The issues involved in water conservation are timely ones that seemed to have sprung up recently with our recent awareness in the last decade or so of the ozone layer depletion, global warming, and acid rain. Keywords in this awareness are sustainability (the concept of making sure water is available for future generations with the simple equation of withdrawal of fresh water not to exceed the natural replacement rate) energy conservation (managing water so that water pumping, delivery and waste water treatment do not consume an unreasonable amount of energy) and habitat conservation (an effort to minimize human water use to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversionary structures).
However current these ideas and terms, water conservation has actually been a global concern for centuries and has been a primary issue in many cultures around the world. Throughout history, water availability has been a vital factor in the rise and fall of human cultures. Some of the earliest civilizations, such as the Mesopotamian peoples of the Fertile Crescent, an area which got its name because of its shape and location between two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. Without the water, civilizations would not have taken root and flourished there. Another example of the vital role water has played in our human history would be the ancient Egyptian people, whose entire existence depended on the Nile River and its seasonal flooding and receding. This great ancient civilization was able to achieve its great inventions and architectural accomplishments, the Pyramids, the Sphinx and other monuments, because of the secure and permanent lifestyle that the Nile River supported. The ancient Aztecs, who ingeniously built their entire city on man-made islands floating on Mexico's Lake Texcoco, also had the luxury of an almost unlimited water source which gave them the security to invent, build and create many things that the world had never seen before. Water is not only a means of sustaining human life, it is necessary for agriculture, the domesticating of animals, and even transportation. Whether living in ancient times or the 21st century, humans must learn to live within the limits of available natural resources. The supply of usable water is not unlimited. We must learn to reduce our excessive consumption.
Today there are many foundations that have been set up to help deal with the problem of our excessive consumption. One of the most prominent and long-standing is the Water Environment Federation (WEF.) This organization has been around since 1928, when it was originally called the Federation of Sewage Works Associations. It then became known as the Federation of Sewage and Industrial Wastes Associations in 1950 and the Water Pollution Control Federation in 1960. It became the Water Environment Federation in 1991 to reflect its expanding role of not only dealing with the pollution but sustaining and educating for the future. The Water Environment Federation is worldwide, with a global network that works towards goals of water conservation. One of the main goals is universal metering. This concept involves the individual metering of households across the world so that household consumption can be observed, compared, recorded and reduced. Universal metering of water in households varies greatly worldwide. In the United Kingdom, less than 30% of homes are metered. In Canada, only 57% of urban homes are metered. In the United States, where almost every private residence is metered, water use has gone down when individual households realized they were being held accountable and financially responsible for their water use. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that metering alone can reduce water consumption by 20 to 40 percent. Another social solution would be putting pressure on individual farmers by monitoring their fresh water use. Crop irrigation accounts for 70% of the world's fresh water use. Conservation advocates are working around the world to put pressure on farmers to grow more water-efficient crops and adopt less wasteful irrigation techniques.
Global technological solutions that are being advanced by the Water Environment Federation and other agencies worldwide include water-saving technology for both the home and the agricultural sector. In the home, some devices that are becoming available in many countries include low-flow shower heads, low-flush toilets, faucet aerators (which break up the flow into finer droplets for better "wetting effectiveness"), wastewater reuse or recycling systems allowing reuse of "graywater" for flushing toilets or watering the garden, and recycling of wastewater through purification at a water treatment plant, along with many other household appliances that use less water, such as washing machines and dishwashers. For crop irrigation, new methods are being explored to prevent evaporation and runoff waste. An evaporation pan can be used to determine how much water is required to irrigate the land. Alternatives to flood irrigation, which is wasteful because some areas receive more than enough water just so that other areas receive enough, are being tested worldwide. One alternative is overhead irrigation which uses sprinklers, but in extremely dry areas some water may evaporate before reaching the ground. Drip irrigation is the most efficient because it delivers droplets of water directly to the roots of plants with very little waste, but it is the most expensive to put into place. Today, conservation efforts are exploring ways to maximize the efficiency of the current irrigation system rather than replacing it entirely which is proving to be too expensive for most farmers.
Water conservation is continually evolving, from its earliest history of cultivation in the Fertile Crescent to modern efforts made by international organizations to work towards sustainability. After all, it is in our best interest to maintain a global perspective on this issue- -we're all it this together!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Videos
Water scarcity is not only due to overuse. Sometimes it is the weather and change in climate that brings drought and a water shortage to an area. Global warming also has effects on water shortages. Humans greenhouse gases are trapped in the atmosphere and are causing our earth's temperature to rise. By the end of this century, it is expected that the temperature will rise 2 to 3 degrees Celsius. This climate change brings anticipation of drought, floods and storms.
These videos are of people in different parts of the world all needing the same thing, water.
These videos are of people in different parts of the world all needing the same thing, water.
What the world should be doing!
The earth is a self-contained biosphere unit. According to LennTech.com fresh water makes up only about 2.5% of the earths total water, and of that 2.5% the majority is locked up in glaciers and permafrost. Of the 2.5% of freshwater only 1% is drinkable (LennTech.com). With the recent population explosion the earth has been undergoing, water is “changing form”, and becoming less accessible for all people. Water is being lost to pollution, overuse, and disease. With a more controlled population, the stresses on water, and all of earth’s resources, would be greatly reduced. According to About.com, China’s one child policy has “been estimated to have reduced population growth in the country of 1.3 billion by as much as 300 million people over its first twenty years”. Although these are seemingly draconian measures, we live in a world where choices like these could mean the difference between survival of mankind, and extinction.
Aside from overpopulation, waste and unsatisfactory water management are the main reasons for our increasing water problems. Here is a breakdown of the world water distribution:
(BBC NEWS)
As you can see, agriculture dominates our world water usage. There is plenty room of improvement in irrigation, as well as other water conservation techniques.
