Water conservation is the practice of using water efficiently to reduce unnecessary water usage. It includes all the policies, strategies, and activities to sustainably manage the natural resource of fresh water, to protect the hydrosphere, and to meet the current and future human demand. Water conservation is important because the worlds population has doubled over the last half-century, and our demand for water has tripled. Water is an essential resource, and only 3% of water on Earth is freshwater, with only 0.5% available and suitable for drinking. The following are some reasons why water conservation is important:
- Conserving water saves energy.
- Using less water puts less weight on our sewage treatment facilities, which use a lot of energy.
- Water conservation helps preserve freshwater habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, but also water quality.
The key activities to conserve water include:
- Using water-efficient appliances and fixtures.
- Fixing leaks in pipes, toilets, and faucets.
- Taking shorter showers instead of baths.
- Turning off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving.
- Watering plants and lawns only when necessary.
Another strategy in water conservation is protecting groundwater resources. When precipitation occurs, some infiltrates the soil and goes underground. Water in this saturation zone is called groundwater. Contamination of groundwater causes the groundwater water supply to not be able to be used as a resource of fresh drinking water. The Department of Environmental Protection recognizes water conservation as a principal component in the protection and management of Pennsylvania’s natural resources. The department also recognizes that it is vital to policy and decision making and further seeks to discover, encourage and advance new technologies that serve to conserve water, explore reuse alternatives and better manage this valuable resource.
