Saving Water: What you need to know

It was considered a box office flop in its day, but the 1995 Kevin Costner film Waterworld has become somewhat of a cult classic in recent years. The post apocalyptic film shows us what would happen if the polar ice caps melted and humanity was forced to live on boats and floating fortresses, with fresh water being the most valuable commodity we had. Naturally, this sort of event only exists on the big screen, although a small amount of the story is grounded in reality. Fresh and clean water is indeed one of the most valuable commodities we have, and despite this, we can often take it for granted. After all, most of us have taken a shower for much longer than was necessary or ignored a leaking faucet for months… and even years. So why is saving water so important? And what are some ways that you can do your part?

How Much Water Do We Have?

It might sound kind of blunt, but without water, we die, and there’s not as much fresh water as you might think. Only 1% of the worlds’ water is available for drinking, since the rest is located in the ocean (which is undrinkable), or is frozen in polar ice caps or located underground. Of that 1% that is theoretically safe for human consumption, a large proportion of it is polluted, which has led to a huge number of health problems, particularly in the developing world. Looking ahead, we might begin to become reliant on desalinization (removing the salt from ocean water) or recycling water (treating household waste water to make it safe for human consumption) to meet our needs.

Why Do I Need to Save Water?

To think that fixing that faucet will contribute to the overall health of the world can be kind of a difficult idea to get your head around- it seems like too much to think about. But every little bit that you do helps the environment, and there are ways in which it quickly and directly helps you too- such as with your bank balance. Dripping faucets and leaking swimming pools use up a vast amount of water that’s totally unnecessary, and by fixing these issues, you can end up saving a significant amount of money each year.

How Can I Save Water?

It’s usually easier to start conserving water by working through each water using room, one at a time- starting in your bathroom, then your kitchen, and finally your laundry room. Your bathroom accounts for 40% of your homes water usage, and low flow toilets and showerheads can cut this 40% significantly. You might be able to install a low flow showerhead yourself, but when installing a new toilet, it’s best to consult a plumbing professional. We can also remember something we might have been taught as children; that we don’t need to keep the water running while we brush our teeth. In the kitchen and laundry room it’s most important to check the efficiency rating of appliances, to make sure they use less water and electricity, while still doing the job to the highest standard.

Saving water is something we all can and should do- since we all have to share the planet! While a lack of water responsibility is unlikely to lead to a Waterworld type of scenario where we have to hang out on boats with Kevin Costner, a diminishing water supply will significantly push up the price of household utilities and groceries. So unless you want a shower to become a luxury that can only be afforded by the mega wealthy, it’s important to start doing our part to help as soon as possible.