Water is a right. We should all be sharing equally between social classes with all. In South Africa, they are privatizing water. Many are allowed 6,000 liters of water a month for free, paying for anything over. But privatization does not work for everyone. It doesn’t fit the lifestyles of most. 6,000 liters a month means 50 liters a day for an entire family. On average, a American uses 19 gallons of water daily. (www.mindfully.org/Sustainability/ Americans-Consume-24percent.htm). that equals to 602.61 gallons. Despite Americans being wasteful, it is unrealistic to give a South African family not enough water for all of them.( BBC NEWS
In developed, urban countries, water shortage mainly stems from inefficient agricultural laws. They use 85% of the world’s water and are shortfalls that need to be addressed by the governments of each nation. (Usa Today)
A California entrepreneur designs Spragg bags. He hopes that the White House will help mediate and negotiate floating fresh water to Palestinians and Israelis. This deal begins in Turkey by filling 20 to 30 Spragg bags with fresh water. Transportation is pennies to the gallon because the bags would float a few hundred miles to those who are in need.
Less than 2.5% of the world’s water is fresh. It is the essence of life. At any given time, half of the world’s hospitals are people who are effected by a water-borne disease. Pollution and global warming threaten this vital resource and with it becoming scarce, we are all fighting for our rights for water. (Christian Science Monitor)
An alternative to fresh water is desalinated water. The United States has be reprimanded for not investing more into research for water purification. So far there are more than 11,000 desalination plants in 120 countries around the world with Japan and Saudi Arabia spear heading. 60% of these are in the Middle East. Our global water problem is getting worse everyday. The world needs to unify its people by slowing population growth, controlling pollution and the supply and demand to the different countries. We all need to start conserving water. And above all, everyone needs to start caring about this issue and about others. Reduce waste, care more. Efficiency is key for moving into a secure future.
Aside from overpopulation, waste and unsatisfactory water management are the main reasons for our increasing water problems. Here is a breakdown of the world water distribution:
(BBC NEWS)
As you can see, agriculture dominates our world water usage. There is plenty room of improvement in irrigation, as well as other water conservation techniques.
Water is a right. We should all be sharing equally between social classes with all. In South Africa, they are privatizing water. Many are allowed 6,000 liters of water a month for free, paying for anything over. But privatization does not work for everyone. It doesn’t fit the lifestyles of most. 6,000 liters a month means 50 liters a day for an entire family. On average, a American uses 19 gallons of water daily. (www.mindfully.org/Sustainability/ Americans-Consume-24percent.htm). that equals to 602.61 gallons. Despite Americans being wasteful, it is unrealistic to give a South African family not enough water for all of them.( BBC NEWS
In developed, urban countries, water shortage mainly stems from inefficient agricultural laws. They use 85% of the world’s water and are shortfalls that need to be addressed by the governments of each nation. (Usa Today)
A California entrepreneur designs Spragg bags. He hopes that the White House will help mediate and negotiate floating fresh water to Palestinians and Israelis. This deal begins in Turkey by filling 20 to 30 Spragg bags with fresh water. Transportation is pennies to the gallon because the bags would float a few hundred miles to those who are in need.
Less than 2.5% of the world’s water is fresh. It is the essence of life. At any given time, half of the world’s hospitals are people who are effected by a water-borne disease. Pollution and global warming threaten this vital resource and with it becoming scarce, we are all fighting for our rights for water. (Christian Science Monitor)
An alternative to fresh water is desalinated water. The United States has be reprimanded for not investing more into research for water purification. So far there are more than 11,000 desalination plants in 120 countries around the world with Japan and Saudi Arabia spear heading. 60% of these are in the Middle East. Our global water problem is getting worse everyday. The world needs to unify its people by slowing population growth, controlling pollution and the supply and demand to the different countries. We all need to start conserving water. And above all, everyone needs to start caring about this issue and about others. Reduce waste, care more. Efficiency is key for moving into a secure future.
The World's Current Water Scarcity
The World’s Current Water Scarcity:
As the world approaches the 7 billion population mark, our problems are becoming equally sizeable and ominous. As populations grow, so does our need for water. Water is required for the mankind's huge industrial, agricultural, and individual demands. According to the World Bank, the world’s demand for water is doubling every 21 years. This is a general analysis, but some countries are suffering severe water problems; around 90% of the severe problems are in developing nations (Usa Today). You would assume that wealthier countries have realized the problem and become efficient in their water conservation techniques, yet according to BBC NEWS individuals in most wealthy countries use up to 10 times more water than those in poor ones, and consequently, they face dire consequences. In the US, drought is on the rise. In Atlanta, a bustling US city with over 3 million residents, there is only an estimated 3 months of water left (TruthOut.Org). Three months before 3 MILLION people will lack the most basic necessity of life, and have to deal with no showers, no clean sanitation, and nothing to drink. Three months before there is not enough water in the river to create steam for power plants; three months till there’s no electricity. Drought warnings have also been issued for Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. America, Arguably the most powerful country in the world, will be reduced to nothing without water.
With the current growth of population, there is no obvious and fair way that water will be distributed uniformly, and it seems like governments are moving towards privatization. Water is becoming a commodity, and the cost of living will consequently rise to the increasing demand in water, with the obvious and imminent decrease in supply. Estimates of this shortage in supply include:
* Severe water shortages affecting at least 400 million people today will affect 4 billion people by 2050. Southwestern states such as Arizona will face other severe freshwater shortages by 2025.
* Adequate sanitation facilities are lacking for 2.4 billion people, about 40% of humankind. (Usa Today).
Everyone’s saying it, and the ominous forecast will hold true, unless everyone contributes to solve the problem.
As the world approaches the 7 billion population mark, our problems are becoming equally sizeable and ominous. As populations grow, so does our need for water. Water is required for the mankind's huge industrial, agricultural, and individual demands. According to the World Bank, the world’s demand for water is doubling every 21 years. This is a general analysis, but some countries are suffering severe water problems; around 90% of the severe problems are in developing nations (Usa Today). You would assume that wealthier countries have realized the problem and become efficient in their water conservation techniques, yet according to BBC NEWS individuals in most wealthy countries use up to 10 times more water than those in poor ones, and consequently, they face dire consequences. In the US, drought is on the rise. In Atlanta, a bustling US city with over 3 million residents, there is only an estimated 3 months of water left (TruthOut.Org). Three months before 3 MILLION people will lack the most basic necessity of life, and have to deal with no showers, no clean sanitation, and nothing to drink. Three months before there is not enough water in the river to create steam for power plants; three months till there’s no electricity. Drought warnings have also been issued for Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. America, Arguably the most powerful country in the world, will be reduced to nothing without water.
