Wasting Water - Why Does it Matter

Water is one of the earths most valuable resources, and conservation of water is necessary as
water transportation and treatment requires large amounts of energy with the consequent
impact on the environment that arises from this. By saving water you can also help protect
wildlife that live in rivers and wetlands as the more water that is used in our homes, the less
there is available in rivers, lakes and wetlands. For example, when water levels in rivers fall,
food sources for birds can be lost, and oxygen levels can fall dangerously low for fish. In 2005,
groundwater levels were lower than they have been for 20 years.

The energy impact with the use of water is also high as heating water accounts for a lot of the
energy used in homes, so the more water used, the more energy that is needed.

Water and sewerage are charged through a combination of standing charges and volumetric
charges. Reducing water consumption results in savings both in water and sewerage costs.
Water is also not as abundant as it first may appear. Here in the UK we have less water than
the hotter Mediterranean countries such as France, Italy and Spain. We are using 50% more
water than we did 25 years ago.

Do you know how much water you are wasting every day? How about every year?
You may not realize that in completing basic tasks, such as washing your hands or
brushing your teeth, you could be using more water than you need. You may be
surprised to know that although over 70% of the Earths surface is water, 97% of
that water is salt water, leaving only 3% for fresh water. Of that, only 1% is fit for
human consumption. Though water is technically a renewable resource, our supply
of water is decreasing faster than it can be replenished.

The good news is there are a few minor changes you can make in order to
conserve the water we do have. By using low-flow fixtures, you have the potential
to save 40,000 gallons of water per year. Low-flow fixtures are available for
faucets, washing machines, shower heads and toilets. Just think... If every
household in the United States used low-flow fixtures, in just one year, we could
save 2 trillion gallons of water and 4 billion dollars.

THE EFFECTS OF WASTING WATER

Although everyone is aware of the fact that wasting water is bad, many people do
not truly understand why. In addition to a higher water bill, leaving a faucet on
while brushing teeth, taking long showers and allowing broken sprinklers to leak
hundreds of gallons can all have major consequences for the environment. There
are several ways water is currently consumed as well as several ways to cut back on
this consumption.
Residential Use

The World Health Organization estimates that one out of every six people do not
have access to safe drinking water, and approximately 3,900 children die every day
due to waterborne illness. While residential water use only accounts for about one
tenth of the total water consumption, every little bit helps and if everyone were to be
conscientious about their water usage, the amount of water saved would be
substantial.

Farming

Farming and raising livestock account for 75 percent of water consumption today.
People across the world are consuming more meat than ever before and what they
may not realize is that it takes as much as 15 times more water to produce a
kilogram of beef than it does to produce a kilogram of wheat. Add in the ever
growing population of the planet and these figures are staggering. Consumers can
help lower the overall amount of water used in farming by incorporating more
vegetarian meals into their diet and encouraging others to do the same.
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Climate Change

The climate change itself has contributed to increased water consumption because it
causes wetter wet regions and more arid dry regions. Water reservoirs are unable to
handle bigger floods of water, and crops and trees often end up wilting or dying
when water dries up. Another big water consumer that can be attributed to climate
change is that Western governments are subsidizing the growth of crops for biofuel.
In 2009, the United Nations estimated that 2 percent of water used for irrigation was
used on biofuel crops. With increased demands for these crops, water consumption
could increase fourfold.

Industry

Water is used in many of the steps involved in manufacturing products, from

fabrication and processing to washing and transport. Luckily, industrial users are at
the forefront of the water conservation movement. Many businesses, such as Coca
Cola, are steps ahead of government legislation. The soft-drink giant has promised
to cut water consumption by 20 percent by 2012. If consumers and industrialists
alike urge farmers to follow this trend, the world will have water for many more
decades to come.