Water Conservation: Why is it So Important?

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If you were to observe Earth from outer space, what would you see? A large beautiful blue planet covered in vast oceans. One would look at this and think, “Earth doesn’t have a water problem, what’s this whole issue about?” However, many are unaware that only three percent of the planet’s water is freshwater, of which only one percent is drinkable. To put this into perspective, if the world’s water supply was only 26 gallons, our usable water supply of fresh water would be only about one-half teaspoon. With this knowledge, the issue of conserving water becomes much more pressing. This scarcity has resulted in over one billion people worldwide having no access to clean water. According to the UN water experts, “Global fresh water demand will outstrip supply by 40% by 2030” (Fiona Harvey).

But who are the perpetrators? The largest wasters of usable water include several global worldwide establishments: agriculture, industrial, mining, livestock, irrigation, heating/cooling, and public supply. In several countries around the world, there is a lack of regulation in the usage of clean water. This allows for the continual wasting of clean water, as there is no requirement for the leaders of large corporations to invest in methods that decrease waste and increase efficiency. Most people would not be very surprised when finding out which countries have the highest water usage rates: India comes first using around 762 billion cubic meters of water, China is second using 598 billion, and the US is third using 444 billion cubic meters. Even though the US is ranked third in its annual consumption of water, the US is ranked number one for the highest rate of water consumption per individual person. According to the CDC, the average person in the US uses 156 gallons of water per day, in comparison to the average person in India who only uses thirty-eight.

Considering that an average American family uses over 300 gallons of water per day, with 70% consisting of indoor usage, one might wonder, what factors are responsible for adding up to such a high number? Well, the household breakdown of water usage goes as such: 24% comes from toilets, 20% showers, 19% faucets, 17% clothes washers, 12% leaks around the house, and 8% other. It might seem like there is nothing that can be done to improve the situation, however, many people would be happy to find out that every factor listed in the household breakdown can be fixed, modified, and improved in order to allow for the most efficient usage of water in a household.

For example, the water waste from toilets can be drastically reduced with the implementation of low flow toilets. They are specifically designed to minimize water usage while having virtually zero difference in functionality compared to standard toilets. Models of this type work by limiting the amount of water used to around 1.6 gallons per flush. On average, using low flow toilets compared to standard models reduces water consumption by up to 25% and can reduce annual water consumption in the average family by about 54,000 gallons.

High efficiency alternatives also exist for clothes and dish washers. For clothes washers, high efficiency models are able to operate using between 30% – 50% less water. They also require only about half the energy, and a third of the detergent to run in comparison to standard clothes washers. High efficiency dishwashers also entail drastic reductions in water waste. EnergyStar Efficiency certified dishwashers use 30% less water, 12% less energy, and eliminate the need to pre-rinse dishes. Implementing this change could allow for some massive reductions in water consumption considering that many families still wash their dishes by hand which uses around twenty gallons of water, while the high efficiency dishwashers only use about four.

There are also many people who are unaware of how to identify leaks in their house. Repairing leaks is a very pressing matter as they annually, on average, waste about 10,000 gallons per household. A common, yet very effective method, is to turn off all the water in the house, then to check the water meter if it still reads that water is being used. In the case that it does, a plumber should be called to identify the leak and fix it.

In the case of faucets, certain steps can be taken to reduce water consumption. It is very important to turn off the faucet while doing things such as washing your face, brushing your teeth, and shaving. Leaving the faucet running during this time wastes about 4 gallons of water. Considering the amount of times each family member uses the faucet per day, the number of gallons of water saved will quickly add up.

Water waste coming from shower heads can be reduced in several ways. The number one method for doing so is to limit shower time to no more than seven to ten minutes – continuing to shower for extended periods of time does not serve any purpose, and wastes dozens of gallons of water. Energy efficient shower heads also exist, which limit the rate of flow to 2.0 GPM (gallons per minute) compared to standard models that can have rates of well over 2.5 GPM.

After examining indoor water consumption, and several possible solutions, the same should be done for outdoor water consumption. Many people living in the United States have sprinkler systems installed to water their grass and/or various plants. According to the EPA, lawn watering systems are responsible for close to one third of household water usage. Homeowners who have sprinkler installments should always ensure that they avoid turning them on during times when it is unnecessary, such as when it is raining. A Smart Controller could also be installed to make the process much easier. This system detects rain and measures how much water is necessary depending on the outside conditions.

As I mentioned in my previous article, water conservation is something that everyone can take part in. That’s why I am advocating for everyone to take time, and think about what small changes they can make that will lead to a big impact.

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