Water: Why it's Important and How You Can Help
Hey legacy-makers it’s Samy here!
For this week’s blog, we’ll be diving into the importance of water, a very precious resource. It’s safe to say we are all highly reliant on this resource daily. However, water is rapidly scarce and it is our duty to protect and conserve it to the best of our ability.
Water Scarcity
It is important to take into consideration the growing need for clean water around the world. Did you know that 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh.?. According to World WildLife, approximately 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe water and 2.7 billion people find water scarce one month a year. Water is an essential resource to our daily lives hence we must protect it and keep the limited supply away from pollution. One of the first steps in doing so is learning why saving water is important.
The Importance of Water Conservation
1. Protects ecosystem and preserves our environment
Water systems such as rivers and lakes keep our ecosystems thriving. Water provides energy to the wildlife. When water becomes scarce, the animals become weak and at risk. Over half of the world’s wetlands have disappeared and the other half is almost too polluted to use. Additionally, aquatic life is severely affected by the toxicity of polluted water.
2. Feeds a growing human population
Water is required to grow food such as fruits, vegetables and other produce. Droughts, water shortages and pollution prevents food from growing, leading to a starving population.
3. Saves energy and money
Water pumping facilities require a lot of energy to run the equipment, hence conserving water will also lead to saving energy and reducing your carbon footprint. Practicing conserving water also allows for water bills to be drastically lower. Additionally, an inadequate supply of water leads to greater health problems, causing bills to be high. Therefore, conserving water not only benefits the greater good of the environment, but our personal needs as well.
4. Decreases water shortages and droughts
Although the water returns to the Earth through the water cycle, it is not always the same quality and quantity. This causes droughts, shortages and dry weather. By conserving and protecting water, this lessens the chance of there being a drought.
5. Higher availability for recreational purposes and builds safe communities
Clean water is necessary for human recreational activities such as watering lawns and plants, washing cars, swimming pools, spas and many more. Additionally, hospitals, gyms, gas stations, fire stations, restaurants and other services to the community are highly reliant on water. For these activities to safely continue, fresh water must be conserved.
And the list goes on. The uses of water are endless. Water is involved in almost all of our daily activities. However, there are several ways you can conserve water daily!
How you can Help
1. Use a rain barrel
A rain barrel is a great way to catch rainwater which can be reused for outdoor tasks such as watering plants, cleaning the driveway, and for car washes. This is a great alternative to using water straight out of the faucet which in turn saves not only water but energy as well.
2. Do not let faucets run
On average running faucets waste about 8 gallons of water a day. Turning off taps when not in use can go a long way. Additionally, using low pressure water is also a great way to conserve water. Using the highest pressure is unnecessary and a waste of clean water.
3. Take showers instead of baths or smaller baths
Baths on average use about 70 gallons of water, where-as showers use about 25 gallons. Another alternative is to fill the bathtub partially which is just as effective as a full bathtub. Additionally, shortening your showers by 2 minutes can save upto 10 gallons.
4. Only run full loads
Doing laundry or dishwashing only when you have a full load can save up on a lot of fresh water. This can help save water and energy as well. This is an efficient alternative.
5. Invest in companies that minimize water usage
(keep an eye out for greenwashing, check out our last blog for more information)
A few companies making great efforts to reduce water usage in their operations are:
Levi’s - waterless denim
Annheuer-Busch - emergency drinking water program
Marks and Spencer - partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Here are a few more companies that work to provide products and services that aid in water conservation:
TOTO - manufacture high-efficiency toilets
Valor Water - helps utilities understand who is wasting and who is conserving water among their customers
XPV Water partners - invests in companies that make a positive impact on water usage
If you would like to read more, here is a great guide that provides more methods to conserve water.
According to World Wild Life, by 2025 over 65% of the world’s population is predicted to face several water shortages and droughts, hence it is critical to make these lifestyle changes to conserve this precious resource. We do not have much time to change the reality of water scarcity, however, making small changes to our daily usage of water goes a long way.
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