50,000 litres. That’s roughly how much water the average individual uses in a year. While that figure might not mean much to you, it’s a figure that has risen alarmingly over the years. The data suggests that global water usage has increased sixfold since 1900s, so we must do something about this. It’s easy to think that the world’s supply of water is infinite, but the truth is that freshwater makes up a tiny percentage of the earth’s total water supply.
On this world water day, let’s study why we are using so much water, why this figure has increased so much in the last hundred years and more importantly, how can we solve this water consumption crisis.
Reasons for High Water Consumption
Higher Population
One of the biggest impacts on global water usage is the increase in population. If we go back 100 years, there were less than 2 billion people living on earth—now there’s over 8 billion. And it goes without saying that the more people there are on earth, the greater the demand for water consumption. Whether it’s for everyday tasks such as drinking and cleaning or industrial tasks such as food production, there is a positive correlation between population and water usage. As the population increases, cities expand. Bigger cities mean more houses, more offices and more hotels—all of which need water to build and to function.
Intensive Agriculture
Agriculture accounts for around 70% of all water used in the world, where water is used mainly for irrigation, livestock and crop production. As the global population increases, so does the demand for agriculture. Particularly, intensive agriculture of water-guzzling crops such as rice, sugarcane, areca palm etc., is aggravating the situation.
Industrial Use
While we think of this water consumption crisis in terms of individuals, it’s important to consider how water is used in industrial settings, as the numbers can dwarf individual water usage. For example, the electronics industry is dependent on ultrapure water, just like the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, every industry uses water in one way or another. A single fashion garment can require hundreds of litres of water during its production process. That doesn’t even account for the production of raw materials or the transportation of these goods.
Household Use
In terms of the everyday usage of water in household settings, all of us are using more water for tasks and devices that didn’t exist earlier. For example, washing machines and dishwashers require lots of water to run, which didn’t exist 100 years ago. Water consumption is increasing rapidly due to automation of kitchen and bathroom activities.
Environmental Consequences
The biggest impacts of our water consumption are environmental. As we extract more water to make up for the world’s increasing water consumption, it obviously reduces water levels in natural aquatic resources, which damages habitats of wildlife and increases the risk of droughts.
Water Scarcity
For those living in developed countries in Europe, it may not feel like we have a water shortage. However, there is a decreasing availability of clean water among developing countries. It is estimated that over 2 billion people still don’t have access to clean water, and the overconsumption of water in richer nations coupled with climate consequences is only worsening this inequality.
What Can We Do About It?
Various preventive actions can be taken to reduce water consumption, right from small, everyday actions to global legislation. Steps include swapping bathtubs for showers and making your showers shorter. You can also start by assessing the numerous appliances in your home and switching to more water-efficient ones. More complex steps include implementing rainwater harvesting systems at home if you want to seriously reduce water consumption.
Beyond households, commercial establishments and industries like agriculture are responsible for using vast amounts of water every single day. While these industries are essential, we can apply pressure for them to use more efficient systems.
Steps that businesses can take to reduce water usage include more efficient irrigation systems, drought-resistant crops and water recycling. As we move forward and technology continues to advance, we can expect more green solutions to arise as a way to combat water usage.
It is also important to consider the role of governments and policymakers in this challenge, particularly in developed nations. While governments can build campaigns to raise awareness of water consumption and educate citizens about water usage, legislators need to do all they can to protect natural water resources. It may also be wise to work alongside companies and reward those who invest in reducing water usage.
Final Thoughts
Fresh water is a limited resource, and we must take steps to protect this vital resource. This involves everyone from individuals who use water for everyday tasks to CEOs and government officials who play a role in the industrial usage of water. While the fight can seem like a gigantic battle against this water consumption crisis, millions of people taking small actions can make a colossal impact.
