Get the Info About World Water Day
World Water Day is a global event that takes place every year, but there are lots of people who have never heard about this important day, don’t know what it’s all about, and don’t know how they can get involved.
World Water Day will be coming up again this March, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to share with you about this significant day, the reasons why it’s needed, and what you can do to participate this World Water Day, and every day, in the global effort to conserve water.
The Water Crisis: A Lack of Safe Water
Around the world, there are about 663 million people (that’s a tenth of the world’s entire population) who don’t live near a clean source of water.
That means they have to go on long journeys to find water to drink or depending on where they live; they may be able to wait in long lines each day to get their ration.
On top of that, there are 1.8 billion people who rely on contaminated water to survive, which means they may not die of thirst, but they could die from cholera, polio, or some other disease they contract from the water. This lack of safe water is what's known as the water crisis, and it’s a global problem.
World Water Day and the Theme of Wastewater
To help combat the water crisis, the UN created World Water Day as an international day of action and observance. It occurs every year on March 22, and this year we’re asking you to participate along with us. The theme of this year’s observance is wastewater, because over 80 percent of the water that humans use for industrial, agricultural, and residential uses flows back into the ecosystem untreated, possibly polluted, lacking vital nutrients, and non recycled, even though every single person on Earth requires water to survive.
Taking Action This Year
Wastewater is a big contributor to the water crisis, so you can participate in World Water Day this year by taking steps to reduce the amount of water that gets wasted in your homes, schools, and workplaces. There are two main ways you can do this, and they are:
Behavioral changes:
Turn off the taps when you're not using the water- Take shorter showers
- Use rain barrels for watering plants in the garden
- Plant a drought-resistant garden
- Get rid of your grass, or at least some of it
- Reuse grey water (water from washing, cooking, and cleaning) in the garden
- Flush the toilet less often, and never use it for garbage
Plumbing habits:
- Check regularly for leaks (faucets, toilets, pipes, and irrigation)
- Fix leaks immediately
- Insulate hot water pipes (hot water will get to your faucets faster)
- Install low-flow fixtures
- Place full water bottles in each toilet tank to reduce the water used with each flush
Plumbing maintenance around the house can do wonders for water conservation, and water-saving habits could save you hundreds on your water bills. If you find a leak that needs fixing, need help to install new fixtures and appliances, or want more tips on implementing water-conservation practices in your St Michael, MN home, call 763-497-2290 to book an appointment or speak with the experts at B & D Plumbing & Heating.