Water is life, and saving water is absolutely essential. We use water every day for drinking, washing and cooking – often without thinking about where it comes from or whether it could possibly run out.
Water plays an important role in our economy. It is used in industries like farming and manufacturing, and is also needed to produce energy and electricity. We all have a responsibility to use water wisely, and make sure we’re doing our part to conserve it.
Water and Your Health
We all need water to stay healthy. We need it in order to digest our food, regulate our body temperature and flush out toxins. Many of the chemical reactions that keep us alive simply wouldn’t be possible without water!
Our bodies are mostly made up of water; you’d be amazed at just how much water is in your vital organs:
- Brain: 73% water
- Heart: 73% water
- Lungs and liver: 83% water
- Kidneys: 79% water
- Skin: 64% water
As babies, our bodies are made up of about 75% water. The average adult man’s body is 60% water, and the average adult woman’s body is 55%. Most adults need about 2-3 litres of water a day to survive – that’s an average of 35ml of water per kg of body weight.
While water is abundant in our bodies, it is surprisingly rare on Earth, and this is why it’s so important to make sure we have enough to sustain life on our planet.
Water is Scarce
Water covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, but it’s much rarer than you think! It’s hard to believe just how rare fresh, drinkable water is on our “blue planet” – but the facts will surprise you.
Most of the world’s water is salt water found in the oceans. Just 3% of Earth’s water is fresh, and most of this 3% is inaccessible to us. Geological surveys have found the following:
- Around 68% of the planet’s fresh water is found in ice caps and glaciers.
- Around 30% is found in groundwater.
- Only about 0.3% is found in the surface water of lakes and rivers.
Water and the Environment
We all know the basics of saving water. Be sure to fix leaks and drips, use low-flow showers and water-saving toilet cistern devices, and keep a water-wise garden. But there’s another big component of saving water – working to prevent water pollution.
Every piece of litter and plastic rubbish we discard finds its way into our planet’s waterways. Contaminated water can’t be used for drinking or washing. Preventing pollution is a big part of conserving our planet’s usable fresh water. Here are some ways you can make a difference:
- Don’t flush foreign objects down the toilet.
- Use more natural, greywater-safe cleaning detergents in your home.
- Use natural pesticides and fertilisers in your garden.
- Choose more reusable and recycled materials.
- Don’t pour cooking oil, fat or grease down the kitchen sink. Put it in a jar or bowl, wait for it to harden and dispose of it as solid waste.
- Don’t flush pills or medications down the drain. Use the recommended disposal methods on the packaging.
- Avoid using single-use plastic straws, shopping bags and water bottles. These are huge causes of pollution.
- Take action by actively participating in litter clean-ups and other local initiatives.
June 5 is World Environment Day, and it’s the perfect time to take action. Make a commitment to saving water at home and at work, and preventing water pollution.
Sources:
National Geographic: Earth’s Freshwater. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/earths-fresh-water/
How Much of Your Body is Water? Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/how-much-of-your-body-is-water-609406
Clean water is life, health, food, leisure and energy. Retrieved from: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/the-environment-clean-water-is-life-health-food-leisure-and-energy/53926/
25 Amazing Ways to Prevent Water Pollution. Retrieved from: https://www.eartheclipse.com/pollution/amazing-ways-to-prevent-water-pollution.html