The Pending Battle for the Survival of the Human Race (Part 1) The melodramatic title is intentional. Most people are blissfully passing their days in the belief that their on-going pursuit for material gain is a basis for a life’s purpose. However, all life is based on water and the availability of water is finite. There is such substantial evidence to show that the 20th and 21st century way of producing consumable products is taking an unbelievable toll on our environment. How can we adapt, as society, to ensure that our children have a future? Freshwater is a scarce resource; its annual availability is limited and demand is growing. The water footprint of humanity has exceeded sustainable levels at several places and is unequally distributed among people. There are many spots in the world where serious water depletion or pollution takes place: rivers running dry, dropping lake and groundwater levels and endangered species because of contaminated water. The water footprint refers to the volumes of water consumption and pollution that are ‘behind’ your daily consumption. As a consumer, you can reduce your ‘direct water footprint’ (home water use) by installing water saving toilets, applying a water-saving showerhead, closing the tap during teeth brushing, using less water in the garden and by not disposing medicines, paints or other pollutants through the sink. As a frame of reference, let’s look at common consumable and items of common use and let’s look at how much water goes into producing these items: Take a common potato. How much water does it take to produce a kilogram of potatoes? 287 litres to be precise. Then what about Potato chips? 1040 litres per kg! Then what of Maize? 1222 litres per kg. And Leather… for Shoes? 17093 litres per Kg! It is wise to start considering how much water you use. Most people only consider water use in terms of what they drink, wash with, cook with and flush with. But that is a minute fraction of your water footprint. It has been said that wars are going to be fought over water… it’s no myth. They have already begun.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 05:26:24 +0000
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