How can we take care of the freshwater we already have?

Many of us take fresh water for granted

It’s there when we turn on the tap, and we simply expect it to be. However, increasing demand for freshwater means we’re running dangerously low.

In fact, freshwater withdrawals (which is the total water withdrawals, not counting evaporation losses from storage basins), has tripled over the last 50 years and is increasing by a staggering 64 cubic meters every year.

That means it’s up to us as humans to make some smart and informed choices. Using Stone Paper rather than traditional pulp paper is one of these smart choices.

A metric ton of Stone Paper requires exactly zero water usage, as production of Stone Paper is completely dry. In comparison, a metric ton of new wood-pulp paper requires 15.7 X water usage (equivalent to 434 showers), whereas a metric ton of recycled pulp paper requires 5.84 X water usage.

 

But beyond choosing Stone Paper instead of wood-pulp paper, there are many more meaningful things we can do to limit our water usage.

For instance:

• Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth: not having your tap running water while brushing your teeth saves up to six liters of water every minute.
• Take shorter showers: an effective shower can use anything between 6 and 50 liters of water, depending on the length of the shower. You can also consider getting an aerated shower head that combines water and air, or inserting a regulator in your shower to regulates your flow rate.
• Don’t wait for water to get cold before drinking it. Many of us let the tap run waiting for the water to get ice cold before we consider drinking it, and stopping that habit would save loads of perfectly good freshwater.
• Think hard about all the products you buy: some products are more water-intense than others and by changing your consumption habits you can save lots of freshwater.  

Do you know how much water on earth is drinkable?

Only 2 percent of the global water supply is made up of fresh water, which means it’s a precious resource. Some 80 percent of all diseases in the developing world are water-related, and by 2025, the United Nation estimates that 30 percent of the world’s population residing in 50 countries will face water shortage.

So let’s make the most of the water we have.