce your carbon footprint and the water bill.
New technologies are emerging around us every day and innovative minds are working together to come up with new water saving solutions. With the severity of the water crisis it’s crucial to start thinking of long-term solutions rather than short term gains.
One area which is experiencing a lot of interest and innovation is desalination, known as turning saltwater into drinking water. Added to that there are also many nifty water saving devices which are being sold on the market.
The power of innovation and technology can help reduce the amount of water we use in our day to day life.
Water scarcity and drought however, has become a frequent phenomenon in many regions of the earth and it’s crucial to continue saving water. Safe and readily available water is necessary for the general health of humans.
A good amount of rainfall won’t solve the problem, since it takes between 500 and 1 300 years to fill an aquifer. We need to all take action today.
Everyone needs to join the conservation train, even if it only means implementing a few water saving techniques.
Every drop really does count.