Water conservation
Water is the most important natural resource, it is the most basic human need and a valuable national asset. Efficient development and optimum utilization of water resources, therefore is of great significance to the over all development of country.Every year millions of people, most of them children, die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. According to the World Health Organization, each and every day some 3,900 children die because of dirty water or poor hygiene; diseases transmitted through water or human excrement are the second-leading cause of death among children worldwide, after respiratory diseases.
Water scarcity, poor water quality, and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood choices, and educational opportunities for poor families across the world. Water-related natural disasters such as floods, tropical storms and tsunamis exact a heavy toll in human life and suffering. And all too regularly, drought afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries, exacerbating hunger and malnutrition.
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.
Beyond meeting basic human needs, water supply and sanitation services, as well as water as a resource, are critical to sustainable development. It is a major source of energy in some parts of the world, while in others its potential as an energy source remains largely untapped. Water is also necessary for agriculture and for many industrial processes. And in more than a few countries, it makes up an integral part of transport systems. With improved scientific understanding, the international community has also come to appreciate more fully the valuable services provided by water-related ecosystems, from flood control to storm protection and water purification.
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[edit] How to conserve water?
- Use only as much water as you require.
- Close the taps well after use.
- While brushing your teeth do not leave the tap running, open it only when you require it.
- See that there are no leaking taps. Get a plumber to come in and seal all leaks.
- Use a washing machine that does not consume too much water. You may use a front-load washing machine (40% reduction).
- Do not leave the taps running while washing dishes and clothes.
- Install small shower heads to reduce the flow of the water.
- Take showers instead of baths (50% reduction).
- Flush the toilet only when needed (borrow the cottage motto).
- Install a grey-water system when building/renovating.
- Water in which the vegetables and fruits have been washed can be used to water the flowers and ornamental potted plants.
- At the end of the day if you have water left in your water bottle do not throw it away, pour it over some plants.
- Collect water from your downspout in a rain barrel for watering plants.
Water conservation is important from the environmental standpoint because it increases the amount of useable water that is available overall. Polluted water and saltwater are not only bad for humans to drink, but can damage crops and will even cause problems or grazing fields and trees as well. Clean water is needed to combat droughts that are becoming more common in major agricultural sectors, and is also vitally important to disaster relief efforts focused on areas where local water may be contaminated with potentially deadly bacteria. Without water conservation, the amount of fresh water available to assist in these situations will be drastically reduced... and that's not even counting the water shortages that may occur in other areas as the water supplies become more in demand.
One of the greatest benefits to water conservation is the fact that it's fairly easy to accomplish. You can save money and greatly help the environment simply by taking the time to reduce your water usage and eliminating water waste. Conservation doesn't require any large changes to your lifestyle; you simply have to spend a little bit of time figuring out where most of your water waste occurs and then take steps to correct the problems that you find. Even relatively small changes in the amount of water that you use can have a major impact in the long run.
[edit] Ways to Conserve Water
- Use Energy Star rated washing machines. Older washing machines can waste hundreds of dollars per year, while Energy Star rated machines have many energy and water saving options.
- Use cold water for some washes. This will cut down on energy use and make your clothing last longer, which in turn, will lead to less washes.
- Inspect and replace dripping water supply pipes.
- Switch to filtered tap water. Energy and water is used to transport the water, make the bottle, and run the equipment. Buy your own filter and place it on the tap, or place a water filter in your fridge.
- If washing dishes by hand, fill the basin with water to wash your dishes. Wash all of the dishes in the basin, then rinse all of the clean dishes. This wil cut down on water since you won't be running it the entire time while washing the dishes.
- While waiting the hot water to heat up in the shower, place a bucket at the bottom of the tub to catch the wasted water. Use this for houseplants and outdoor plants.
- Check all toilets for leakage. The back of the tank of toilets are another common place to find leaks.
- Switch to a low flow shower head.
- Collect your Shower Water and Use it for Toilet Water
- Consider upgrading to a dishwasher. Energy Star rated dishwashers are much cleaner and more efficient than hand washing.
- Don't run the dishwasher or washing machine unless it's a full load! Get the most out of that water by making sure you really have a full load.
- Water your grass/plants/garden in the morning so the water doesn't evaporate right away.
- Limit your shower time -- and your kids. Limiting your kids (and you) to ten minutes instead of 30 minutes will drastically slash your water bill.
- Don't use soaps that take extra water to rinse off. These chemical agents can be harmful to the human body. Opt for more earth friendly hand soap, organic shower gel, cleaners and detergents.