With the current growth of population, there is no obvious and fair way that water will be distributed uniformly, and it seems like governments are moving towards privatization. Water is becoming a commodity, and the cost of living will consequently rise to the increasing demand in water, with the obvious and imminent decrease in supply. Estimates of this shortage in supply include:
* Severe water shortages affecting at least 400 million people today will affect 4 billion people by 2050. Southwestern states such as Arizona will face other severe freshwater shortages by 2025.
* Adequate sanitation facilities are lacking for 2.4 billion people, about 40% of humankind. (Usa Today).
Everyone’s saying it, and the ominous forecast will hold true, unless everyone contributes to solve the problem.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Captain Environment PSA: What Individuals Can Do!
Short Funny clip about simple things individuals can do to become more sustainable.
WORLD: GLOBAL WATER CRISIS
This Video was taken from Grey-water.com and is written and produced by Leonardo Dicaprio. It addresses the water conservation issue we have globally.
"We are at a crisis point, but we still have time to turn this around." Leo Dicaprio Water planet.
"We are at a crisis point, but we still have time to turn this around." Leo Dicaprio Water planet.
Friday, September 28, 2007
What WE can do: National
Tobie Reeuwijk
Right now, we the people need to do something. We aren’t doing anything to prepare for a possible water crisis. As individuals, most people don’t conserve water because it is a hassle. The fact that the price of water is low doesn’t deter individuals or corporations either. According to Benjamin Grumbles of the EPA “Water efficiency and full-cost pricing are the wave of the future...the more people understand the true value of water… the more people they’ll realize prices need to reflect that.” (US News and Business) That’s nice Mr. Grumbles, but the people do not control the price of water directly, (besides the fact we drain supply thereby in the future create a demand) the GOVERNMENT is responsible for that. The government needs to at least speculate to raise the price of water to a “full-cost” value.
Increasing water prices will not only force people to reconsider how much they waste each month, big corporations will be forced to find alternative solutions to their huge water consumptions. Mainly the bottled water industry (mentioned in the current situation), which is making ridiculous profits off the draining of our future.
In addition to reducing use, we need to find ways to prevent unnecessary waste. Just a week ago, I was driving down the road towards school, and there was a huge hole in the ground shooting out water at least 100 feet high. I stood there in awe; watching millions of gallons of fresh water skyrocket into, well, waste! I watched for about 5 minutes, tried to take a picture but failed, and there was absolutely no sign of response. I called 911 to report it, and they had not heard a thing about a water main break on Waialae Avenue… This ignorance towards the importance of fixing a water main break, or even replacing entire infrastructures to reduce water waste, needs to be addressed. Water main breaks should be just as important to the local “powers to be” of water management as a traffic accident is to a cop. Water is life, and letting it waste is draining the life of the future. Locally in Hawaii we hear about water main breaks frequently, and we definitely aren’t the only ones. Nationwide, The American Water Works Association estimates that there are 250,000 to 300,000 water main breaks per year, and this number continues to increase as our water infrastructure deteriorates. (US News and Business)
Wasting precious water isn’t the only consequence of a water main break either; it causes mass disruption to the surrounding area. Washington D.C had a serious break of a 36-inch main back in 2005. It affected almost all the restaurants in the area, and homes were flooded. It caused most of these restaurants to close, and no bathrooms in the area were functional either. The water flowed onto the sidewalks and onto the streets for most of the day because they were unable to turn off the water. Most hospitals were unable to accept patience due to the lack of water. Repairing the break could take several days and the break might have possibly shifted the land near the break. This showcase of widespread chaos shows how important water really is, and what could happen if we don’t conserve it. (The Washington Post)
Aside from poor attention and funding for our national water infrastructure, we have no coordinated policy to address our issues as well as international water issues. We need to establish a National Water commission to coordinate and tackle these problems. By establishing this commission, they should also regulate private usage and consumption of water. Large corporations, mainly bottled water are gaining more and more power in the water “business”. Putting the power into business is absolutely inappropriate in this situation, because business is all about MAKING MONEY! Making money by selling water means PUMPING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! Large corporations couldn’t care less about how over excessive pumping affects the land, and how it detracts greatly from our supplies. Over pumping can cause larger problems like allowing pollutants into the aquifers. (Gainesville Sun)
In the end, our government needs to stop groveling to water lobbyists, and greed, and do something for the nation. The Government has the power to put a full price on water, and to take responsible control over our water supply, not business or the public. They also need to set aside more money for rebuilding our old water-main infrastructure, and to put more money into wastewater treatment. According to US News and Business, “Federal funding for clean drinking water and waste-water treatment, in fact, has declined 24 percent since 2001.” (US News and Business). We the people still can do something. We cannot rely on current government officials to determine our fate. As US citizens, we need be active in understanding issues such as an impending water crisis, and elect officials who will address these effectively. We have the power to vote, and the power to use day-to-day water conservation techniques to ensure a better future for our people.
Right now, we the people need to do something. We aren’t doing anything to prepare for a possible water crisis. As individuals, most people don’t conserve water because it is a hassle. The fact that the price of water is low doesn’t deter individuals or corporations either. According to Benjamin Grumbles of the EPA “Water efficiency and full-cost pricing are the wave of the future...the more people understand the true value of water… the more people they’ll realize prices need to reflect that.” (US News and Business) That’s nice Mr. Grumbles, but the people do not control the price of water directly, (besides the fact we drain supply thereby in the future create a demand) the GOVERNMENT is responsible for that. The government needs to at least speculate to raise the price of water to a “full-cost” value.
Increasing water prices will not only force people to reconsider how much they waste each month, big corporations will be forced to find alternative solutions to their huge water consumptions. Mainly the bottled water industry (mentioned in the current situation), which is making ridiculous profits off the draining of our future.
