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An Individual who is passionately in love with the immortal poetry of Nature. One who is striving towards the attainment of spiritual harmony.

Friday, October 15, 2010

WATER

Water – the most precious resource
Water – fundamental to the life force
Can there be any existence without water?
Can you deny the preponderance of water?
Dearth of respect for this elemental matter
A willful neglect of the most powerful source – Water.

पानी रे पानी तेरा रंग कैसा ,जिसमें मिला दो लगे उस जैसा 

It may sound strange to many, but the fact is that we are all water creatures. It makes up 60% of our body, 70% of our brain and 80% of our blood. While we can go almost a month without food, our body cannot survive one week without water.
The same  water that existed on Earth billions of years ago, still exists today. It covers most of the planet, but just 3% is fresh water; and most of that is ice.
Less than 1% of all fresh water is readily accessible for human use. In other words, less than 0.007% of all the water on Earth is available to drink.
Isn’t it strange to know that a quarter of all the clean water that enters your home is used to flush toilets? One toilet flush uses 3 gallons; a single load of laundry uses 40 gallons; a ten-minute shower uses 50 gallons; brushing with the tap running uses 4 gallons and with the tap off uses 0.25 gallons.
Its an obvious fact that a water crisis is looming. Our water resources are under pressure. 
In the 20th century, the population of the world tripled and the use of water grew six times. By mid-century, there will be an additional growth of three billion people. Most of them will be born in countries already experiencing water shortages.
The Los Angeles basin can support about one million people with its own water. By the year 2020, the population is expected to reach twenty-two million. 
El Paso and San Antonio could run out of water in ten to twenty years. Central Florida could run out in less than five. Millions of people in the world live on less than 3 gallons each day. The average American uses about 160 gallons.
Twenty-five million refugees were displaced by contaminated rivers last year. One in three people lack access to adequate sanitation. One in five don’t have access to safe drinking water. According to the UN, a child dies from a water- related disease every fifteen seconds. 
The emerging worldwide water shortage is serious. Its been said that we would run out of water before we run out of oil. 
Due to over-pumping, the ground water in several countries is almost gone. Depleted aquifers lead to cutbacks in grain harvests, which, in turn, lead to more food shortages and higher prices. 
China is already developing large grain deficits. As are India, Pakistan and Egypt. Our water problem is fast becoming a hunger problem.
So, we are all set to face a thirsty world- Industry is thirsty, Agriculture is thirsty, We are thirsty. Its time to give water a second thought.
Use less
Save more
Advocate always
Before our present state of luxury succumbs to the famous lines of Samuel Taylor Coleridge:
“Water, water everywhere
Nor any drop to drink.”
Rime of the Ancient Mariner

...Let us join hands and take a firm step towards water conservation. Our water supplies are not endless. Everyone can play a part- at home, at school, or in the community, to protect and to conserve water, in order to leave behind a bountiful world for the future.

These are a few steps for Water Conservation

We need to conserve water because...

Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water. For example, the city of Los Angeles has grown by 1 million people since the 1970s, but still uses the same amount of water. Using less water also puts less pressure on our sewage treatment facilities, and uses less energy for water heating.

THE WATER AND ENERGY CONNECTION

Saving water also saves energy. 6.5% of the energy used in the state of California is for pumping and treating water--in fact, pumping water south (and uphill) in the State Water Project accounts for 2-3% of all the electricity used in the state. And for your personal energy bill, using less hot water saves on water heating. On the flip side, saving energy and using alternative energy saves water--electricity production from fossil fuels and nuclear energy is responsible for 39% of all freshwater withdrawals in the nation.

Our role in and around the house...

In the Washroom
Ø      Put a plastic bottle or a plastic bag weighted with pebbles and filled with water in your toilet tank. Displacing water in this manner allows you to use less water with each flush. Saves 5 to 10 gallons a day. That's up to 300 gallons a month, even more for large families. Better yet, for even greater savings, replace your water-guzzling five to seven gallon a flush toilet with a one and a half gallon, ultra-low flush model.
Ø      If you're taking a shower, don't waste cold water while waiting for hot water to reach the showerhead. Catch that water in a container to use on your outside plants or to flush your toilet. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
Ø      Check toilet for leaks. Put dye tablets or food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, there's a leak that should be repaired. Saves 400 gallons a month.
Ø      Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Saves three gallons each day.
Ø      Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. Saves three gallons each day.

In the Kitchen
Ø      If you wash dishes by hand--and that's the best way--don't leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you only have one sink, use a spray device or short blasts instead of letting the water run. Saves 200 to 500 gallons a month.
When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent possible. This minimizes rinse water needed. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
Ø      Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
Ø      Don't defrost frozen foods with running water. Either plan ahead by placing frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or defrost them in the microwave. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.
Ø      Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Rinse them in a filled sink or pan. Saves 150 to 250 gallons a month.
Ø      Use the garbage disposal less and the garbage more. Saves 50 to 150 gallons a month.

Outside
Ø      Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. A chunk of bark, peat moss or gravel slows down evaporation. Saves 750 to 1,500 gallons a month.
Ø      If you have a pool, use a pool cover to cut down on evaporation. It will also keep your pool cleaner and reduce the need to add chemicals. Saves 1,000 gallons a month.
Ø      Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning is better than dusk since it helps preventing the growth of fungus. Saves 300 gallons.
Ø      Don't water the lawn on windy days. There's too much evaporation. Can waste up to 300 gallons in one watering.
Ø      Cut down watering on cool and overcast days and don't water in the rain. Adjust or deactivate automatic sprinklers. Can save up to 300 gallons each time.
Ø      Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation. Saves 500 to 1,500 gallons each month.
Ø      Have an evaporative air conditioner? Direct the water drain line to a flowerbed, tree base, or lawn.
Ø      Drive your car onto a lawn to wash it. Rinse water can help water the grass.
Ø      Tell your children not to play with the garden hose. Saves 10 gallons a minute.
Ø      If you allow your children to play in the sprinklers, make sure it's only when you're watering the yard--if it's not too cool at that time of day.
Ø      When taking your car to a car wash--a good idea for saving water--be sure it's one of the many that recycles its wash water.
Ø      Dispose of hazardous materials properly! One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water, effectively eliminating that much water from our water supply. Contact your city or county for proper waste disposal options. And don't flush prescription medications!                                                                                                                                In the end all I can say :-इस   दुनिया  में  जीने  वाले  ऐसे  भी  हैं  जीते , रूखी -सूखी  खाते  हैं  और  ठंडा  पानी  पीते 

3 Obiter Dicta:

MuddassirShah said...

Hey Cherry,
Nice that you participated for the cause. Really appreciate it. Every participates in contests but very few support social causes.

A very good post about water. Loved reading it :):)

keep writing
Cheers!!!

Prathi said...

A Very Good post about water and its conservation... Good work in collecting various datas to suppliment the facts...

Keep it up !!
Keep Writing !!

Jack said...

C B,

Read all pending posts. The Journey Unknown is the absolute truth. Nice of you to give due credit to the song. Fable Of A Cumbrain Lass was very engrossing and makes one feel so much for the girl in the end. Water, very bleak picture painted but factual and supported by surveyed data. Very sound and practical tips, hopefully we can understand the gravity of situation to follow these.

Take care

Take care