This precious liquid becomes even more vital when you consider the fact that one-third of the world’s population lives in countries experiencing water shortages.
Canada is known for its water. We’re home to one-fifth of the world’s freshwater supply. However, having so much clean water has its disadvantages, one of the biggest of which is taking it for granted. This precious liquid becomes even more vital when you consider the fact that one-third of the world’s population lives in countries experiencing water shortages.
Water scarcity already affects every continent. Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century. All across the world, there are many people who have to spend their entire day searching for water, and in many cases, this water isn’t even sanitary. Water sanitation is a problem for 2.4 billion people in the world. These individuals are exposed to many different diseases and water-borne illnesses every single day. Every year more than 3.4 million people die due to water-related diseases, making it the leading cause of disease and death around the world.
The human population has been harnessing many of the world’s natural waterways for years by building dams, water wells, having vast irrigation systems and other structures so that civilizations can grow and thrive. However, these water systems are being harmed more and more every single day. The world’s population is continuously growing and so is the demand for freshwater, but we’ve only got a limited supply. As far as water wastage goes, we waste it on a daily basis. An average person uses more than 300 litres of water per day. However, this can be changed. Here are a few tips on what you can do as an individual to help conserve Earth’s freshwater supply.
Turn off the tap
Save six litres of water a minute by turning off your tap while you brush your teeth.
Shower with less water
Set a timer on your phone to keep your showers short and water-saving. Switch to an efficient shower head, which will allow you to waste less water and cut down on your bills.
Get a low flush or dual flush toilet
Modern dual-flush systems save a lot of water, using just four to six litres per flush; much less than 13 litres for each old-style single flush. Garden at certain times Water outdoor plants early in the morning or at the end of the day to stop water from immediately evaporating due to temperatures being high during the day.
Store rainwater
Storing rainwater is an effective way of conserving water. You can place a large container under the roof gutter of your house, and catch rain water in it. This water can be used for garden irrigation, as it saves money and is also much healthier for plants. Without action, the challenges will only increase. It is very important for industrialized nations to realize the global demand for freshwater and therefore try their best to conserve the current water supply. The world has experienced wars over power and land, let’s try our best today to not make tomorrow’s over water.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mehakpreet Kaur Dhaliwal is a grade 9 student who has a passion for writing. She hopes to help others around her by being an active leader and engaging in her community.
To contribute to this column, email us at editor@darpanmagazine.com
