M7. Water Conservation: A Vital Step for Our Future

MODULE 7

Water Conservation: A Vital Step for Our Future

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Co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them - 2023-2-ES01-KA210-ADU-000179142

B-GLOCAL results are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

Introduction

This micro-lesson will help you understand the importance of water conservation, the challenges we face due to increasing water scarcity, and how both individual and community actions can contribute to protecting this essential resource.

Learning Objectives

Understand water scarcity’s impact on agriculture, health, and ecosystems and recognize the importance of its conservation.

Learn about water use in agriculture, industry, and homes, and conservation options.

Explore global water conservation strategies like rainwater harvesting and wastewater reuse.

Adopt water-saving habits and practices like fixing leaks, reducing shower time, and joining local conservation efforts.

Water covers about 71% of Earth

Water Is Essential for Life of Earth

Water covers about 71% of Earth's surface. and is crucial for all organisms​. 80% of all known species on Earth live in water - from the tiny plankton to the largest mammals like whales. Oceans alone cover more than 90% of the planet’s habitable space.

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The Earth holds approximately1.386 billion km³ of water in all 3 states of the matter:

• 96.5% in the oceans
• 1.7% in glaciers and polar ice
• 1.7% in lakes, rivers, and soil
• 0.01% in the atmosphere

Only about 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater. 2/3 of it is locked in glaciers and ice caps and less than 1% is readily accessible for human use.

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Water Scarcity

Water scarcity can reduce agricultural productivity by 1/3, leading to food insecurity, loss of livelihoods and conflict over resources. By 2025, half of the world's population will live in water-stressed areas due to overuse and climate change.

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Clean Water Challenge

Over 2,200,000,000 peoplelive in countries experiencing high water stress. Millions of people have to walk for long hours every day to collect water. One person dies every minute due to lack of access to clean water, and water-related diseases, such as cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery.

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Water-Richest & Water-Poorest Countries in the World

Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia rely on desalination due to arid climates and limited freshwater. Yemen faces extreme scarcity from drought and instability. Jordan faces high demand due to its population and refugee influx, and relies on rationing and shared resources to manage its scarce water resources.

Brazil holds 12-15% of global freshwater via the Amazon Basin. Russia has vast rivers and Lake Baikal, the largest by volume. Canada has high water per capita with the Great Lakes. The U.S. is rich in northern water resources, like the Mississippi. Colombia’s high rainfall supports rivers in the Amazon and Andes.

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Freshwater in Europe

Compared to other continents, Europe is relatively well-resourced for freshwater, especially when accounting for population density and infrastructure. However, as climate change intensifies, southern Europe is increasingly vulnerable to droughts, while northern regions have the capacity to manage high water availability with less stress. Northern European countries also lead in advanced water management, including rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling, ensuring efficient use of resources.

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between Earth and the atmosphere. Water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers, rises, and cools to form clouds through condensation. It then returns to Earth as precipitation, such as rain or snow, and either infiltrates the soil to replenish groundwater or flows back to bodies of water as runoff. This cycle is essential for distributing fresh water and sustaining life.

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Climate change disrupts the water cycle by altering evaporation and precipitation patterns. Warmer air holds more moisture, causing heavier storms and flooding in some regions while other areas experience faster evaporation and drier conditions. These changes impact ecosystems, agriculture, and human communities. Droughts lead to water scarcity, affecting food and drinking water supplies, while intense rainfall causes flooding, erosion, and water contamination.

Disruption of Water Cycle

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1917

2005

Image source

Over the past century, Earth has lost around 28 trillion metric tons of ice from glaciers and ice sheets, or 3% of global ice reserves. This ice volume would cover the entire area of Europe (10 million sq.km) with a layer of ice thick 7,5 m. For the current global population of 8 billion people, this lost ice volume could supply freshwater for about 7 years.

These disruptions in the water cycle have far-reaching effects on ecosystems, agriculture, and human communities. Vast populated areas would disappear, temperatures would reach an average of 27°C, and ecosystems would dramatically change. This would create inhospitable conditions in many regions and alter life on every continent. Additionally, melting polar ice sheets and glaciers would reduce global freshwater supplies, causing seasonal shortages and increasing water scarcity.

