World Water Day: Every drop counts
M Ahmad
World Water Day observed on 22 March every year since 1993, focuses on the importance of freshwater and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.
It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Our planet is 75% covered by water – that’s why we’re called the Blue Planet. But 97.5% of that water is salt water. We only have 2.5% of freshwater to drink. A growing global population and economic shift towards more resource-intensive consumption patterns means global freshwater use — that is, freshwater withdrawals for agriculture, industry and municipal uses — has increased nearly six-fold since 1900.
Water is one of the basic necessities for every living being and we cannot imagine a life without water. It is the natural resource and the main constituent of our planet earth. Water is the universal solvent and plays a key role in the existence of various forms of life on the planet earth.
It is widely used for various purposes such as washing, bathing, cleaning, cooking, drinking, and other industrial and domestic uses. Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones. Water helps your body: Keep a normal temperature, lubricate and cushion joints. Protects our spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, gets rid of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements.
Conservation of water mainly refers to protect, preserve, and control the usage of water and its resources. It is the system introduced to manage freshwater, reduce the wastage and protect the water and its resources in order to reduce and to avoid the scarcity.
Therefore, we all should come forward to create awareness about conservation of water among our own friends, family, neighbours, society, etc. Conservation of water is very much essential as it saves life on earth. Conserving water helps us by supplying more amount of water for longer usage. It has become necessary in all areas because these natural resources are reducing along with the increasing population and their usages.
Water conservation is the careful use and preservation of water supply and it includes both the quantity and quality of water utilized. Water is an essential asset for the nourishment of all life. The fundamental demand for all activities appropriates local use to the agricultural industry.
Overall, the world is using 10 billion tons of fresh water per year. China, India and the U.S. consume the highest annual totals. As our population grows, more and more people are using up this limited resource. Therefore, it is important that we use our water wisely and not waste it. According to the World Health Organization, 80% of all diseases in the developing world are water related. By 2025, the United Nation estimates that 30% of the world’s population residing in 50 countries will face water shortage.
Water shortage is a bigger problem today than ever before. Not only are we using up our available supply, our population continues to grow and with it, the demand. Global warming is compounding the problem. Unless we all take it seriously, soon we will have a water crisis in our hands. We will live in a blue planet without a drop of water that’s safe to drink.
Conserving water saves energy. Energy is important to filter, heat, and pump water to your home, so lessening your water use likewise decreases your carbon traces. Consuming less water keeps more in our environments and aids with keeping wetland habitats best for creatures like otters, water voles, herons, and fish.
This is particularly significant during dry season periods. Conserving water can save you money. If you have a water meter, the less water you use, the less you might be charged by your water company. For the past 50 years, freshwater extraction from icebergs has expanded by three folds. Because of progression in life, a more significant amount of water is a need. This likewise implies a growth in the interest for the power supply with water.
Conserving water can likewise make the life of our septic system longer. This is by lessening soil immersion and reducing any contamination because of leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also flow untreated sewage to lakes and rivers. The smaller the amount of water coursing through these systems, the lower the probability of contamination. Even the few groups like the community-wide domestic water preservation avoided the expensive sewage system development.
Water conservation means using our limited water supply wisely and caring for it properly. Since each of us depends on water to sustain life, it is our responsibility to learn more about water conservation and how we can help keep our sources pure and safe for generations to come. It minimizes the effects of drought and water shortages, guards against rising costs and political conflict. It helps to preserve our environmentIt makes water available for recreational purposes and builds safe and beautiful communities:
In other words, water conservation is not a job that is reserved for scientists, hydrologists, foresters, wildlife managers, city planners, farmers, or mine owners. Instead, it is up to each and every one of us to conserve water and save earth.
(The author is incharge Abhedananda Home-Higher Secondary Institution for Specially-abled Children, Solina, Srinagar)