Water Security and Conservation

Access to Safe Water: A Basic Human Need

The United Nations (UN) identifies access to safe water as one of the most fundamental human needs for health and well-being. The UN's 6th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) focuses on ensuring "Clean Water and Sanitation" for everyone around the world. However, with water being a finite resource and demand growing, many people are experiencing water scarcity. More than 2 billion people—over a quarter of the global population—lack access to safe drinking water.

Despite the challenges, there has been some positive progress! From 2015 to 2022, the percentage of people with access to safe drinking water rose from 69% to 73%. There's still much work to be done but it's progress. In this blog, we'll explore the issues caused by the imbalance of water demand vs supply and offer practical tips for conserving water in our daily lives.

Water Security: What Does It Mean?

You may have heard the term 'water security', but what does it really mean? Water security refers to the ability of a population to ensure sustainable access to adequate quantities of clean water, to support livelihoods, well-being, and socio-economic development. It’s about safeguarding the water supply for everyone, preserving ecosystems, and preventing water-related disasters. Achieving water security requires everyone’s efforts—individuals, governments, and communities working together.

Unfortunately, water security continues to be a significant global issue. Climate change and rising temperatures make it even more urgent to address. Read on to learn more about the problems caused by water insecurity.

Issues Caused by Water Insecurity

Water insecurity can lead to numerous challenges. Here are some of the most pressing issues:

• Food Production: Water shortages can disrupt food production, causing droughts and lack of irrigation, which in turn leads to lower food supply and increased hunger in affected areas.
• Waterborne Diseases: Contaminated water can lead to waterborne diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, and vomiting, which are often fatal if not treated properly. These diseases are most prevalent in underdeveloped regions where healthcare access is limited.
• Disruption of Education: In rural areas, water insecurity forces women and girls to spend hours fetching water instead of attending school, which severely limits their education opportunities.
• Impact on Industry: Water is crucial for many industries. A shortage can hinder production, transportation, and energy use, leading to economic dependence on other countries for resources.
• Conflict and War: Control over water sources can lead to conflict. Seizing dams, for example, can have disastrous effects on communities dependent on water from those sources.

How We Can Help: 7 Tips for Conserving Water

Even though individuals can’t control government decisions about water use, there are small changes we can make to conserve water daily. Here are our top 7 tips:

1. Reduce Shower Time: Cut your shower time to 4 minutes to save up to 40 litres of water per shower. Less water used means lower energy bills!
2. Turn Off Taps: Turning off taps while brushing teeth or washing dishes can save up to 6 litres of water per minute.
3. Fix Leaks: Report any leaks to the taps, toilets or showers, to prevent water wastage and avoid higher water bills.
4. Only Boil What's Needed: Fill the kettle with only the amount of water that's needed. This reduces water and energy waste.
5. Save Laundry for Full Loads: Wait to do laundry until you have a full load to minimise water and energy use.
6. Buy Second-Hand Clothes: Did you know it takes 20,000 litres of water to produce a pair of jeans and a T-shirt? Buying secondhand clothes helps reduce this water usage.
7. Reduce Meat Consumption: Producing meat, especially beef, requires a lot of water. Try eating more plant-based meals to save water and help the planet.

By following these simple tips, you can make a real difference in water conservation and save money while doing it. It's a win for both you and the environment!

Stay Tuned

Next month, we’ll share more tips on sustainability, including how to clear out your student accommodation with the planet in mind. Stay tuned for more practical advice!