CONSUMPTION OF WATER

 Preface

 The water that we use circulates consistently over the earth by solar energy and gravity of the earth. The earth is called a planet of the water, but its 97.5% are seawater, and the fresh water is only 2.5%. Besides most of the fresh water is the ice of South Pole and the arctic ice, so, the water we can use easily is only 0.01% from rivers and the wetlands.

On the other hand, in 70 years the world population tripled, and consumption of the water increased 6 times. We use 54% of the available water now, and if one does not change one’s consumption, we may use it to 90% in 2025.  Water problem is one of the most important problems in the global community of the 21^st Century.

The population that cannot use clean water by shortage of water, water pollution and the flood damage etc. reaches 1,100,000,000 people equal to about 20% of the world population. In 2025, 48 countries and 3,000,000,000 people will suffer from, shortage of water.

In North America and Japan the ratio of a person who can get safe water is 100%, but in the whole of Asia the ratio is only 36%.

In Japan, the Japanese precipitation is 1,72 per 1 square km, it is a double of the world average. But Japan has so much population in the small land, so the precipitation per one is around  one-third of the world average.

 ANALYSIS:

High levels of water use cause both environmental and economic problems. On the environmental side, high consumption places stress on rivers, lakes and ground water aquifers and may require dams and flooding with serious ecological impacts. The discharge of polluted water once it has been used damages aquatic ecosystems. On the economic side, high levels of water use, require ever-increasing and expensive investments in water system infrastructure needed to gather, deliver and dispose of water (dams, reservoirs, water treatment facilities, distribution networks and sewage treatment.)

 The Reality: 

Are you aware that:

·        On an average, 14% of municipal piped water is lost in pipeline leaks, up to 30% in some communities.

·        Toilets (while consuming nearly one quarter of our municipal water supply) use over 40% more water than needed.

·        Many homes lose more water from leaky taps than they need for cooking and drinking.

·        Water consumption usually drops 18 -25 % after a water meter is installed.

·        Approximately 295,000 liters of water is required to produce 910 kilograms of paper.

·        Approximately 86,300 liters of water is required to produce 910 kilograms of steel.

·        A 5 minute shower with a standard shower head uses 100 liters of water. A 5 minute shower with a low flow showerhead uses only 35 liters of water.

·        During the summer, about half of all treated water is sprayed onto lawns and gardens.

·        Water uses and consumption: Toilet flush – 15 to 20 liters, Bath tub – 60 L, Automatic dishwashing – 40 L; Outdoor watering – 35 L a minute, Washing machine 225 L.

·        A single lawn sprinkler spraying 19 liters per minute uses 50% more water in just one hour than a combination of ten toilet flushes, two 5 minute showers, two dish washer loads, and full load of clothes.

·        The average person in the developing world uses 10 liters of water a day.

·        The average person in the United Kingdom uses 135 liters of water everyday.

      The Water Privatization Wave:

 Its Impact:

Water unfortunately is no longer a common man’s property, no longer a wealthy source give by nature to be freely used by all. We see that urban centers successfully bid to attract private participation in the water sector, extraction, supply and billing of water charges.  Water is privatized and water starved consumers are willing to pay. World Bank sponsored studies indicate that the urban poor already pay five times the municipal rate for water in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire; 25 times more in Dhaka, Bangladesh; and 40 times more in Cairo, Egypt.

 Is WATER therefore a COMMODITY or  a HUMAN RIGHT ?

 Developing country governments that are under the charmed spell of the pro-privatization World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other multilateral organizations have come around to a consensus that water is a commodity. On the other hand, civil society groups firmly believe that water is a natural resource that belongs equally to all people and should stay a public utility, because it is a human right. The split between the two was again out in the open at the recently concluded Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan.

Water Projects controlled by “Bechtel” in Bolivia and the Philippines are examples to be avoided. Bechtel took over the water supply in Cochmabamba city in Bolivia in the 1999. In the space of a few months the price of drinking water had risen by two and half times. The reason was government guarantee to the powerful water firm that user fees would remain the same in dollars, so every time the local currency fell the price would spiral. By January 2000, an aggrieved population had taken to the streets demanding the privatization deal be cancelled. The government had no choice but to give in, although Bechtel now threatens it with a $25 million legal battle for breach of contract

“Globalization Challenge Initiative”, a Washington based NGO conducted a review of IMF loans policies in 40 countries for the year 2000 and found that 12 agreements contained condition imposing water privatization. These were mainly countries in Africa; the smallest, poorest and most debt-ridden nations.

 WATER STORIES:

 A few water stories from some countries.

Somalia:  Fatima Ali Hassan from Somalia tells us that she has the responsibility of her family since her father and mother died. She has to maintain the family and look after 15 goats together with fetching water. Every 4 or 5 days she must travel 40 kms to fetch water for her family. Fatima hopes that the international community and local NGO will come to her aid and that of the community, and, find a solution to the problem that thousands in Somalia face.

 India:  8 year old Gantla Krishnaveri who is from a village in Andhra Pradesh goes to school and is never sure which of her classmates will be present. Water borne diseases, impure drinking water causes diseases and the children fail to survive. Children die from diahorea and dysentery.

 The fishing communities in India suffer today from huge trolleys in their space of fishing thus cutting off their nets and shoaling away the fish big and small. They have been deprived of the ocean and its wealth that enabled them to live meager lives. They have become the target of the SEZ (Special Economic Zone) their land and water to be utilized for the development of the land. In fact, they are being deprived of it, for the enjoyment of the rich who need entertainment.

They have even suffered from nuclear development and illegal sand mining.

 Bangladesh: Farmers use methods of sustainable water management to prevent their soil from getting water logged.

 Sri Lanka: The Swarna Hansa Foundation a small organization In Sri Lanka constructs water reservoirs to preserve water.

 China:  In Mongolia, Xiu at the age of 11 was imposed the burden of carrying water by his parents. It takes 5 hours a day to bring water only to meet the basic needs of drinking and cooking. He goes so far because the wells are dried up completely.

Reflection:

……If we have water, we take it for granted, when it is scarce we fight for it ….Such disputes over fetching water and scarcity over water has led to deaths and injuries.

 In the face of all this let us ask ourselves if we are sensitive to the water issues.

How much water do I waste and use?

 Do I bring awareness to the right use of water to myself and to others?

Can we use water saving appliances?

 Conclusion:

Water therefore is a precious property that we share; we have to take responsibility for succeeding it to the next generation. It is necessary to wrestle the issue with a constructive pro-healthy water cycle.