Today is World Water Day - an annual event to celebrate one our greatest resources, but more importantly to raise awareness of water based issues around the globe.
Each year is dedicated a different theme and this year the theme is nature from water.
What nature based challenges do we face today?
What are some solutions to these issues?
Each year is dedicated a different theme and this year the theme is nature from water.
What nature based challenges do we face today?
What are some solutions to these issues?
The UN Statement reads "damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption"
Facts & Figures
So what can we do?
Facts & Figures
- Globally, over 80% of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or reused. (Sato et al, 2013)
- 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene cause around 842,000 deaths each year. (WHO/UNICEF 2014/WHO 2014)
- The opportunities from exploiting wastewater as a resource are enormous. Safely managed wastewater is an affordable and sustainable source of water, energy, nutrients and other recoverable materials.
So what can we do?
There are so many things that we can do at home to start saving water and also to raise awareness about water consumption.
A few ideas to start on how to celebrate world water day:
Here are a few ideas to save water around your home:
All of the above are definitely food for thought, if you are wanting to change any of your plumbing fixtures or inspect for any possible leaks give Plumbnorth a call on 07 4032 3891.
For all your Cairns Plumbing and Gas Fitting needs! Remember, if water flows through it, we do it!!
A few ideas to start on how to celebrate world water day:
- Raise a glass to water, take a picture and share it with the hash tag #ToastToWater
- Raise funds or support a person who is participating in the walk for water challenge, missed it this year? That's ok, mark it in your diary for next year
- Become familiar with the water used towards the manufacturing of packaging and products that you use on a regular basis, for e.g did you know that that it takes almost twice as much water to make a plastic water bottle than the amount of water that is actually in it!
Here are a few ideas to save water around your home:
- Reduce indoor water use by choosing water efficient showers, toilets, taps and appliances, for example installing dual flush toilets instead of single flush toilets.
- Minimise shower times to 3 minutes per person.
- Minimise garden watering by choosing plants that require little water, living in the tropics we have access to many native plants that are drought resistant and visually appealing.
- Minimise paving of outdoor areas as this increases heat radiation and water runoff from the site.
- Wash cars and bikes on the lawn to water grass at the same time.
- Sweep paths and drives instead of hosing them down.
- Install rain water tanks to make the most of mother nature, rain water connecting to your laundry and outside taps is a great way to make use of a resource, plus because it doesn't come from the town supply it's free!!
- Check water meter on a regular basis to ascertain if you have a possible water leak in your house.
- Only water your garden when needed, plants will survive without being watered every day.
- Purchase re-usable water bottles where you can and avoid the purchase of single use water bottles
- Did you know that a disposable nappy has a water footprint of approx 144 gallons? why not use re-usable nappies? Whilst made from cotton (which has a footprint of 198 gallons) the footprint is reduced by the fact that the product is being re-used
All of the above are definitely food for thought, if you are wanting to change any of your plumbing fixtures or inspect for any possible leaks give Plumbnorth a call on 07 4032 3891.
For all your Cairns Plumbing and Gas Fitting needs! Remember, if water flows through it, we do it!!
