{"id":209819,"date":"2023-07-06T15:30:19","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T19:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/?p=209819"},"modified":"2023-07-06T15:32:01","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T19:32:01","slug":"7-unconventional-ways-to-combat-water-scarcity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/2023\/07\/06\/7-unconventional-ways-to-combat-water-scarcity\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Unconventional Ways to Combat Water Scarcity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If more people practiced awareness<\/a> regarding their household water usage, it would relieve pressure on local water resources, especially in water-stressed areas. But remembering to turn the faucet off while you brush your teeth won\u2019t affect global policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you dig into the data on global water usage, you find that water is a political topic. Everything is nowadays, right? But in this case, water has been political since humans have recorded history: everyone needs it, and those who don\u2019t have it must fight<\/a> to earn a share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may know already that less than 3%<\/a> of the world\u2019s water is freshwater (water humans can use). But even less of that freshwater is accessible for us to use; the rest<\/a> is frozen in glaciers and permafrost or buried underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: US Geological Survey (public domain).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While desalination technology<\/a> is becoming more popular and widely used, in its current state, it is only possible for more affluent<\/a> countries (which is, arguably, the case with all water). And regardless of whether desalination becomes more accessible, putting all our societal-water-need eggs in one technological basket is unwise. In the meantime, humanity still needs to curb water usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this is uncomfortable to think about. After all, you likely haven\u2019t done anything to cause the snowballing water crisis, so why should you have to do anything to reverse it?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Half of the world\u2019s population could be living in areas facing water scarcity by as early as 2025. \u2014 UNICEF<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The reason is that water scarcity is coming for humanity within many of our lifetimes \u2014 even those of us in wealthier countries. The water crisis is already affecting people daily, but it\u2019s been easy for those of us in the global North to set thoughts of these things aside in the hustle of everyday life. Soon, water scarcity will likely sit at the forefront<\/a> of humanity\u2019s concerns wherever you live. Because a lack of water, as we\u2019ve said before, affects everything (and not just humans<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This imminent threat sounds impossible, especially since our science classes told us that the world never loses water. After all, Earth replaces water via its natural water-recycling process, and we can\u2019t run out. But that, too, is changing as the world’s population and the demand for water grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c…although it’s true that the water cycle continuously returns water to Earth, it is not always returned to the same place, or in the same quantity and quality.\u201d \u2014 United States Environmental Protection Agency<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As humans, our everyday lives<\/a> are sucking more water from our natural resources than the Earth can replenish through the water cycle<\/a>. Humanity\u2019s water usage is now six times higher<\/a> than it was a hundred years ago, meaning mainstay water resources deplete faster than they replenish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are countless examples of how humans use more water now than ever before, but chief among them is humanity\u2019s food production, i.e., agriculture. Agriculture uses the most water both worldwide<\/a> and in the United States<\/a>. Some decision-makers within the farming industry are working to curb their water usage. Countries, scientists, agencies<\/a>, and NGOs are pushing for change in how agriculture uses water. But change is slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What becomes clear as you read about who\u2019s using the most water worldwide is that there is no specific nation, industry, or supervillain at whom we can point an accusatory finger. Therefore, there is no single action to take that will help. But learning more about the water crisis \u2014 and what it means for humanity (including the ones currently being affected by this issue) \u2014 is a good start so you can form your own ideas about what we can do to solve the problems we\u2019re currently facing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If this gets you as fired up (or terrified) as it does us, this is where you\u2019re wondering what you can<\/em> do. Well, we have plenty of suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about your position in your household and your community. Where do you have the power to change water practices? By sharing your passion for water with others, preferably in person, you\u2019re telling them that it\u2019s a subject worthy of being passionate about in a world where algorithms are every day determining more<\/a> of what\u2019s broadcast into our faces wherever we end up online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use whatever you\u2019ve got: talent, charisma, time, enthusiasm, knowledge, youth, art supplies, a blog, a listening ear, a rich relative. You can effect change even without a direct tie to national or international power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the power you wield, opportunities open up. You can easily control water usage in your home<\/a>, but creating change in the outside world requires strategy. Here are some ways to help solve the water crisis in your community:<\/p>\n\n\n\n