In addition to reducing use, we need to find ways to prevent unnecessary waste. Just a week ago, I was driving down the road towards school, and there was a huge hole in the ground shooting out water at least 100 feet high. I stood there in awe; watching millions of gallons of fresh water skyrocket into, well, waste! I watched for about 5 minutes, tried to take a picture but failed, and there was absolutely no sign of response. I called 911 to report it, and they had not heard a thing about a water main break on Waialae Avenue… This ignorance towards the importance of fixing a water main break, or even replacing entire infrastructures to reduce water waste, needs to be addressed. Water main breaks should be just as important to the local “powers to be” of water management as a traffic accident is to a cop. Water is life, and letting it waste is draining the life of the future. Locally in Hawaii we hear about water main breaks frequently, and we definitely aren’t the only ones. Nationwide, The American Water Works Association estimates that there are 250,000 to 300,000 water main breaks per year, and this number continues to increase as our water infrastructure deteriorates. (US News and Business)
Wasting precious water isn’t the only consequence of a water main break either; it causes mass disruption to the surrounding area. Washington D.C had a serious break of a 36-inch main back in 2005. It affected almost all the restaurants in the area, and homes were flooded. It caused most of these restaurants to close, and no bathrooms in the area were functional either. The water flowed onto the sidewalks and onto the streets for most of the day because they were unable to turn off the water. Most hospitals were unable to accept patience due to the lack of water. Repairing the break could take several days and the break might have possibly shifted the land near the break. This showcase of widespread chaos shows how important water really is, and what could happen if we don’t conserve it. (The Washington Post)
Aside from poor attention and funding for our national water infrastructure, we have no coordinated policy to address our issues as well as international water issues. We need to establish a National Water commission to coordinate and tackle these problems. By establishing this commission, they should also regulate private usage and consumption of water. Large corporations, mainly bottled water are gaining more and more power in the water “business”. Putting the power into business is absolutely inappropriate in this situation, because business is all about MAKING MONEY! Making money by selling water means PUMPING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! Large corporations couldn’t care less about how over excessive pumping affects the land, and how it detracts greatly from our supplies. Over pumping can cause larger problems like allowing pollutants into the aquifers. (Gainesville Sun)
In the end, our government needs to stop groveling to water lobbyists, and greed, and do something for the nation. The Government has the power to put a full price on water, and to take responsible control over our water supply, not business or the public. They also need to set aside more money for rebuilding our old water-main infrastructure, and to put more money into wastewater treatment. According to US News and Business, “Federal funding for clean drinking water and waste-water treatment, in fact, has declined 24 percent since 2001.” (US News and Business). We the people still can do something. We cannot rely on current government officials to determine our fate. As US citizens, we need be active in understanding issues such as an impending water crisis, and elect officials who will address these effectively. We have the power to vote, and the power to use day-to-day water conservation techniques to ensure a better future for our people.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The current national water crisis
At the Moment, water is being neglected and taken for granted. Major corporations are pumping the precious resource for minimal prices, and there are currently no strict regulations on the volume consumed. The Oglalla aquifer is America's largest aquifer making it one of the biggest in the world as well. The Oglalla aquifer lies in portions of South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Most of the rights to pump water in Texas belong to T. Boone Pickens. Mr.Pickens realized that water has become a commodity, and that at our rate of growth, it is only natural that we will NEED this commodity for survival. He bought most of the rights for a measly $75 million dollars, and he expects to make at least a billion in profits within 30 years. Besides the fact Mr.Pickens might one day have a monopoly over water in Texas, he has also contributed to a projected water deficit. Over the course of time, the U.S (Boone included) has effectively drained the aquifer to around half it's original capacity. (Hermes Press) "More than 200,000 wells draw 13 million gallons from the aquifer a minute, faster than Nature can replenish it." Even with this knowledge of potential the U.S government allow Millionaires like Boone to pump and sell up to 65 billion gallons of water a year, thereby abusing our nations water resources. The government isn't helping by selling these water rights for undervalued prices.
Additionally, The Bush Administration has made no effort to put a reasonable value on water, and continues to subsidize the commodity with other revenues. (Money and Buisness) This "fake" price of water has made the nation complacent, and cause us to waste and reckless with this precious resource. This is especially important when Millions of people in the united states in America, at least 1.1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, 2.4 million do not have access to safe sanitation systems, and 2-5 million people die each year from PREVENTABLE water-related diseases. (Pacific Insitute)
The bottled water industry in the US is also running amuck and is not properly controlled. In th US, there are very lax laws regulating the amount of companies that can be pumping in specific locations. ( Evergreen.edu) Therefore, large water bottling companies can then just go ahead and pay the very little to milk our precious resource. According to Green Nature, they have found that over half of Americans actually consume bottled water, and the companies sell it to use for 240-10,000 times more than the price we are charged by the government for tap water. Americans in a sense are addicted to bottled water, and thereby support this environmentally unfriendly industry. ( Evergreen.edu)
Texas and the ogalla aquifer states aren't the only ones that are suffering overpumping and drought conditions. Southwest Florida has been trying to avoid overpumping problems ever since the 1990's. There are various consequences of overpumping, and in Florida's case, it caused foreign bodies including salt to enter the aquifer and pollute it. Since then, they have been stricter on the acceptable "minimum levels" for pumping their Suwannee aquifer. (Gainesville Sun )
You would think the EPA would show a dire concern for the scarcity and magnitude of our water problem. In reality, the EPA has done little to nothing as far as campaigning to save water. The EPA website has very limited information on the reality of the issue, and offers very little solutions. We have a long way to go before water can be handled the way it should be.
Additionally, The Bush Administration has made no effort to put a reasonable value on water, and continues to subsidize the commodity with other revenues. (Money and Buisness) This "fake" price of water has made the nation complacent, and cause us to waste and reckless with this precious resource. This is especially important when Millions of people in the united states in America, at least 1.1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, 2.4 million do not have access to safe sanitation systems, and 2-5 million people die each year from PREVENTABLE water-related diseases. (Pacific Insitute)
The bottled water industry in the US is also running amuck and is not properly controlled. In th US, there are very lax laws regulating the amount of companies that can be pumping in specific locations. ( Evergreen.edu) Therefore, large water bottling companies can then just go ahead and pay the very little to milk our precious resource. According to Green Nature, they have found that over half of Americans actually consume bottled water, and the companies sell it to use for 240-10,000 times more than the price we are charged by the government for tap water. Americans in a sense are addicted to bottled water, and thereby support this environmentally unfriendly industry. ( Evergreen.edu)
Texas and the ogalla aquifer states aren't the only ones that are suffering overpumping and drought conditions. Southwest Florida has been trying to avoid overpumping problems ever since the 1990's. There are various consequences of overpumping, and in Florida's case, it caused foreign bodies including salt to enter the aquifer and pollute it. Since then, they have been stricter on the acceptable "minimum levels" for pumping their Suwannee aquifer. (Gainesville Sun )
You would think the EPA would show a dire concern for the scarcity and magnitude of our water problem. In reality, the EPA has done little to nothing as far as campaigning to save water. The EPA website has very limited information on the reality of the issue, and offers very little solutions. We have a long way to go before water can be handled the way it should be.
