In a world where fresh water is becoming a scarce resource, every drop counts. Droughts and inefficient rainfall, which often end in floods, aggravate the difficulty of storing rainwater, wasting it. Finding a way to save water is essential. ways to save water at home, both to reduce the environmental impact and to lower the cost of the household bill.
Drought: The problem of “manufactured” water
There is no need to create alarm to raise awareness about saving water. The fact that our planet is made up of 75% water is often forgotten, and reports of freshwater shortages are exaggerated. In many cases, this supply problem is "manufactured" due to a lack of adequate infrastructure and political inaction. With planning and responsibility, measures can be taken to ensure that water is available to all.
Fresh water reserves in the world
Fresh water only represents a 2.5% of all the water available on the planet, and most of it is trapped in glaciers and underground aquifers. Less than 1% is available for direct human consumption. Of this limited resource, agriculture and livestock farming use the majority, leaving a small amount for human and industrial consumption. This highlights the need to better manage this resource and avoid its waste.
Furthermore, around the 90% of the world's freshwater reserves are in Antarctica, which increases the urgency of conserving local resources. More and more regions are facing resource scarcity, particularly affecting countries in Africa and desert areas in Australia and Southern Europe.
Situation in Spain
Drought in Spain is not something new, as historical records show. Throughout history, the peninsula has suffered several periods of drought, such as the 1944 - 1946, one of the most devastating, or the most recent one in 2016-2017. The current drought is just another chapter in a long story.
The lack of infrastructure to properly manage water reserves in Spain exacerbates the situation. Regions such as Andalusia and Catalonia are already grappling with supply constraints, reflecting insufficient planning to deal with these recurring problems.
What can governments do?
Governments must implement long-term solutions, such as improving water infrastructure, investing in desalination plants and promoting water-saving technologies. In addition to raising awareness among citizens, large industries need to be more efficient with their use of water, since they consume excessive amounts, as is the case with the paper and semiconductor industries.
Instead of blaming citizens solely for wasting water, governments should focus on building water treatment plants. desalination and improving distribution networks. Although desalination requires energy, the use of renewable sources would make it possible to keep the environmental cost low.
What can we do?
Individual actions also play a crucial role in water conservation. Here are some practical and simple ways to reduce water consumption at home:
1. Install low-flow faucets and aerators
Replace conventional taps with low consumption taps Installing aerators can significantly reduce water usage in the home. These devices limit the flow of water without affecting the pressure, which saves a considerable amount of water daily.
2. Use efficient cisterns
There are low consumption cisterns which allow you to adjust the amount of water used with each flush. This can mean savings of between 2 and 4 litres per use.
3. Take advantage of rainwater and greywater
Collecting rainwater for irrigation can help reduce drinking water consumption. Rainwater can also be reused. grey waters from showers and sinks for tasks such as household cleaning or watering.
4. Shower reducers
Flow reducers in the showers ensure that a lot of water is not wasted while you shower. In addition, a quick shower 5 minutes can save up to 50% water compared to a bath.
Small changes that make a difference
Some simple actions in everyday life can make a big difference:
- Use the washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full.It is more water and energy efficient to run these appliances on full loads. In the case of the modern dishwasher, you can use up to 40% less water than washing dishes by hand.
- Defrost food in the refrigerator or at room temperature, avoiding leaving it under running water.
- Take advantage of the cold water by storing a jug in the refrigerator. This will prevent you from having to leave the tap running until the water reaches the desired temperature, saving litres of water every day.
Reducing water consumption is a task that we all must take on. From small changes in our daily routines to investments in more efficient technologies at home, every action counts to preserve this vital resource.