water
we're in a water crisis, but few are talking about it. so let's fix it.
Only 3% of the earth's water is fresh (drinkable). And most of it is locked up in glaciers, polar ice caps, etc. Which means only .5% of the earth's water is available to us. And given the increasing rate at which we're using that fresh water (growing population, unsustainable farming practices, etc), we're barrelling toward a dangerous outcome where billions of people will not have access to clean water. Thirsty for solutions? Read more below so you can tap into the exciting wave of water sustainability.
Why
Just a few facts & stats to illustrate why this matters
These should get your attention:
- The water you drink today has likely been around in one form or another since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, hundreds of millions of years ago.
- According to the United Nations, water use has grown at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century.
- By 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will live in areas plagued by water scarcity, with two-thirds of the world’s population living in water-stressed regions.
- The average hamburger takes 2,400 liters (630 gallons) of water to produce
- Fun fact: the human body 60 percent water
- The International Energy Agency projects that at current rates, freshwater used for water production will double over the next 25 years. At the current pace, there will not be enough freshwater available to meet global energy needs by 2040.
- Leaky pipes lose huge amounts of water on the way to homes in both modern and developing countries. It is estimated that in the United States 2.1 trillion gallons of treated water is lost each year from leaks.
- The lack of adequate water treatment is resulting in widespread pollution of freshwater resources. A UN and Pacific Institute report estimates that 2 billion tons of human, animal, and industrial waste are dumped untreated into freshwater bodies each year.
- Millions of people die each year from preventable diseases, after drinking water from an unsanitary source.
Listen
Content that inspires
Podcasts are one of the best ways to absorb information on fixing our water crisis. Check out these notable podcasts so you can find what you need to know:
- Words On Water by Water Environment Federation
- Solving Water by Xylem
- Water In Real Life by The H2Duo
- Water You Talking About by ReNUWIt
- The Water Values by Bluefield Research
- Blue Tech Podcast by Blue Tech Research
Watch
Films & Talks
- Watermark: diverse stories from around the globe about our relationship with water
- Thirsty World: This film showcases individuals changing the ways that they manage water.
- Last Call At The Oasis: Erin Brockovich's super-informative look at water from every angle.
- Liquid Assets: a fascinating look at the critical role that water infrastructure plays in our everyday life.
- TED Talks on Water (Various)
- Blue Gold: a powerful film about the fight to stop corporate theft of the world's water.
Read
Books & Articles
- The Big Thirst by Charles Fishman
- Blue Future by Maude Barlow
- Let There Be Water by Seth Siegel
- We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
- When The Rivers Run Dry by Fred Pearce
- Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution, and Profit by Vandana Shiva
- Water: The Epic Struggle For Wealth, Power, And Civilization by Seven Solomon
- The Ripple Effect: The Fate Of Fresh Water In the 21st Century by Alex Prud'Homme
- Water: The Fate Of Our Most Precious Resource by Marq de Villiers
Live
you can do a lot to help, everyday
These tips can give you the power in everyday life to easily limit the amount of water we use:
- How you eat – you might be surprised by how big the water footprint in food is. For example: in the US, agriculture is responsible for 80% of all water consumed. The good news is, that means we can significantly reduce our water usage by eating water-efficient foods. Check out these resources to help you lower your usage:
- How you shop – we were shocked when we learned how much water is used in fashion. For example, a cotton t-shirt uses 2,700 liters of water. Denim jeans use 11,000! So, what to do? Consider these tips:
- Buy used clothes where possible: Not only is this often a great way to save money, it lets you use fashion that’s already been made, so it’s a lot less taxing on our water system. Check out this hack on eBay and other great used-clothing sites.
- Buy quality: too often we buy things that are cheap, but we these items aren’t always durable and need to be replaced often. This adds up to a lot of waste. Check out these tips on how to buy clothes that are built to last.
- Other hacks – check out this list of 25 ways you can easily save water around the house.
Give
charities addressing water scarcity
Our top picks for charities with low overhead and effective campaigns to water sustainability. We've done our homework so you don't have to.
For those looking to do their own homework or simply looking to explore other options, check out these sites:
Invest
How to make money and affect change
Impact investing is one of the most effective ways to change the world. Learn more about how to solve our water crisis (while making profit!) in the Impact Investing section.
Organizations / Information to be aware of: