By Ashley V.
This past Monday, March 22nd, marked World Water Day and the goal of this day is for us to recognize the value of water and how we can better protect this vital resource.1 Now, many of us are very fortunate that we do not have to struggle to find or access clean drinking water. However, as the population grows and the planet warms, our demand for water will increase, and the availability will diminish. Already, 1 in 9 people have no access to clean water around the globe.2 How is that even possible when our planet’s surface is covered in about 71% water? Well, let’s break it down…
Of all the water on our planet –
97% is in the oceans (too salty for us to use)
3% is freshwater (what we need to survive)
- 2.5% of all freshwater is unavailable to us because it is locked up in glaciers, ice caps, the atmosphere, soil, or is highly polluted or lies too deep in the Earth’s surface for us to reach.
- 0.5%, the remaining half percent of all the freshwater on this planet is available for us to use. This is held in lakes, rivers, and underground aquifers.
Now, such a small percentage of the water on this planet is actually usable for us to survive, and how do we use it? Here in the United States, 8% goes towards domestic use, 33% is used for agriculture, a whopping 59% is used for industry (much of which is used to cool power plants).3
When we typically think of the water we use every day, we tend to think of showers, laundry, drinking, cooking, etc. But, we don’t realize how much water it takes to produce food, energy, and consumer products.4 As we consume water-intensive foods, electricity, and consumer goods, we increase the pressure on this already sensitive resource. Here are some examples of water intense items you might not have realized…
1800 gallons of water to produce 1 lb of beef
660 gallons of water to produce a hamburger (including bun, meat, lettuce, tomato)
52 gallons of water to produce a 3 oz egg
46 gallons of water to produce a 17 oz soda
3-6 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of gasoline
13,737-21,926 gallons of water to produce a car
3,190 gallons of water to create a smart phone
2,108 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans
659 gallons of water to produce a cotton t-shirt
watercalculator.org
All of these items require large amounts of water to produce, and as our climates change, so does the water cycle, leading to increased drought. Experts say that by 2030, the global demand for water will outstrip supply by 40%.4 We need to start paying attention to our water consumption and reducing where ever possible.
I don’t say this to scare you. I want to empower you to make a difference. Individual action may be small, but collectively it holds a lot of power. By making better choices to avoid water intense items and conserving it where we can, we can hopefully create a more water-secure future for all. Here is a list of actionable tips and tricks you can use to consume less water.
Actionable Tips:
-Calculate your water footprint. This calculator determines how many gallons of water you use in a day. It includes your household water use and your water use for energy, food, and material consumption. By understanding where you are consuming the most water, you can find ways to reduce and consume less.
-Buy secondhand. These items have already been created, so by giving them a new life, you avoid using any more water to create a new item.
-If you are going to buy something brand new, choose a company that takes active roles in reducing water consumption. Companies like Pact, United By Blue, and Out of the Woods are building a more sustainable and water-conscious world.
-Conserve electricity. I know it sounds silly, but it requires a lot of water to create electricity, so simply turning the lights off, you are saving water.
-Eat less meat. Meat production is very water-intensive, so by cutting back on your meat consumption, you will be able to save a significant amount of water over time.
-For more detailed water-conserving tips, check out The Water Project. They provide a detailed list of things you could improve around your house to conserve water.
Sources:
1 – World Water Day
Sustainable Saplings 