The World's Water Crisis: Taking Steps to Reduce Water Usage
Whether we want to admit it or not, the world is facing a water crisis due to climate change, population growth, and poor water management. The importance of water conservation cannot be overstated, as access to clean, freshwater is essential for sustaining life, agriculture, and economic development.
One example that highlights the severity of the situation is the "Day Zero" water crisis that struck Cape Town when it was on the brink of running out of water in 2018. The city had to adopt emergency rationing measures, and the population had to reduce water consumption drastically, reaching a limit of 13 gallons of water per person per day. Through a combination of water reduction campaigns, strict water restrictions, and intensive water conservation efforts, the city managed to avoid reaching Day Zero. Cape Town's response to the water crisis serves as an inspiring example of how effective water management strategies can alleviate this pressing issue. It also proved that with collective action and public awareness, individuals and entire cities can take significant steps towards water sustainability.
Another critical water source facing challenges is the Colorado River, which supplies water to millions of people across several states in the United States. Over the years, increased demand and drought conditions have severely impacted the river's water levels. According to Stanford News, the river's flow has decreased by 20% since 2000. These conditions underscore the importance of adopting sustainable water usage practices to ensure the longevity of this vital resource.
But we have so much water on earth, how could we be running out?
While earth is 71% water, the majority of this water is seawater. Seawater is toxic to humans because our bodies are unable to get rid of the salt that comes with it. Our body's kidneys normally remove excess salt by producing urine, but the body needs freshwater to dilute the salt in our body for the kidneys to work properly. To get technical, the osmolarity of blood is 275-299mOsm/L, while the osmolarity of seawater is ~1000 mOsm/L. To get that water, the kidneys would pull freshwater from other available sources in our bodies, like our cells, and this can lead to dehydration and death in pretty short order.
Thus fresh water is a finite resource that we must use thoughtfully and sparingly. But at this point some scientists are working on converting seawater to fresh water because once we run out, there will be no water left as already seen with Cape Town. And how long can humans last without fresh water? About three days…
But there is hope in this conversion of saltwater to fresh through the process of desalination. Desalination plants are technically capable of producing copious amounts of freshwater from seawater, but the process is energy-intensive and expensive. Not to mention, increasingly more difficult as we continue to pollute our oceans. The process itself might also produce waste that is harmful to sea life so there is really no quick, undeniable fix. As a society, we must recognize the value of water and prioritize the development of more efficient desalination methods. Only then can desalination become a viable and sustainable solution to address water scarcity.
To further address the world's water crisis, it is crucial for individuals and communities to adopt water conservation practices in their daily lives. Simple actions such as fixing leaky faucets, reducing water usage during showers, and utilizing water-efficient appliances can have a significant impact when done as a collective. Moreover, policymakers should implement comprehensive water management plans, encourage the use of advanced irrigation techniques in agriculture, and invest in infrastructure improvements to minimize water loss through leaks.
Ultimately, the global water crisis demands our immediate attention and action. Cape Town's successful response to Day Zero stands as a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together to reduce water usage. By recognizing the significance of water conservation and investing in sustainable solutions, we can prolong our use of this natural resource and learn about only taking what we need in the process.
I too have a lot to learn and am in the process of noticing my relationship with water in order to take steps to improve. I can’t change anyone else’s actions but I can recognize my own, act consciously, and build a life that prioritizes sustainability as best as I can.
Resources For You!
Netflix: “Explained: The World’s Water Crisis” (awesome 18 minute overview of the topics explained above)
The World’s Water Crisis Explained on World Water Day. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/world-water-day-water-crisis-explained.
Day Zero. The water crisis that affected Cape Town | Qatium. https://qatium.com/blog/day-zero/.
Cape Town's Day Zero: 'We are axing trees to save water' - BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59221823.
Rich people's swimming pools and gardens fuel cities' water crises .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/04/11/water-crisis-swimming-pool-cape-town/.
Cape Town’s ‘Day Zero’ drought a sign of things to come | Stanford News. https://news.stanford.edu/2020/11/09/cape-towns-day-zero-drought-sign-things-come/.
Day Zero: Where next? - National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/partner-content-south-africa-danger-of-running-out-of-water.
Why can't people drink seawater? - USGS.gov. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-qa-why-cant-people-drink-seawater.
-Biology Stack Exchange. https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/3909/why-cant-humans-drink-sea-water.
-Interesting Engineering. https://interestingengineering.com/science/why-cant-humans-drink-seawater.
Why don't we get our drinking water from the ocean by taking the salt .... https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-dont-we-get-our-drinking-water-from-the-ocean/.