Tuesday, August 3, 2010

SAVE WATER SAVE PLANET

Water is a crucial element of our sustenance and living. However, increasingly, access to safe drinking water has become an issue on this planet. It is said that around 1 billion people around the world do not have access to adequate and safe drinking water. In India alone, it is said that 33% of the population do not have access to clean drinking water.

Each day, we use water in all forms. As individuals we need around 300 liters of water per day, for cooking, washing, in direct form. Food consumption also adds to the water intake indirectly and also the products we use have water.

“Virtual water” is the hidden consumption within everyday products and crops such as cotton, rice, coffee and sugar. For example, production of one cotton shirt requires 2700 liters of water. Even the computer and electronic gadgets we use has used water in its manufacturing process.

Do you know that, one kilo of meat takes a massive
10000 to 16,000 liters of water to produce
, Much of that used to grow the grain the animal eats. One hamburger uses 2,400 liters of water!

Do you know, it takes 7 liters of water to produce a water bottle

Do you know, it takes 10 liters of water to make a sheet of paper

We can always minimize using products we use every day and also maximize on the goods we use. The mottto “reuse, recycle and reduce” should be the norm if we are really concerned about our planets resources. Indeed, water is becoming a scarce resource particularly clean drinking water.

Access to clean drinking water is a problem for billions around the world and could be a problem for our children and future generations. we need to act! Now to make a change;.

Now the question is how do we get around doing this and save water; It is said that. Higher incidence of vegetarianism in India (approximately 30% of the population) does play a role in keeping individual water footprints lower - the water contained in our diets varies with a vegetarian diet using 2.6 cubic meters of water each day, while a country with meat based diet uses over 5 cubic meters.

Use recycled bottles and make sure we carry water bottles with clean filtered water rather than purchasing the mineral bottles always. This is a difficult task as widely traveled particularly on the Indian Trains I am sure not to get clean drinking water! But am exploring an option of using portable ZERO B filter!!!

Use paper judiciously, as we all know that paper comes from the tree and the virtual water consumption is very high.

Use gadgets until it is totally unrepairable.

Use clothes for long time or give it to people who don’t have it as they can use it. Think before buying things for the sake of fancy, peer pressure; just to be stored in the shelves!!!

Each time I drink water my thought is only that our generation and future should have this wonderful and precious natural element for easing life and not become a commodity of trade.

Just think when you take that sip of water how quenching it is and remember you and I have a role in preserving it.

Act now for “a water for all society”