Saving Water

Another World Water Day has come and gone, but the world's water problems remain - or rather, are aggravating. This year's World Water Day (March 22) theme was Water for Cities; Responding to the Urban Challenge. This is highly appropriate even in the Sri Lankan context, where cities are bursting at the seams with an increasing resident and transient population.

Today's column is not about this issue per se, but a general view of what can be done to preserve and protect our water resources. In this backdrop, it is important to realize how scarce water is around the world. Only around 3 per cent of the surface water on planet Earth is pure freshwater. Remember the refrain 'water water everywhere but not a drop to drink'?

It is thus important to be aware of the fact that water resources are limited. With an average person needing around 50 litres of water each day for basic requirements, the underlying message is that we should try to save water whenever possible. There are many simple steps that one can take to save water, some of which are not so obvious. Most of these steps apply equally well to both urban and rural dwellers.

A well kept garden is definitely a thing of beauty, but many people are in the habit of using a hose to water their plants. This can just as easily be done with a perforated water can designed for gardening purposes. It calls for an extra effort, but the water saved justified that labour. Moreover, watering plants in the morning helps, because there is less evaporation as the temperatures are lower. The same goes for washing cars, more or less. Most of us use a hose, and hence plenty of water to wash a car. Using a bucket could save water, but even with a hose, less water can be used if you are frugal enough. It might actually be cheaper in the long run to choose a commercial car wash which uses recycled water.

Do you shave and/or wash your face using running water ? That calls for a lot of water. But if you use a container for this purpose, much of that water can be saved. You can waste up to nine litres a minute by just letting the water pour down the sink. This also applies to washing fruits and vegetables. At the end, you can use this water to water the plants.

The opposite is often true when it comes to bathing. A short shower will save more water than an immersive bath - up to 400 litres a week per person. It is also more beneficial to install a solar hot water system (with storage facility) rather than use an electric geyser in the long run, even though the installation cost is higher in the case of the former.

When upgrading your sanitaryware, look for a dual-flush equipped commode and efficient showerheads with water level selectors. These can save a lot of water in the long run, up to 10 litres a minute.

When washing clothes either by hand or machine, washing a bigger load at once can save more water than washing smaller loads on several different occasions. That could, of course, save electricity costs as well. Moreover, there are some clothes you can wear more than once before washing. This too reduces water usage, even by a small margin.

When it is time to replace your washing machine, look for an energy as well as water efficient model.

The simple act of closing taps once your task is over and checking whether all taps are securely closed before you leave home or go to bed can save water. Do act swiftly if there is a leakage from one of your taps or a shower, even if it is minor. Such wastage adds to your water bill in the long run, not to mention the wanton waste of a precious resource. It is also prudent to check your water bill for any unusually high rates, because that might indicate a leakage.

Do inform the relevant authorities if you see a water leak anywhere - be it a public tap or a pipeline. Such an act can save thousands of litres of water and a lot of money.

Sri Lanka, which gets a lot of rain all year round, has still not embraced the concept of rainwater collection. Such water can be used for irrigation, gardening, general washing purposes etc. The authorities should promote this concept on a wider scale islandwide.

Drip irrigation too should be similarly promoted among farmers, especially in the Dry Zone.

It is time that the basics of water management are taught at schools from the primary grades so that the next generation will be more aware of the need to conserve water. Saving water should begin at home and at school. If a child learns to conserve water, that will translate into a wider benefit for the society. The electronic media too can play a major role in creating awareness on saving water and the importance of using clean water. The latter should help reduce water-borne diseases.

Water is life - there is hardly any doubt about that. With the world population poised to go up exponentially, the world's water resources will be under immense strain. With solutions such as the desalination of seawater only available to coastal countries, the world still has a major problem to grapple with. Urban communities will be the most affected group, as this year's World Water Day theme amply illustrates. They should take the lead in conserving water.

It does not cost the Earth to save water and improve our water supplies at the same time. Even a small step can save a lot of water.More countries will have to adopt water recycling to ward off a water shortage. But on an individual level, there are a lot of things we can do to help conserve this life-giving resource. After all, every little drop of water counts.