Ever imagined what it would be like to wake up in the morning, feeling like nothing could go wrong, only until you’ve had the ultimate cup of coffee? For many of us, a cup of coffee could make or break our day. It’s the icing on the cake and defines a morning well spent, drinking and savouring every sip that goes down the gullet. Sublime, isn’t it?
Well, what would happen if one fine morning you woke up and prepped everything for that ultimate cup of coffee, only to realize there’s not a drop of water running through you tap? The feeling is unimaginable, because while all along you thought about the importance of coffee, you’re now also realizing how important water is. While it’s easy to forgo a cup of coffee, it’s hard to imagine life without water. The option to buy bottled water is always there, but just like the water in your tap that might one day go dry, the water in bottle will one day be empty, forever.
Water conservation is essential and while metropolitan cities don’t feel the pinch of water scarcity, it takes significant effort to obtain water in some areas of the world (especially rural). When you see the pictures of Earth taken from space, you’d realize one thing−70% of the Earth is covered with water. You’re probably wondering, if more than half the planet is covered with water, what’s all this talk about conserving it? Well, according to the University of Michigan, “75% of all water found on Earth is actually salt water found in Earth’s oceans and seas. Only 2.5% is fresh water. 70 percent of that fresh water is frozen in icecaps. More than 29% is trapped in the soil, and the underground aquifers are too deep for us to reach. That leaves less than 1% of all fresh water, or approximately 0.007% of all Earth’s water, available for nearly seven billion of us humans to use!”
Scary scenario, isn’t it? Then here are some tips on how you and I can help conserve water:
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When shopping for plumbing parts and appliances, look for high-efficiency models and fixtures. This can save you about 30 percent of indoor water usage.
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Install low flow faucet aerators and shower heads, and limit time taken in the shower.
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When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
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Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of under running water from the tap.
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Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
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Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
Conservation of water is not like climbing Mount Everest; it is extremely doable and every little act that you deem insignificant actually goes a long way. Water is the basic necessity of human life and, therefore, we should use it sparingly and wisely.
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