Creative Living   24   March 21, 2016

THIRST PICTURE

 

 

Picture this; you rush out the door after a hectic morning getting the kids ready for school.

You are determined to get that morning run in, even though it will mean moving double speed when you get home to get ready for work.

OK, I’m not a runner, so it’s hard for me to picture this. But we’re playing an imagination game, so bear with me.

Halfway through the run, you realise in your haste you forgot your water bottle. And you are thirsty. Really thirsty.

The shop is no closer than home and you didn’t bring change so there’s nothing for it but to endure the thirst until you get home.

Your mouth is dry. You swallow a lot, but it doesn’t help. Your mouth tastes bad.

You had built up a sweat on the run but you are no longer sweating. You are experiencing muscle cramps and feel nauseous. Can you feel the thirst?

A headache is starting and you feel palpitations.

 

ASSUAGING THE THIRST

 

Now, picture this. You finally reach home, struggle to get in the door as you are feeling light-headed and head straight to the tap to fill a large glass with crystal clear water.

It’s that easy. You turn on the tap. Or go to your fridge to grab the jug of ice-cold water that originated from your tap.

You are lucky enough not to be one of the 748 million people who lack access to safe drinking water.

Your kids are not among the 700,000 children who die EACH DAY due to preventable diseases brought on by lack of access to safe water.

The most thirst you are likely to suffer is when you forget that water bottle on your run.

Half the world’s workers – around 1.5 billion people – work in water-related sectors, yet are often not recognised or protected by basic labour rights.

 

THIRST PICTURE

 

While we are reading articles on the benefits of drinking eight glasses a water a day – maybe mixing it up with some lemon water which is trending right now, women in African and Asian countries are walking up to six kilometres to collect water they will then carry home.

Australia is one of the driest continents on earth yet per capita, we consume the most water.

It’s easy to forget a few years ago when our main dam was running dangerously low and there were fears it would not be able to cater for the population of Sydney and surrounds.

New South Wales residents top the list for water consumption in this country.

On average, an Australian will use around 200 litres of water each day. Only five to 10 litres of this is necessary for basic survival.

On average in developing countries, a person uses 10 litres of water per day – the same amount used when we flush our toilets.

 

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK

 

Around 71 per cent of the earth’s surface is covered in water. It’s in our air – water vapour – and in the ground. Yet the oceans hold 96.5 per cent of the planet’s water and unless desalinated, that water is undrinkable.

 

Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime. The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land.

Luna Leopold

Day Zero is fast approaching for Cape Town in South Africa. The city is about to run out of water completely.

Water will be cut off to taps in all homes and most businesses as soon as July 6 (Day Zero), authorities are warning.

It’s not just developing countries suffering from water issues.

The Flint water crisis in Michigan, USA, has been ongoing since 2014 when the water source was changed.

 

 

thirst picture

 

Around half of all the water used in the home is in the bathroom.

A leaking toilet can waste more than 16,000 litres of water per year and a leaking tap wastes as much as 2000 litres per month.

Being water-wise does not mean we need to cut down on the amount we drink. In fact, there are really simple and inexpensive ways to cut water consumption and doing this not only helps the planet, but also the economy.

 

 

thirst picture

WAYS TO SAVE WATER

  • Fix leaking taps.
  • Invest in inexpensive water-efficient toilet flush and showerheads.
  • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
  • Ensure your dishwasher and washing machine are full before using them.
  • Front-loaders are more water-efficient.
  • Sweep your verandas and driveways instead of using a hose to clean.
  • Wash your car on the grass so the water is not wasted.
  • Water your garden when it’s cool in the early morning and at night.
  • When designing a garden, consider drought-tolerant plants.
  • Waterproof terracotta pots before planting in them.
  • Use water crystals when planting new plants.
  • If possible, buy a rainwater tank to collect water.

Be water-wise and have a gleeful week, Tamuria.

 

 

Comments

  • This is an important issue many people are not aware enough about. Bad grammar…sorry! So many little things we can do to help. Great info.

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  • We have learned to live with water shortages in India, but some of us still waste water while others who are not so fortunate have travel miles to get water.
    Thank you for the reminder about this most important issue!

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    • I think it’s one of those things we so easily take for granted while it’s readily available and don’t realize the importance of conserving water until it becomes harder to get.

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  • Water. So crucial to our existence and yet we let greed destroy it. I’m afraid, in the future, only the rich will have access to fresh water.

