WATER: AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE BUT RAPIDLY DEPLETING NATURAL RESOURCE!
Water
resources are sources of water that are potentially useful.
Water is
required for agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and
environmental activities. Majority of human use requires fresh water.
Approximately fifty years ago, water was considered
as an infinite natural resource.
The human population on earth was half of today.
Standard of living and life styles of people was simpler, they
consumed fewer calories, had lesser requirements and less water was needed to
produce their food.
They required one third of the volume of water presently
used from various water sources.
Industries, urbanisation, bio fuel crops and water dependent food items need
water.
Earth's population is forecast to rise to 9 billion by 2050 and then even
more water will be needed to produce food.
If people choose to eat fewer
cereals and more meat and vegetables, that could add an additional load to the
present consumption scenario.
Some human
water users have an intermittent need for water, while some have a continuous
need for water.
Human activities need a large amount of water.
The Himalayas, called "The Roof of the World", contain
some of the most extensive and rough high altitude areas on Earth as well as
the greatest area of glaciers and permafrost outside of the poles. Ten of
Asia’s largest rivers flow from there and more than a billion people’s
livelihoods depends on them. But, due to various factors like pollution of all kinds, population growth, expansion of business activity, rapid
urbanization, climate change, depletion of aquifers, water pollution, all natural resources are depleting.
Water pollution is one of the main concerns of the world today.
One
third of the world’s population, that is more than 2.3 billion people do not
have access to clean drinking water, 1.6 billion people live in areas
experiencing economic
water scarcity, where because of no proper water management, demand for
water cannot be satisfied.
Recently, Cape Town has been declared as Water Deprived region!
To avoid a global water crisis, farmers will have to strive to
increase productivity to meet growing demands for food, while industry and
cities will have to find ways to use water more efficiently.
Global predictions regarding
water scenario depict that the more developed countries of North America, Europe and Russia will not see a serious threat to
water supply by the year 2025, because of their relative wealth and their
populations being in better alignment with available water
resources.
North Africa, the Middle East, South Africa and northern China will face very severe water
shortages due to physical scarcity and a condition of overpopulation relative
to their carrying
capacity with
respect to water supply.
Most of South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern China and India will face
water supply shortages by 2025; the cause being excessive population growth and economic constraints to developing safe drinking
water.
As responsible citizens of our
country and as responsible parents, what we can do is, save each drop of water,
wherever and whenever possible! The situation is getting worse day by day and
may get even worst!
WAKE UP, REALIZE THE SITUATION, THINK OF OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SAVE NATURAL RESOURCES!!
SAVE EVERY DROP, OR WE WILL HAVE TO SEARCH AND SEARCH FOR WATER!
ACTIVITY
|
Current procedure
|
Water being used in liters
|
New procedure (What we can do!)
|
Water required in liters
|
Water saved in liters
|
Brushing the
teeth
|
Tap on for 5 mins
|
45
|
Use of a glass or mug
|
0.5 to 2.0
|
44.5
|
Washing hands
|
Tap on for 2 mins
|
18
|
Half filled wash basin
|
0.2 to 0.25
|
16.0
|
Shaving
|
Tap on continuously
|
18
|
Use of a shaving mug
|
0.25
|
16.0
|
Taking a
shower
|
Shower on, even when we are soaping
ourselves and not below the shower
|
90
|
Cyclone flush, close the water tap or
shower when not required
|
20
|
17.75 to 70.0
|
Flushing the
toilet
|
Old type, high capacity flushes
|
13.5 or more
|
New type shot flush or full flush
|
4.5 to 9.0
|
4.5 or more
|
Watering the
trees
|
Hose pipe on for 5 mins
|
120
|
Water can
|
5.0
|
115.0
|
Swabbing the
floors
|
Hose pipe on for 5 mins
|
200
|
Bucket and mug
|
18.0
|
182.0
|
Washing the
car
|
Hose pipe on for 10 mins
|
400
|
Bucket and mug
|
18.0
|
382.0
|
THIS SITUATION IS NOT FAR AWAY!
AS WE TAKE PRIDE IN TECHNOLOGY, WE WILL HAVE TO FIND A WEBSITE WHICH CAN DOWNLOAD WATER!!!!
AS WE TAKE PRIDE IN TECHNOLOGY, WE WILL HAVE TO FIND A WEBSITE WHICH CAN DOWNLOAD WATER!!!!
DR MRS JAYA VIKAS KURHEKAR
GREEN BLOGGER