Water Shortage in America
Imagine this. As a college student you get a job in the local fast-food place for minimum wage. Now that you're employed, credit card applications fill your mailbox. You apply and receive a new Visa in a week. Because you are a college student, you have a higher spending limit, since statistically speaking you will probably have a higher-than average future income. What do you do with it? You immediately "max it out," spending $1,500.00 within a month. Typical American, right?
Also typical American- -the way we are "maxing out" our dwindling water supply with absolutely no slowing down to prepare for the future, no plan for how we are going to "pay back" and replenish the water supply. Not only are we as Americans using and wasting our own water at an alarming rate, we are also the highest manufacturers of ethanol products which are destroying the water supply for the entire world. Greenhouse gases which trap heat and play a major role in the melting of the glaciers and snow-dependent regions are building up largely due to Americans' continuing use of ethanol products and lack of water conservation. "It's like having a credit card and spending wildly, and not thinking about how you're going to pay it off," Dr. Tim Barnett of the Scripps Institution says. He and other scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography predict that there will be a severe water shortage, resulting from global warming, in the near future. The United States will feel the impact of the global climate change in as few as 20 years. The timeline for the loss of water in other parts of the world will vary. Places like Peru will most likely feel the shortage sooner, whereas places like China might feel the effects a little later.
Why is ethanol such a problem? Right now, right here in the United States, there have been regional water shortages due to the booming ethanol industry. In the state of Iowa, the biggest producer of biofuel in the U.S., the demand for water required by the ethanol manufacturers adds up to an estimated 28 billion liters per year, but even this is only one third of what the United States produces. Not only does ethanol contribute to global warming, but the production of it uses up the fresh drinking water supply.
However, it is not just ethanol production that is a problem. Water is being wasted everywhere. Wherever it is being used, for agriculture, industry, or even domestic use in people's homes, water could and should be managed better, according to the World Water Council. What will the result be, if we don't make changes right now? Scientists predict the harmful effects of global warming will include hundreds of millions of people not having enough water to drink, while at the same time, tens of millions of others will be flooded out of their homes each year due to rising temperatures and sea levels, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The world will change in numerous unexpected ways, too. Tropical diseases like malaria will spread. By the year 2050, the panel predicts that polar bears will no longer exist in the wild. their natural frozen habitats will be gone. Pests like fire ants, on the other hand, will thrive. The world's physical and biological systems will be forever changed on every continent. This is not the future we imagine. Do we have the discipline to change this path? Do we have the initiative to even start making changes in our own homes?
There are many ways that people can conserve water in every area of their lives. Right at home, we can begin by installing appliances that use less water than older models, such as toilets and washing machines. We can landscape our gardens, parks and other public places with drought-friendly plants, and most of all, we can simply monitor our own use of water and learn to get by with less. Factories can recycle and reuse water that they waste after one use. Agriculture and other areas of food production can be improved. People can even use their consumer power to buy goods that require less water to produce and cut back on buying goods that require lots of water to process. For example, the World Water Council points out, "Changes in food habits many reduce the problem, knowing that growing 1 kg of potatoes requires only 100 liters of water, whereas 1 kg of beef requires 13,000 liters." The changes can be as simple as eating less processed beef, or taking a bath instead of a shower every day. The important thing is that we have to begin...and we have to begin now.
Also typical American- -the way we are "maxing out" our dwindling water supply with absolutely no slowing down to prepare for the future, no plan for how we are going to "pay back" and replenish the water supply. Not only are we as Americans using and wasting our own water at an alarming rate, we are also the highest manufacturers of ethanol products which are destroying the water supply for the entire world. Greenhouse gases which trap heat and play a major role in the melting of the glaciers and snow-dependent regions are building up largely due to Americans' continuing use of ethanol products and lack of water conservation. "It's like having a credit card and spending wildly, and not thinking about how you're going to pay it off," Dr. Tim Barnett of the Scripps Institution says. He and other scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography predict that there will be a severe water shortage, resulting from global warming, in the near future. The United States will feel the impact of the global climate change in as few as 20 years. The timeline for the loss of water in other parts of the world will vary. Places like Peru will most likely feel the shortage sooner, whereas places like China might feel the effects a little later.
Why is ethanol such a problem? Right now, right here in the United States, there have been regional water shortages due to the booming ethanol industry. In the state of Iowa, the biggest producer of biofuel in the U.S., the demand for water required by the ethanol manufacturers adds up to an estimated 28 billion liters per year, but even this is only one third of what the United States produces. Not only does ethanol contribute to global warming, but the production of it uses up the fresh drinking water supply.
However, it is not just ethanol production that is a problem. Water is being wasted everywhere. Wherever it is being used, for agriculture, industry, or even domestic use in people's homes, water could and should be managed better, according to the World Water Council. What will the result be, if we don't make changes right now? Scientists predict the harmful effects of global warming will include hundreds of millions of people not having enough water to drink, while at the same time, tens of millions of others will be flooded out of their homes each year due to rising temperatures and sea levels, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The world will change in numerous unexpected ways, too. Tropical diseases like malaria will spread. By the year 2050, the panel predicts that polar bears will no longer exist in the wild. their natural frozen habitats will be gone. Pests like fire ants, on the other hand, will thrive. The world's physical and biological systems will be forever changed on every continent. This is not the future we imagine. Do we have the discipline to change this path? Do we have the initiative to even start making changes in our own homes?
