All About Water
Water is a precious resource!
Water is all around us, in the rain that falls from the sky and in rivers and lakes. Whilst water may not seem like a precious resource, but there isn’t as much as you might think. Most of the water on earth is in the sea and ice caps, which we can’t use. We rely on a small amount of fresh water.
We don’t just use water in our homes but for many other things. It’s used on farms to grow crops and raise livestock. We use a lot to produce clothes and in manufacturing to make everything from cars to toys. Water is also used in energy production. We really do use a lot of water!
Water in our homes
The clean water that we use in our homes every day for drinking, cooking, washing and flushing our toilets is a precious resource. We need to use it carefully.
In order to get the water to us it must be collected in huge reservoirs by water companies and then pumped to a treatment center to be cleaned. It then has to be pumped to homes. This all takes a lot of energy which is why we must use it carefully.
Water shortages
As the earths climate changes water shortages will become more common. This is because the weather is becoming more extreme and unpredictable. This makes it even more important to use the water we do have carefully.
What can you do?
Take short showers: You could turn on a 5-minute timer before you get in.
Turn off the taps whilst brushing your teeth: You don’t need to leave the tap running whilst your brushing your teeth. Instead only turn the tap on when you need the water.
Install a water butt: It takes a lot of water to keep your garden looking green, especially on hot summer days. Installing a water butt in your garden means that you can collect rainwater for watering your garden when it’s hot and dry.
Water plants in the evening: In the hot summer months water your outdoor plants in the early morning or at the end of the day to stop water immediately evaporating in sunlight and heat.
Eat Less Red Meat: It takes about 3500 litres of water to produce one beef steak – that’s enough water to fill 44 baths! Most of this water goes towards growing the grain and grasses that the cows eat.
Reduce Food Waste: Growing crops for us all to eat takes up lots of water. We all waste food. Sometimes it goes off before we can eat it and sometimes, we make too much to eat and throw the leftovers away.
Buy Less Clothing: Cotton is used to make a lot of our clothing and cotton uses up a lot of water to grow! It is estimated that it takes 9982 litres of water to make a pair of jeans. That’s enough to fill 125 bathtubs full of water! Donate the clothes you no longer want and buy new items second hand to save water.
Find more tips on the Water’s Worth Saving website!
Energy
We use lots of energy in our homes every day. Find out where our energy comes from, how we use it in our homes and how using it affects the environment.
All About Plastic
Plastic waste is a huge problem. Find out what you can do to help reduce plastic use in your home and protect the environment.
