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DCL
We talk fairly often about water footprints and how important it is to measure it, and reduce our consumption. But, you may be left wondering exactly why it's so important—what's the risk of not conserving water? We're going to outline some of the bigger issues that are tied into water consumption here in the US.
Water Is In Everything. Let's Get Measuring!
Last week we talked about how to measure your water footprint and ways to trim off the excess. We noted that there's a concept called embodied water, which is the amount of water it takes to create the food, products and services we consume. In fact, even this post has some amount of embodied water because data centers often use water to cool their servers, and accessing the internet and the information on it means utilizing those data servers
Water is in everything, and we are just starting to learn accounting practices for it.
We know we're using too much water and depleting our ground water sources. But by how much? And exactly where is it going? And which steps improve water use? In these ways, accounting for water consumption is much like trying to account for carbon emissions—we ask the same questions about how we account for it, so that we can know how to measure it, so that we can know how to cut back and if the cut-back measures are effective. While the accounting may seem difficult, we know we have to do it because—as we noted when we discussed sustainability earlier this month—we know we aren't being sustainable with our water consumption and we know we have to change.
So, how do we know that what changes we implement now for reducing our water footprints will matter? There are three ways we can immediately see that our water use is not sustainable, and that we need to be proactive about minimizing our use before we have some unpleasant consequences.
How We Know These Actions Matter
1. Learning From Other Countries
We are seeing other countries struggle with water problems right now, both through over consumption, and drought and desertification. By watching their struggles, we are learning why effective water management is so important, and why paying attention to and improving our water footprints is vital. Here are two examples:
India
A recent report showed what areas of the world are likely to suffer first, and most, from water shortages. It looks like India is going to be hit hard. This is for two reasons. First, the pollution levels will make what fresh water there is undrinkable. And second, a rising population that is emulating the west's pattern of over-consumption will rapidly drain their reserves. When you pump ground water faster than it can be replaced by rain, the ground dries and hardens such that less water is absorbed the next time it rains and groundwater levels shrink further. This also happens when cities build infrastructure in a way that inhibits water from sinking into the ground, such as what happens with impermeable roads and sidewalks. As India prospers and develops, their water situation will worsen if they aren't proactive about changing. India is already facing water wars, with people fighting in the streets over access to fresh water. Because their supplies are dwindling faster than ours, we're seeing what could happen here if we don't snap into shape and get proactive ourselves.
Australia
Australia has been struggling with a dire drought for years. We've watched as the country struggles with radically decreasing their fresh water consumption, and rapidly implementing technologies like desalination plants to give more fresh water to those who need it. The country is seeing effects such as pollution from drying lakes and desertification. However, they're also helping to take the lead on effective technologies and management strategies to combat issues like desertification. By taking Australia's lead and implementing their tested technologies and strategies now, we can get a head start on effective water management.
2. Water Shortages Here in the US
The US is not immune to water shortages, despite the (mostly correct) perception that we are resource rich. In actuality, the US has quite a lot of water woes. Water shortages hit the southeast several years ago, showing that without a change in usage patterns, depending on rainfall won't cut it. And the west and southwest are no strangers to drought, nor the worrisome prospect of even less dependable rainfall and snow packs in the future, thanks to a warming climate. Just looking around at our own water problems illustrates why water footprints are important. We waste water on lawns, deplorable agricultural water use policies, and massive waste in the industrial manufacturing setting. We have room to improve, there is no doubt. And by monitoring and changing our own water footprint—such as skipping the water intensive steak and going for drought-tolerant landscaping—we are making changes that will be reflected on a larger scale up the chain.
3. Degrading Ecosystems Through Overuse of Water
As mentioned above when discussing India's growth, we can see that by using too much water now, our future livelihood is at stake. For instance, when we over-pump our aquifers, we're actually insuring that we will have less food in the future. In arid regions where aquifers are not easily replenished, such as the US southwest, abusing fresh water supplies and losing agricultural irrigation water as run-off means that the supply is simply gone. No more farming. Also, when fresh water supplies are abused, we potentially face desertification of large swaths of land, where the area is no longer able to rebound and support life as it once did. We're seeing it in many areas of the world from Australia to China and we could easily see it here in the US soon.
How to Ensure We have a Blue Future
1. Learn Where Your Water Is
Get savvy on water. This means learning about water footprints, and making daily choices that cut back not only on the water you directly consume, but also the embodied water found in the foods, products and services you consume each day.
2. Keep Up on Water Issues in Your Area
The mantra of "Think Globally, Act Locally" certainly applies here. Keep up on local news regarding water issues, and get involved in your community to help it better track its water consumption, reduce its use, and clean what supplies it has. After all, if the world is going to face a shortage, you want to ensure that at least your own community is insulated.
Learn more about water issues with Planet Green's Blue August.
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