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  • thank you for this reminder. I live in California and we have been going through a horrible drought. We do take water for granted in our first world lives never thinking of how precious this resource is. thank you for this info and call out to everyone on World Water Day! via blog share learn

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    • I have a dear friend who lives in California and she tells me about the water crisis there – so scary to think we could run out of something that is so vital to our survival.

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  • Really informative post thank you. I now know what I will be teaching my daughters tomorrow.

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  • So important not to waste – and it’s so hard not to take it for granted.

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  • Yesterday’s World Water Day got sidetracked with the Brussels Attack Tamuria but this is an important issue. We have strict rules about water conservation in the housing society where I live and even at home, we are careful with our usage. The desire to save water has to begin at an individual level.

    I know I’m sidetracking but yesterday a major water pipeline burst on one of the major connecting roads in Delhi and will take 3 weeks to repair. The first thought that came to mind was the wastage of water and then the thought of commuting nightmares that I will have. It has to start with individuals and only then will we be able to save water at a global level.

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    • I hate it when water mains burst and all that water gets wasted until the pipe is fixed – always makes me feel so stressed. Three weeks is an eternity if the water will be flowing out all that time – how sad. You are right Vatsala, individuals can make a huge impact on saving water at a global level.

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  • I had a wonderful coincidence that makes me feel better that I didn’t know yesterday was World Water Day. Oh, before I begin my story, I have so much to say to you in response to this blog. Each one of your graphics is perfect & I buffered & pinned- gets the word out too.
    Several years ago I met a beautiful woman who was continuing her dad’s mission to bring water to a hospital in Africa. I made a monetary donation as her cause moved me to tears. She purchased a necklace from us yesterday & asked if we could make earrings as it would auction better as a set for her fund raiser for water for the hospital. We are so pleased to be donating the earrings.
    I never forgot her story & there are days I dont drink enough water & I get a slight headache. We have made a conscious effort to stop wasting water. You wrote about it before & it had a huge impact on me.
    Sometimes your blogs are cute, DIY, lighthearted and Your blogs about life are profound. I so admire you.

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    • What a wonderful thing to say Roz, thank you so much. I love the story about the woman taking water to the African hospital and that you have contributed. She obviously made a big impact on you and it’s great that your creations, which already give joy to so many, are now part of contributing to such a worthy cause.

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  • Great post to continue to raise awareness of this massive world issue, Tami. So many people who live in first world countries are cavalier about the looming water crisis, even though it is really THE global crisis that we can no longer ignore. When you are spoiled and have water anytime you want it, it is hard to imagine how such a large percentage of the world’s population goes without. Thanks for sharing the easy to implement solutions too, and I am with you in my hope that more people become more conscious and actually take actions to be part of the long term solution.

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    • It really is hard to imagine so many people without access to safe water Beverley. When you stop and really think about it, it’s scary to imagine this could be the way it is for us too if we don’t take measures now to stop wasting it.

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  • This is so important. My sister does a lot of work to help raise awareness about the water crisis in Northern California. I worry we will have more things like Flint come to light. Water is such a precious commodity – protecting it and keeping it clean should be a priority!

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  • What an important issue, Tami and how amazing for you to write about it! Your post reminded me about old memories from my childhood when I used to spend my summer vacations at my grandparents – back in Romania in the country side, water was scarce.

    They would not have it in the house, but in a water well and I’d go with my grandfather to get a bucket of water to drink. Oh, those hot summer days and how absolutely delicious that cold water was!

    Fast forward now: I’m so grateful for the water that we have available, in the convenience of our home, cold and hot. We’re lucky to live in an area where there’s hardly any drought so we enjoy this amazing blessing that the water is every single day!

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    • We certainly appreciate things more when they are a little more work to get, don’t we? I was just speaking to an old man during my walk who talked about his neighbour collecting water from the local creek and carting it home in a tanker to put in his water tank in the days before there was ‘town water’ in this area. The water in that creek would probably kill us now as it’s so polluted.

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  • What a timely post for me…I live in an area that has low water levels…I am use to conserving water as we have to truck water in…surrounding areas have “city water” but that too is running dry…yesterday I was driving through a very well to do neighborhood and happened to notice that most all of the houses had VERY green lawns, obviously they are unaware of the water issues we are faced with and the fact that El Nino that was promoted over and over has skipped town…I was amazed. Thanks for this timely and important article!

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    • Ah Lisa, don’t get me started on green lawns – such a waste! We’re in the process of getting rid of all our grass (except the tiny patch in the fairy garden) because we hate the water needed to keep it looking good – also, mowing is a pain.

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