All the water that will ever be is, right now.
Water. H2O. It covers 75 percent of our planet and connects the ocean to land, plants, humans, animals and the atmosphere. The Earth’s water cycle (precipitation, runoff, groundwater, evaporation, transpiration and condensation) is vital for every living thing, down to the depths of the planet and up to the boundary of the sky, where our atmosphere mingles with space.
It plays a vital role in agriculture, raising livestock, drinking, cook-ing, processing, transportation, construction, decomposition, breathing, cleansing, preserving – it is the one element that we have been seeking for on other planets as a sign of past or future life. In fact, you could say that water is life.
Generally, humans can survive without food for 30-40 days – if they are properly hydrated (about 5 quarts a day). You cannot live more than three days without water. A minimum of 60 percent of the human body is composed of water. Every living cell needs it to continue functioning. So, yeah, water is a big deal. And a fundamental element of societies, politics, municipalities, homes, cultures and basic existence.
Worldwide, we use 10 billion tons of fresh water, every day. That includes showering, drinking, doing laundry, washing dishes, running sprinklers and other domestic uses.
If kept clean and nurtured, it is also a renewable resource that rises and falls, literally, with the seasons.
» Water in Our World
I must admit, I often take water for granted. I turn a knob, and it pours into my glass or sink or bathtub or washing machine. As I’m writing this, I am sipping on a cup of ice water infused with lemon. In the United States, the average water use per capita is 170 gallons per day.
In fact, 30 to 60 percent of water from our pipes goes to keeping yards and gardens green and pretty, which often results in waste from over-watering, evaporation (using overhead watering systems that spray too high) and misdirection onto sidewalks and driveways.
The number of people using that space for growing and watering food is minimal, and counties often discourage citizens from utilizing rain catch systems in order to protect municipal water banks. But we can’t see the problem for accessibility. Water is everywhere, right? And it’s ours for the taking.
Yet, over one billion people residing on this planet live every day without the luxury – yes, luxury – of clean, or even running, water. That’s more than twice the population of the U.S.
Only 2.5 percent of available water on our Blue Planet is drinkable. Drinking, cooking with and bathing in unsafe water results in diarrheal and other diseases. According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of all diseases in developing countries are related to water.
I experienced the repercussions of this in Saltillo, Mexico and rural Ethiopia. We only drank bottled water, and all foods were cooked, boiled or fried for a period of time to deal with contaminants that might make us sick. In Ethiopia, although there were toilets in the bathrooms of the clinic where we stayed (an extravagance in itself!), we were unable to flush. In Mexico, a friend thought it would be safe to eat some cut melons at the Mercado rinsed in local water, but regretted it within an hour when she broke out in a fever and diarrhea. In both countries, we were also advised to use bottled water for brushing our teeth.
On a larger scale, agriculture can eat up 75-90 percent of a region’s available water supply. And processing meats requires a hefty amount of running water. The oceans supply fish, seafood and nutrient-dense plants for our consumption, but salt water is undrinkable and can kill humans and animals if drunk in any substantial capacity. Today, our oceans and seas have largely become a dump for trash, waste, toxins, chemicals and more. If we flush it down the drain or wash it off the driveway, it will eventually find its way to the ocean.
In municipalities, especially those along rivers and downstream from dams and large cities, water short-ages, limitations and usage rights can be a divisive issue, sometimes resulting in legal action and even in the U.S.
A 30-year dispute between Georgia and Florida over sharing water will once again end up in the U.S. Supreme Court this year. Downstream, Florida is asking the court to limit how much water upstream Georgia can use, in order to preserve their ecosystem and farming. Through conservation pricing and other means, Atlanta has already reduced its water use by 10 percent since 2000, in spite of its growing population. However, with increasingly unpredictable and uncertain weather, the myriad of farmers in Georgia and Florida are concerned about sustainably supplying adequate water for their operations.
» Water in Your World
Like me, you may struggle with the idea that water shortages will affect you, especially if you live near the ocean or close to lakes and rivers, like we do in the Inland Northwest. Yet, water conservation can benefit everyone, regardless of your location. Remember, it all flows downstream and tumbles into the ocean. No matter your location, I challenge you to try a few of these simple actions that can ease the burden of consumption and waste on our local water supply, as well as make a difference in the world.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and the hose in between watering.
- Run the washing machine and dishwasher only when you have a full load.
- Get an adjustable or low-flow showerhead and faucet aerators.
- Fix leaks, even in hoses.
- Install a dual flush or low-flow toilet or a conversion kit.
- Don’t overwater your lawn, water during peak periods, keep the water on your lawn and off of sidewalks, and install rain sensors on irrigation systems.
- Install a rain barrel for outdoor watering, if allowed. And plant a rain garden to catch runoff from your roof, driveway and other hard surfaces. (Catch a Little Drop and Put it in a Barrel)
- Plant a vegetable garden instead of a lawn, utilizing the water you would use on your grass for food and positively contributing to the ecosystem.
- Buy an inline filter for your kitchen sink and drink “tap” water instead of bottled water, canned soda or other expensive liquids that often make you more thirsty and contribute plastics and waste to our landfills and water systems.
- Invest in companies that contribute to the water health of our planet, such as charity:water, LifeStraw, BoxedWater, KeepCup and Water.org. N
By S. Michal Bennett