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If all Earth's ice melted due to continuous fossil fuel use, sea levels would rise by 66 meters, reshaping coastlines and submerging large areas of current land. This rise would flood major cities and regions across the globe. London, Venice, and the Netherlands would be underwater.

What the World Would Look Like if All the Ice Melted

Image source

Oceans absorb 90% of the heat caused by greenhouse emissions. Warmer waters disrupt habitats for species highly sensitive to temperature changes. Increased CO2 levels also cause ocean acidification, making it difficult for marine organisms like shellfish and corals to build their shells and skeletons. This combination of warming, rising, and acidifying oceans poses severe threats to biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal economies.

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Plastic Oceans

11 million tons of plastic to oceans each year. Plastics take hundreds to thousands of years to degrade, breaking into microplastics that persist indefinitely. They are ingested by marine animals, entering the food chain, while larger plastics entangle and harm wildlife. Microplastics from the ocean spread to water sources and the water cycle, contaminating ecosystems worldwide.

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Climate change, population growth, and wasteful water usage, make it more important than ever to conserve and manage water responsibly. If we don’t make a change, a global "Day Zero“ - when Earth faces widespread water shortages -could arrive by 2040.

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The world uses 880 billion liters of water daily

DOMESTIC USE 10% of water is used for drinking, sanitation, cooking, and cleaning.

10%

AGRICULTURE Consumes 70%of global fresh water, mainly for irrigation in crop production.

70%

INDUSTRYuses 20% of global water for manufacturing, cooling in power plants, and mining activities. It is particularly high in developed countries.

20%

WATER USE PER SECTOR

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Each person uses approximately 110 liters of water per day for drinking, cooking, bathing, sanitation, and washing.

WATER USE AT HOME

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How Countries Address Water Scarcity

Israel use desalination to meet high water demands, though it’s energy-intensive and produces environmentally impactful brine.

Singapore treat and reuse wastewater for agriculture, industry, and even drinking, cutting down overall water demand.

Bermuda and the Maldives harvest rainwater from rooftops and store it in tanks as a backup supply for household and agriculture during dry periods.

How Countries Address Water Scarcity

UAE use cloud seeding to encourage rainfall by dispersing silver iodide into clouds to increase precipitation.

Gulf countries import virtual water through buying water-intensive goods like food from abroad instead of spending their scarce resources for local agriculture.

Aging or poorly maintained water infrastructure leads to significant losses. Saudi Arabia invests in advanced leak detection and repair programs to conserve every drop.

Did You Know That:

20-30% of freshwater globally is lost before it reaches consumers through leaks, theft, or unbilled consumption. This is considered a "normal" water loss, or non-revenue water (NRW). While developed countries aim to reduce water loss up to 5-8%, in regions with old infrastructure, NRW can reach 30-50%. NRW levels in Bulgaria are 60%, one of the highest in Europe. The EU aims to reduce water consumption by 20% by 2030 to combat water scarcity. Governments adopt technologies like smart meters and leak detection helping utilities cut losses and ensure a stable water supply. Towns - Leaders in Water Management

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"Day Zero" Water Conservation Campaign in Cape Town, South Africa

In 2018, Cape Town launched the "Day Zero" campaign to avoid a severe water crisis. The initiative encouraged residents to limit water use to 50 liters per day, installing water-saving devices and recycling greywater. Community engagement, along with water restrictions, reduced citywide consumption by nearly half, preventing the taps from running dry and showcasing the power of collective action.

The Maasai Water Bunds Transform the Desert

The Maasai use semi-circular earth bunds to capture rainwater, prevent erosion, and retain moisture. This enhances soil fertility and supports vegetation in Kenya and Tanzania's drylands. This low-cost method strengthens land resilience to drought, benefiting agriculture, conserving the environment, and improving grazing areas for Maasai pastoralists.

The Million Wells for Bengaluru, India

The project addresses Bengaluru's water crisis by restoring the water table. Facing groundwater depletion, it has built 250,000 recharge wells across the city. The wells enhance water infiltration, replenish groundwater, and reduce flooding. This community-driven, low-cost solution involves local well-diggers and revives traditional water conservation, providing a sustainable model for urban water management.

