Battling the Global Water Crisis: Every Drop Helps

There are literally oceans of water out there, so how much can an average person really use?

Water, as plentiful as it seems, has its limits. Only three per cent of the earth's water is actually fresh water that humans can drink, and most of that is frozen in ice caps and glaciers.

What we fail to realize is that every little choice we make about water affects the environment one way or another, and sometimes those effects can be permanent. Water shortages are increasing in Canada (and across the globe) because of dry summers, population growth and over-consumption. The fact remains, our fresh water is being used up faster than it is being sustained.

Surprisingly, Canada, with its ample resources, is the second highest consumer of water in the world after the US, using more water than countries that have triple our population, like Japan.

So what does this show us? It shows us that Canadians are becoming more and more reckless with water use. According to research commissioned by Unilever, the Royal Bank of Canada and the Canadian branch of the UN's Water for Life initiative, more than half of Canadians think that they are doing enough to conserve fresh water, while 80 per cent are sure that Canada has a long-term supply of fresh water, but that is simply not the case.

Even though the global economic crisis is on everyone's mind, it seems water scarcity poses the bigger threat. Campaigns such as Don't Be A Drip – whose aim is to motivate young adults to recognize the importance of conserving our water resources – have been proliferating across North America in recent years. From what they predict, the next conundrum humans will face after the failing economy will be conserving the world’s water. A 2009 update on the World Economic Forum website reports that resource scarcities, particularly in regards to water as it relates to food and energy, "may cause widespread insecurity and instability for years to come." So, instead of panicking about money, let's think about managing our water.

Let's face it – at the rate at which we rely on water today, there is no way our water resources can be sustained. Even if you're not a tree-hugger, there's always something you can do to effectively manage the everyday use of water. It can be as easy as turning off the tap when you brush your teeth. It doesn't take superpowers, but it does take perseverance – and remember, every drop helps!