There are many ways that people can conserve water in every area of their lives. Right at home, we can begin by installing appliances that use less water than older models, such as toilets and washing machines. We can landscape our gardens, parks and other public places with drought-friendly plants, and most of all, we can simply monitor our own use of water and learn to get by with less. Factories can recycle and reuse water that they waste after one use. Agriculture and other areas of food production can be improved. People can even use their consumer power to buy goods that require less water to produce and cut back on buying goods that require lots of water to process. For example, the World Water Council points out, "Changes in food habits many reduce the problem, knowing that growing 1 kg of potatoes requires only 100 liters of water, whereas 1 kg of beef requires 13,000 liters." The changes can be as simple as eating less processed beef, or taking a bath instead of a shower every day. The important thing is that we have to begin...and we have to begin now.
National Individuals
There are things that could be done on a large, governmental scale, but more things can be done, accomplished and saved on an individual scale. Individuals can make the biggest difference. There are many ways that each of us can help our country conserve water. One is High-Efficient Toilets (HETs). Before 1980, toilets used 5 gallons of water. From 1980-1994, toilets used 3.5 gallons per flush. Now there are low flush toilets, which use 1.6 gallons, but HETs only use 1.3 gallons. Over a lifetime, the average American flushes the toilet almost 140,000 times. If every household installed a WaterSense toilet, every person could save 4,000 gallons of water a year. Since there are 300 million people in the United States, that equals to 1.2 TRILLION gallons of water a year. That water could help our country be more sustainable.
Our world revolves on water. our country relies on water. It is the essences of life for everything living and for our country. As citizens, we each need to conserve as much water as we can so our earth and our country do not collapse. The biggest water savers are the individuals of these United States. By saving and conserving water, we are ensuring our country’s future and sustainability. We can write emails to our U.S. President and/or state U.S. Senators expressing our thoughts and concerns for America's water situation and what sort of action we suggest they should take. We should let our government know our concerns and encourage them to make it a known issue and to try and get it resolved.
According to American Water and Energy Savers, if a faucet is left dripping for an entire day, it can waste 34 gallons, every little bit counts. From turning off the water while you brush your teeth or wash your hands or dishes to watering your lawns every other day, all of the little acts of conserving water adds up to huge amounts. Also, watering your lawn every other day or even only a few times a week makes your grass more environmentally efficient. By not being water daily, the grass roots are able to grow deeper into the earth and can then hold the soil better. Take showers instead of baths. Baths can use 15-20 gallons of water while a shower uses 10 gallons. And while in the shower, try to turn off the faucet while lathering. We can also invest in water efficient shower heads that use 1.5 gallons per minutes compared to the older versions, which used 2 gpm. Clean Water America took a poll and 54% of Americans said that clean water was a privilege not a right. We should all take care and be conscience of our privileges so that we do not run the risk of loosing them.
American Water also provides a service which estimates how much water each household uses currently and how much water would be saved and how much money could be saved by installing water efficient products.
Our world revolves on water. our country relies on water. It is the essences of life for everything living and for our country. As citizens, we each need to conserve as much water as we can so our earth and our country do not collapse. The biggest water savers are the individuals of these United States. By saving and conserving water, we are ensuring our country’s future and sustainability. We can write emails to our U.S. President and/or state U.S. Senators expressing our thoughts and concerns for America's water situation and what sort of action we suggest they should take. We should let our government know our concerns and encourage them to make it a known issue and to try and get it resolved.
According to American Water and Energy Savers, if a faucet is left dripping for an entire day, it can waste 34 gallons, every little bit counts. From turning off the water while you brush your teeth or wash your hands or dishes to watering your lawns every other day, all of the little acts of conserving water adds up to huge amounts. Also, watering your lawn every other day or even only a few times a week makes your grass more environmentally efficient. By not being water daily, the grass roots are able to grow deeper into the earth and can then hold the soil better. Take showers instead of baths. Baths can use 15-20 gallons of water while a shower uses 10 gallons. And while in the shower, try to turn off the faucet while lathering. We can also invest in water efficient shower heads that use 1.5 gallons per minutes compared to the older versions, which used 2 gpm. Clean Water America took a poll and 54% of Americans said that clean water was a privilege not a right. We should all take care and be conscience of our privileges so that we do not run the risk of loosing them.
American Water also provides a service which estimates how much water each household uses currently and how much water would be saved and how much money could be saved by installing water efficient products.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Drought resistant landscaping
This video shows how modern cities are encouraging ecological land management.
Individuals Making an Impact
On a smaller scale, much can be done to help deal with this issue. Individuals can make a difference. In the home, systems can be installed to make water consumption far less per individual. For example, the new water-saving toilets which use only 1.6 gallons per flush are a great improvement from former models which used 5 gallons per flush. Many cities are making an aggressive push to promote such installations, and the State of Hawaii is considering providing tax credits for people taking such ecological steps. On a national level, the federal government is making a push to encourage states to provide these kinds of incentives, and publishes a state-to-state list of ecological tax credits.
Drought-resistant landscaping is also becoming very popular and there is widespread awareness of utilizing the proper plants for each climate zone in order to keep watering to a minimum. Hawaii residents can log onto a website that provides suggestions for areas in Hawaii which would require drought resistant landscaping. Areas such as Kapahulu, Ewa Beach, and the Kona districts of every island would drastically cut back on water usage if they made use of plants which would require less water.
With individuals, it really has to do with raising the level of awareness so that people realize that each of us can make a difference. Education is the key to preserving our delicate ecology. If each person simply timed their showers, or better yet, took tub baths as much as possible, limited the amount of time they let water run uselessly (while brushing teeth, washing dishes, etc.) and made use of the many water-saving appliances that our now on the market, such as the new dishwashers and washing machines, our water usage would decrease greatly. Such investments are ones we cannot afford to NOT make. Such investments are not just an investment in our limited water table, they are an investment in our future.
Drought-resistant landscaping is also becoming very popular and there is widespread awareness of utilizing the proper plants for each climate zone in order to keep watering to a minimum. Hawaii residents can log onto a website that provides suggestions for areas in Hawaii which would require drought resistant landscaping. Areas such as Kapahulu, Ewa Beach, and the Kona districts of every island would drastically cut back on water usage if they made use of plants which would require less water.
