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Posted on March 21, 2017 by

Facts and Figures About World Water Day

world-waterThe world’s freshwater resources are becoming scarce. In total, only 2% of the world’s water is considered freshwater, and only 1% of that water isn’t frozen. World Water Day, on March 22nd of 2017, serves to focus attention on the issue of the over consumption of water on our planet, and how people can sustainably manage and protect this freshwater supply.

The Water Crisis

Currently, the planet is heading into what is known as a water crisis. World population is estimated to grow 40 to 50% within the next fifty years. With this massive increase in population, and the necessity to become a more urbanized and industrialized world, the demand for water will only increase. An overall increase in water usage has detrimental effects on multiple levels, including the following:
Agricultural Crisis: Crop irrigation accounts for nearly 70% of all freshwater usage. Reliance on water-heavy crops (corn, cotton, wheat, rice), and the production of factory farmed meat has pushed our consumption of water to the limit in recent years. One cup of coffee requires about 55 gallons of water to produce. The average American diet uses about 1000 gallons of water per day, in relation to other countries where individuals only consume 900 gallons a day to sustain their diet, transportation, energy, and household.
Environmental Crisis: Many toxic substances are leaking into the world’s freshwater supply. Urban runoff, unsafe disposal methods of chemical and hazardous waste, and air pollution all negatively impact aquatic ecosystems and the life which exists within them.

Limiting Water Usage in Daily Life

Consuming water is a necessity for the existence of human life. Currently, we are using, and wasting, more water than ever before in history. Thankfully, there are several measures that individuals can take daily to conserve and protect the world’s freshwater supply, including:

  • water-dropTaking showers instead of baths. Depending on its size, it takes roughly 36 gallons to fill a bathtub, so a quick shower is preferable.
  • An average five-minute shower uses 15 gallons of water, and around forty gallons can be used in ten minutes.
  • Doing full loads of laundry, and ensuring that the right setting is coupled with the load to save water.
  • Fix leaky faucets. A leaky faucet can waste up to 100 gallons of water per day.
  • Avoid watering the lawn.
  • Don’t leave the water running while brushing teeth. Doing so uses up about 5 gallons of water.

Plumbing Technology and Water Conservation

Advancements in plumbing technology have been developed with water conservation in mind. By making a few affordable improvements to a home or business’s plumbing system, a large quantity of water can be preserved every day. Have a plumbing expert inspect the existing plumbing hardware, and install some of the following water conscious technology:

  • Low-flow showerheads (also known as energy efficient showerheads). These showerheads can save up to fifteen gallons of water for every ten-minute shower.
  • Dual-flush toilets. These toilets have two levers to flush different levels of water. Compared to their conventional counterparts, these showerheads use up to 67% less water.
  • Faucet Aerators. These water efficient tap heads work to break the water flow into particles, allowing for the same effectiveness while using less water.
  • Garden hose nozzles, which disrupt the flow of water when not in use.

In the Falls Church and Arlington, VA areas, The Plumbing Dr can help you install water-saving technology throughout your home or business. Schedule an appointment with an expert at (703)-525-9280 today.