The Demand For Water

Diminishing Water Supply
The demand for water—the life-sustaining natural resource that has no substitute-continues to
escalate at an unstable rate. The world’s changing climate is making available water much more erratic.
We’re seeing other parts of the world that are experiencing much more extended dry periods having
people depend on water rations. Animals are slowly dying because of the lack of water supply.
What is Diminishing Water Supply?

A decrease on the amount of the supply in water.
Are we running out of water?

Earth is the blue planet; its surface has an abundance of water in it. Water may
turn into ice or evaporate into the air, but it doesn’t leave our planet as it undergoes a
cycle, called the hydrological cycle. The Earth is made of 71% water and when all of its
water is extracted, 97% of it is deposited in the oceans which is too salty for human
consumption and agricultural use; 2% is trapped in ice at the poles and 1% of it is in
which humankind relies to survive. In this 1%, most of it is underground and really
difficult and expensive to get to, so humans have mostly settled close to surface water,
like rivers and lakes. In this 1% percent, the problem is not on how many people are
using it but on how we’re using water; In this 1% remaining freshwater, only 8% of it
accounts to our personal use, like drinking, washing, flushing the toilet and laundry.
Most of the water goes to agriculture and industry and into foods and products that we
use. It’s this 1 percent that is depleted by humans and is slowly replenished by rain and
snowfall. The supply of water isn’t equally distributed all around the world. Diverse
climate and geology make other parts of the world experience insufficient water supply
than an abundance of it. So, this isn’t really a question on how much water there is but
on how much of this is accessible to us. People in areas who don’t get enough supply of
water rely on sucking up aquifers faster than it can be replenished So with the
continuously increasing demand for freshwater, exploitation and over-all exploitation of
groundwater is likely to continue for decades to come.
What are the factors affecting the diminishing water supply?
1) Climate change
Climate change is warming the planet, making the world's hottest
geographies even more scorching. At the same time, clouds are moving away
from the equator toward the poles, due to a climate-change driven phenomenon.
This deprives equatorial regions like sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and
Central America of life-giving rainwater.
2) Increasing population
It's a simple equation: As populations increase and incomes grow, so does
water demand. The world's population, now at 7.5 billion, is projected to add 2.3
billion more people by 2050. Growing incomes also exacerbate the water
problem, because of the water-intensive products—like meat and energy from
fossil fuels—that richer populations demand.
3) Groundwater is being depleted
About 30 percent of Earth's fresh water lies deep underground in aquifers.

And it's extracted daily for farming, drinking and industrial processes – often at
dangerously unsustainable rates. Unlike an incoming hurricane or a drained lake,
the naked eye cannot see when groundwater reserves in aquifers are declining.
Global water supplies are susceptible to this hidden and growing threat.
4) Disrepair of water infrastructure

Having enough water to go around is only the beginning. That water also
needs to be transported, treated, and discharged. Around the world, water
infrastructure―treatment plants, pipes, and sewer systems―is in a state of
disrepair. In the United States, 6 billion gallons of treated water are lost per
day from leaky pipes alone. Built infrastructure is notoriously expensive to install
and repair, meaning that many localities ignore growing infrastructure issues until
disaster strikes.
5) Water wastage
Although it's true that water is a renewable resource, it's often wasted.
Inefficient practices like flood irrigation and water-intensive wet cooling at thermal
power plants use more water than necessary. What's more, as we pollute our
available water at an alarming rate, we also fail to treat it. About 80 percent of the
world's wastewater is discharged back into nature without further treatment or
reuse. In many countries, it's cheaper to receive clean drinking water than to treat
and dispose of wastewater, which encourages water waste.
How to incorporate saving water into our lifestyle:
1) Change your diet
70% of freshwater use goes to the production of food. and meat is the
thirstiest food there is, over 1800 gallons of water is needed to produce 1 pound
of beef, to compare, same amount of water is able produce 2 pounds of pasta, a
pound of cheese, eggs, 10 pounds of tomatoes and 9 pounds of cucumber, so
eating less meat saves more water. If you’re not ready to mix animal protein
altogether you can switch to poultry. Beef takes 3.5 times water to produce than
chicken does. And whole foods rather than processed ones use less more water
and are a much healthier choice
2) Buy less
We buy a lot of stuff, a lot than more than we need, specifically clothes. In
the year 2000 to 2014, global production of clothes has doubled. We live in a
generation of fast fashion where different clothing styles change from season to
season. An average American throws 70 pounds of clothing a year. That means
83,000 gallons of water wasted for nothing. That 83,000 gallons of water could
last you up to two years of water at home, and that’s just clothing. So, when
buying, buy less and invest in items that are longer-lasting and sustainably
produced.
3) Recycle
It’s maximizing the value of things. You can reuse and recycle items at
thrift shops, and in that way, you only haven’t helped the environment but you
also saved money.
4) Save energy
Some places get their energy from hydro and thermal electric plants; both
have huge water footprint. You can help by switching to LED lightbulbs and use
energy efficient appliances.

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Diminishing Water Supply

What is Diminishing Water Supply?

Are we running out of water?

3) Groundwater is being depleted

About 30 percent of Earth's fresh water lies deep underground in aquifers.

4) Disrepair of water infrastructure

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