With individuals, it really has to do with raising the level of awareness so that people realize that each of us can make a difference. Education is the key to preserving our delicate ecology. If each person simply timed their showers, or better yet, took tub baths as much as possible, limited the amount of time they let water run uselessly (while brushing teeth, washing dishes, etc.) and made use of the many water-saving appliances that our now on the market, such as the new dishwashers and washing machines, our water usage would decrease greatly. Such investments are ones we cannot afford to NOT make. Such investments are not just an investment in our limited water table, they are an investment in our future.
Hawaii Conserving Water
At the rate Hawaii is going, in 20 years the state will be facing a 90 million gallon per day deficit of water. Although we cannot completely undo the damage already done, we can prolong the consequences. Hawaii citizens need to start conserving as much water as possible for the future. in 20 years, most of us will still be alive but there will not be water to sustain us.
They say that 'Ignorance is bliss' but in this case, the people's ignorance will lead to the demise of the state. The problem is that Hawaii's citizens are not fully aware of this current situation and the severe damages that it poses. The government should be taking action on this issue by making it known to the public. Now more than ever, people watch television at all times of the day. So, to educate the people, the government should invest in Public Service Announcements. These commercials should be broad casted on every major television channel. Each commercial should be targeted for certain age groups but also appropriate for each gender and every race. The Public Service Announcements should also be filled with the facts and importance of this problem that will effect everyone.
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has been offering a $100 rebate on their website, a for every low flush toilet installed. The $100 rebate has an application that must be filled out and sent to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply by mail or hand. Most of the water bill comes from the toilet. Older toilets use about five gallons per flush compared to the new low flush toilets that only use 1.6 gallons per flush. By buying and installing a low flush toilet, you can help preserve the little water we have for the future and also save money every month on the water bill.
If the Public Service Announcements and $100 rebate on low flush toilets do not entice the public to start saving water, then the government should increase the price of water per gallon. People respond to money and when hey hear that the price of water will go up, they will hopefully use less. The supply and price is low but the demand is high. If the government raises the price, the demand will probably drop. Right now water is going for pennies a gallon and because it is so cheap, people do not worry about how much they are consuming. Water is being wasted in so many ways that we do not even notice it anymore. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has many ways of water conservation for inside the home and outside.
There are so many ways that the state can conserve water. We all just have to invest our time and attention to this problem and help delay its effects on our state.
To get your opinion out there, email the Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle and/or your local mayor.
They say that 'Ignorance is bliss' but in this case, the people's ignorance will lead to the demise of the state. The problem is that Hawaii's citizens are not fully aware of this current situation and the severe damages that it poses. The government should be taking action on this issue by making it known to the public. Now more than ever, people watch television at all times of the day. So, to educate the people, the government should invest in Public Service Announcements. These commercials should be broad casted on every major television channel. Each commercial should be targeted for certain age groups but also appropriate for each gender and every race. The Public Service Announcements should also be filled with the facts and importance of this problem that will effect everyone.
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has been offering a $100 rebate on their website, a for every low flush toilet installed. The $100 rebate has an application that must be filled out and sent to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply by mail or hand. Most of the water bill comes from the toilet. Older toilets use about five gallons per flush compared to the new low flush toilets that only use 1.6 gallons per flush. By buying and installing a low flush toilet, you can help preserve the little water we have for the future and also save money every month on the water bill.
If the Public Service Announcements and $100 rebate on low flush toilets do not entice the public to start saving water, then the government should increase the price of water per gallon. People respond to money and when hey hear that the price of water will go up, they will hopefully use less. The supply and price is low but the demand is high. If the government raises the price, the demand will probably drop. Right now water is going for pennies a gallon and because it is so cheap, people do not worry about how much they are consuming. Water is being wasted in so many ways that we do not even notice it anymore. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has many ways of water conservation for inside the home and outside.
There are so many ways that the state can conserve water. We all just have to invest our time and attention to this problem and help delay its effects on our state.
To get your opinion out there, email the Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle and/or your local mayor.
History of Water in Hawaii
Water shortages have never been a serious long-term problem in Hawaii. The original Stewards of the land, the Hawaiians, took pride in keeping a reliable source of clean drinking water available. They believed that water was sacred and a gift from Kane i ka wai ola (Ahupua'a of Nawiliwili Bay). There is very limited space on our island, and we are also surrounded by nothing but ocean! We have tons of water, but having adequate drinking is a value that even the native Hawaiians held highly. The ancient Hawaiians had strict laws (kapu) for the management and use of water called the kanawai, which were central rules of Hawaiian culture. Bathing was only allowable downstream, and drawing water was only limited to upstream areas.
The water sources and irrigation systems were greatly taken care of, and any damage to either resulted in severe punishment. (The Board of Water Supply)
The laws the Hawaiians had in place allowed their population to flourish significantly though the ahupua’a agricultural system. This continued until the late 1700’s, when the first westerners started to arrive. Plantations and western agricultural methods were becoming more widely adopted, and the Hawaiian way of life was changed forever. Westerners were also highly dependent on fresh water for whaling expeditions in the 1800’s, and needed a great amount of water to be brought from upper Nuuanu and usually additional mountain sources. The task of getting water from high up in the mountains was no easy task, so naturally drilling was the next step to finding fresh water. According to The Board of Water Supply, James Campbell was the first to find a great source of water under the Ewa plains in 1879. By 1889, there were numerous wells drilled around Honolulu. The people of Hawaii were becoming dependent on these artesian wells. This huge success of drilling was a boom that resulted in a bust, when drillers had neglected the wells, and wasted millions of gallons of water. With water levels incredibly low, Oahu was facing drought conditions.
Oahu wasn't the only island facing water problems. The Hawaii Drought Monitor shows that in 1901-1912, the neighbor islands faced extremely serious droughts and forest fires. Something needed to be done. Through the 1920’s Hawaii was struggling to put together a committee to be responsible for the priceless natural resource. In 1925, the city responded to the drought and legislature gave the governor power to appoint members to the Honolulu Sewer and Water Commission. This failed miserably and the water shortages were still prevalent. Finally the Board of Water Supply was created, absorbing the Sewer and Water Commission and was in full management of Honolulu’s water supply. Fred Ohrt was the first board manager, and was revolutionary in solving the water shortage problems. He implemented capping of wasteful wells, and well as casings for leaky wells. Meters were installed and consumers were now being billed and had to appreciate water as a precious resource.
