Just Water ?

by Ana Paula Matheus Fiechter

"Water is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth`s streams, lakes and oceans, and the fluid of most living organisms. It is vital for all known forms of life, even though it provides no calories or organic nutrients." says Wikipedia. This is a very simple but also very true description of water. It respresents about 60% of our body structure, we drink it, we use it for shower, for watering plants, we can travel on it and even jump in for some fun.

 

It covers about 70% of the Earth for a total of approximately 332.5 million cubic miles (1,386 million cubic kilometers) (U.S Geological Survey) but most of this water - 97% of it - is undrinkable because it is saltwater. Only 3% of the world`s water supply is freshwater, and 77% of that is frozen. Of the 23% that is not frozen, only a half a percent is available to supply every plant, animal and person on Earth with all the water they need to survive. (National Geographic). 

According to World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in the next 3 decades the demand for water will increase by 40%-50% for the global food system, by 50%-70% for municipal and industrial sector and by 85% for energy sector. The main point in all of this is that the amount of usable water isn`t really decreasing but the demand of it is increasing. In addition, water pollution isn`t helping us to keep this amount at the same level. Also, water isn`t distributed evenly throughout the world. More than the half of the world`s water supply is contained in just 9 countries: USA, Canada, Columbia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, India, China and Indonesia. (NRDC.org). This means that a lot of places in the world does not have access to potable water, what makes people use polluted water, bringing us to the reality that this kills more people per year than war. (NRDC.org) Water is the most important thing we need to live and yet many people use it unconsciously, tons of wastewater are dumped in the seas, rivers and lakes. 

We still have time to change it and do more for our enviroment. Some countries treat water before throwing it back to the nature, what is a great help, but just as it happens to plastic (see our May/18 text), the production of wastewater is much bigger than its cleaning.

Everyone can help to prevent water contamination by choosing simple actions like reducing plastic consumption, properly dispose of chemical cleaners, oils, non-biodegradable item to keep them from ending up down the drain, if you have a pup, be sure to pick up its poop! (NRDC.org)

Reuse water as many time as possible, don`t let water running while you do the dishes or brush your teeth, take a shorter shower. Doing little things together makes it a big thing, everyone can! There are so many ways to save water and change the perspectives of the future. Everyone is responsable for your choices, what do you want to be responsible for?

"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water!" W.H.Auden