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Water Conservation Tips

Repair leaky faucets, toilets, and pipes to prevent water waste, as even a slow drip can waste up to 75 liters per day. The world wastes over 1.3 trillion liters of water annually due to leaks.

Upgrade your appliances by installing low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilets and high-efficient washing machines. In Europe, 95% of household water is used for tasks other than drinking. Toilets, washing machines, and gardening are some of the largest water consumers. Modern low-flow toilets use about 5liters per flush compared to older models that use 11-26 liters. Dual-flush toilets allow for a half flush (around 3 liters), cutting down water usage.

Run the washing machine and dishwasher with full loads to maximize water efficiency. Use a bowl for rinsing fruits, vegetables, or dishes by hand, instead of letting the tap run.

Dishwashers use less water than hand washing and clean more thoroughly.

Choose cold water washes. Most detergents are formulated to work well in cold water.

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• Use waste water from washing dishes or your shower to water plants.
• Water at sunrise or sunset to avoid water evaporation.
• Add a layer of mulch around plants to retain moisture and keep roots cool.
• Compost your organic garbage to keep moisture and create healthier soil.
• Keep the grass higher to give it shade and help it retain moisture.
• Set up a rain barrel to capture water.
• Choose native and drought-resistant plants which need less water to thrive.
• Use drip systems to deliver water directly to plant roots, minimizing waste.
• Avoid overwatering. Check soil moisture before watering to avoid excess.

Garden Hacks

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Cleanliness Hacks

• Reduce shower time. A full bathtub typically uses about 265-300 liters of water. A 10-minute shower uses around 75 liters with a standard showerhead, and 55 liters with a low-flow showerhead. A 5-minute shower cuts these numbers in half.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, soaping or putting shampoo. For every minute that a faucet runs, 5-10 liters of water are used.
• 24 or 48-hour deo sprays can reduce the frequency of showers throughout the day.
• Reuse towels and lightly worn clothes to reduce laundry water use.

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Your Dietary Choice Matters

• Livestock farming accounts for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This includes methane from digestion, CO₂ from land-use changes, and nitrous oxide from manure. Approximately 80% of deforestation worldwide is linked to agriculture, with 40% related to livestock and feed production.

• In the Amazon, about 70-80% of deforested areas are used for cattle ranching. This expansion has led to extensive loss of biodiversity and increased CO₂ emissions due to forest clearing. Producing 1 kg of beef requires around 15,000 liters of water for animal hydration, growing feed crops, and processing needs.

• Reducing meat consumption, particularly from large-scale livestock farming, is one of the most impactful personal lifestyle changes for the environment. Opting for plant-based alternatives or reducing overall meat intake to once or twice per week can significantly lower an individual’s environmental footprint.

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SUMMARY

Let's pull together the main points from this micro-lesson!

01

02

Water scarcity is a pressing global issue intensified by climate change, population growth, and unsustainable water use patterns.

Only a small fraction of Earth's water is accessible freshwater, making it essential to conserve and manage wisely.

03

04

The water cycle, disrupted by climate change, impacts ecosystems and communities through altered precipitation and increased droughts.

Agriculture, industry, and domestic use are the largest water-consuming sectors, each with unique conservation opportunities.

05

Countries adopt various conservation practices, from drip irrigation and wastewater reuse to desalination and rainwater harvesting.

06

Individuals can contribute by using water-saving appliances, repairing leaks, reducing waste, and supporting local conservation projects.

SELF-REFLECTION

1. Which personal habits could you change to reduce your water use and contribute to conservation efforts? 2. Have you noticed any changes in water availability or quality in your local area that could be related to conservation issues? 3. Are there any community projects or initiatives focused on water conservation that you could get involved with? 4. What actions can you take to encourage others in your community to conserve water and protect local water resources?

Now that you have gained a better understanding of water management and conservation, here are some questions for self-reflection!

"In every drop of water, there is a story of life.“ Leena Arif

WELL DONE!

Congratulations on successfully finishing this training module! You've shown that learning knows no age limits. Keep up the excellent work!

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