The Board of Water Supply slowly evolved with Hawaii into an excellent and efficient manager of Hawaii’s water supply. They have flowed with the increasing needs and fast pace of society, and are trying to distribute and conserve water in the best possible way. With our current population, that just isn’t enough. According to The Commission on Water Resource Management, our estimated total island supply is 415 million gallons a day. We used 333 million gallons a day in 1998, and that number has definitely increased since then. It is projected that by 2020, we will exceed out 415 million gallons a day maximum capacity by 8 million gallons a day. This shortfall would be catastrophic, and we could lose millions of dollars statewide, let alone take heavy damage to agriculture and personal use. We are at a crisis point, and we can still turn this problem around. We can make changes in the way we treat water conservation; we are Hawaii’s water future.
The water sources and irrigation systems were greatly taken care of, and any damage to either resulted in severe punishment. (The Board of Water Supply)
The laws the Hawaiians had in place allowed their population to flourish significantly though the ahupua’a agricultural system. This continued until the late 1700’s, when the first westerners started to arrive. Plantations and western agricultural methods were becoming more widely adopted, and the Hawaiian way of life was changed forever. Westerners were also highly dependent on fresh water for whaling expeditions in the 1800’s, and needed a great amount of water to be brought from upper Nuuanu and usually additional mountain sources. The task of getting water from high up in the mountains was no easy task, so naturally drilling was the next step to finding fresh water. According to The Board of Water Supply, James Campbell was the first to find a great source of water under the Ewa plains in 1879. By 1889, there were numerous wells drilled around Honolulu. The people of Hawaii were becoming dependent on these artesian wells. This huge success of drilling was a boom that resulted in a bust, when drillers had neglected the wells, and wasted millions of gallons of water. With water levels incredibly low, Oahu was facing drought conditions.
Oahu wasn't the only island facing water problems. The Hawaii Drought Monitor shows that in 1901-1912, the neighbor islands faced extremely serious droughts and forest fires. Something needed to be done. Through the 1920’s Hawaii was struggling to put together a committee to be responsible for the priceless natural resource. In 1925, the city responded to the drought and legislature gave the governor power to appoint members to the Honolulu Sewer and Water Commission. This failed miserably and the water shortages were still prevalent. Finally the Board of Water Supply was created, absorbing the Sewer and Water Commission and was in full management of Honolulu’s water supply. Fred Ohrt was the first board manager, and was revolutionary in solving the water shortage problems. He implemented capping of wasteful wells, and well as casings for leaky wells. Meters were installed and consumers were now being billed and had to appreciate water as a precious resource.
The Board of Water Supply slowly evolved with Hawaii into an excellent and efficient manager of Hawaii’s water supply. They have flowed with the increasing needs and fast pace of society, and are trying to distribute and conserve water in the best possible way. With our current population, that just isn’t enough. According to The Commission on Water Resource Management, our estimated total island supply is 415 million gallons a day. We used 333 million gallons a day in 1998, and that number has definitely increased since then. It is projected that by 2020, we will exceed out 415 million gallons a day maximum capacity by 8 million gallons a day. This shortfall would be catastrophic, and we could lose millions of dollars statewide, let alone take heavy damage to agriculture and personal use. We are at a crisis point, and we can still turn this problem around. We can make changes in the way we treat water conservation; we are Hawaii’s water future.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
WORLD: GLOBAL WATER CRISIS
This Video was taken from Grey-water.com and is written and produced by Leonardo Dicaprio. It addresses the water conservation issue we have globally.
"We are at a crisis point, but we still have time to turn this around." Leo Dicaprio Water planet.
"We are at a crisis point, but we still have time to turn this around." Leo Dicaprio Water planet.
Hawaii: Local Current Situation
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/DRINKING.HTML
Hawaii is facing a water shortage statewide. In 1901-1910 Oahu used 81 million gallons of water per day. By 1971-1980, Oahu used 265 million gallons per day. Currently the island of Oahu uses 415 million gallons per day. It is projected that by the year 2020, in 20 years, the demand for water will increase so much that there will be a 90 mgd (million gallon per day) deficit. The supply of water is decreasing while the demand for water is skyrocketing. The population is increasing at a steady 1% per year. From 1998, the time of the graph, to July 1 of 2996, the population already increased by more than 70,000 people. Hawaii’s developments, new military bases and agriculture demand more water. The islands artesian wells are being depleted so rapidly that it cannot replenish itself fast enough. Soon, the government will be forced to invest in technology that will purify seawater into drinking water so that there will be enough for everyone.
With water getting as scarce as it is, there is a fight for water. Farmer’s verses agriculture is the main battle for who has the water priority. Usually, the winter’s rain helps to replenish the aquifers but because of droughts and hardly any precipitation, the aquifers are having a harder time refilling itself. According to the National Weather service, Hawaii’s rainfall is 50% below average. This drought is also a cause of Hawaii’s water scarcity. The Board of Water Supply estimates the amount of water that will be used each quarter and already by the first week of May, the state was into its mid to late summer estimates.
Every person who uses water in the state should address this situation immediately. It impacts everyone in every class, gender, race and age. Water is imperative for life by everything in this state and world. Plants, pets, and all animals depend on water for survival. Without water a person would only live up to five days. Our bodies alone are made of 70% water. At the rate this state is going, there will eventually be no water for anyone to use at any price. In 20 years the 90 million gallons of water per day necessary for us to live will not be there. For some in the state, there will be no fresh water running from their faucets. With the supply of water decreasing and the demand for water shooting through the roof, the only thing to help control this will have to be a price increase for water. When that happens, the water shortage will affect everyone but mostly those who cannot afford the new price of water.
Not convinced? Big Island Mayor Harry Kim addresses our current water situation in a matter-of-fact manner.
http://capp.water.usgs.gov/gwa/ch_n/N-HItext3.html
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/DRINKING.HTML
http://starbulletin.com/2003/05/30/news/story1.html
http://starbulletin.com/2003/07/11/news/story3.html
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)