Saving water - how and why

Around three quarters of the earth's surface are covered in water. The shares are as the following:

Approx. 84% seas and oceans

Approx. 15% non-transportable groundwater at a level too low for access

Approx. 1% of the water is to be found in the combined areas of polar ice, rivers, the groundwater and the atmosphere

Only around 0.03% of all water is immediately available to us as fresh i.e. drinking water.

Water is one of the most precious treasures we possess, because it is impossible to replace.

The worldwide consumption of water has quadrupled over the last 50 years. Almost half a billion people live in countries where water is already in short supply. By the year 2050 at least one quarter of the world's population will have to live with chronic or recurrent water shortages. There are many reasons for this.

For example, alongside the fact that the world population is increasing constantly, the spread of steppe-like regions and the growth of the large deserts represent a risk factor. But the largest problem is the growing pollution of the seas, oceans, rivers and the groundwater. 

Not only those countries which count as the driest regions in the world need, to use their water economically. The highly developed countries in North America, Europe and the Far East, some of which have more than enough water, also need to use their water sensibly. It is these countries which use the most water. It is here that you will find the most dishwashers, car washes and industries which depend on water. It is here that people shower and take baths most often, and here that they give the least thought to water as public property.

Alongside using water in private households for washing, cleaning, showering and watering our gardens, industry is an important factor. For example, the paper, car, food and chemical industries are some of the biggest users and polluters of water.

In such cases the government needs to step in and control water consumption with strict regulations on how much water may be used and how it has to be treated. One of the ways governments do this is by introducing high charges for water.

As a result, some industrial countries already use production and cleansing processes which do not produce waste water but where the used water goes into a cycle and is retreated. 

Two classic ways of saving water: water-saving toilet flushes and devices to limit the flow of water in wash-basins and showers. Most people prefer to use rainwater to water their gardens simply because it is cheaper. Also please remember not to switch on the washing machine or dishwasher until it is full and to turn off the tap when cleaning your teeth or shaving. But that is not all. 

Saving water especially means treating it with respect and not polluting it. Toilets and drains should never be used as trashcans for oils, fats, chemicals, medicines and cigarette ends. Cleaning agents and detergents should be used economically and pesticides only when absolutely necessary. Only if we do this we can play an active part in treating water, one of our most precious treasures, with the respect it deserves.