Water is the most valuable resource on earth. It’s the principal substance that separates our planet from all others and makes life possible. The availability of water impacts every part of our lives. While salt water is quite abundant on our planet, fresh water sources become more depleted every year as ever-greater demands are placed upon them.
That’s why it’s so important to know the water conservation facts. In addition to saving money on our utility bill, water conservation helps in preventing water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers and local watersheds.
When we know and fully understand our water conservation facts, we won’t take water for granted. Careless use of our water resources is the surest way to bring about a future water crisis.
Image Source: earthuntouched.com
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Over the years rising populations, growing industrialization, and expanding agriculture have pushed up the demand for water. Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water.
Efforts have been made to collect water by building dams and reservoirs and digging wells; some countries have also tried to recycle and desalinate (remove salts) water. Water conservation has become the need of the day.
The idea of ground water recharging by harvesting rainwater is gaining importance in many cities.
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In the forests, water seeps gently into the ground as vegetation breaks the fall. This groundwater in turn feeds wells, lakes, and rivers. Protecting forests means protecting water ‘catchments’. In ancient India, people believed that forests were the ‘mothers’ of rivers and worshipped the sources of these water bodies.
Conserving water can extend the life of our septic system by reducing soil saturation, and reducing any pollution due to leaks.
Overloading municipal sewer systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers.
The smaller the amount of water flowing through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution. In some communities, costly sewage system expansion has been avoided by communitywide household water conservation.