Drop by Drop – Water’s Future

Research shows that by 2050, the world population will demand and use up to 55% more water than it does currently.

Agriculture

Due to the population increase, agriculture will play an important role in the future and water is one of the most precious commodities to a farmer.

“Farmers, the world’s greatest users of water, recognize the need to conserve water, especially in the face of a rising population and climate change with prolonged droughts and extreme temperatures. Agriculture uses three times the amount of water it did 50 years ago, and by 2050 it will need a further 19 percent.”

To prepare for the growing population and to protect agricultures most precious resource – water – farmers are exploring ways to conserve. Here are some ideas of how farmers are practicing water conservation.

Did you know? “Agriculture accounts for 70 percent of global water usage. It takes 3,000 liters to produce the daily food requirements for just one person and 17,000 liters to produce 1 kilogram of chocolate!”

Think about that the next time you crave chocolate.

Today’s younger generation and scientist are innovating new solutions for protecting the environment, and ensuring the sustainability of future crops. Check out some of their solutions and the impact they are having on the future.

An Aging System and Government’s Role

Our small town of Anacortes has been replacing the their old system with high-speed fiber in order to better manage the community’s water system. This system will serve a dual purpose, better data and management of water and its usage, and serve as a new internet provider for local residents.

Cities and municipalities like Anacortes are needing to upgrade or renovate aging delivery systems. Water loss is on the rise due to old systems. Gallons of water go to waste each year. Adding to this aging problem is loss of water from droughts, climate change, pollution, and more.

The State of Washington Water Research Center (WRC) was established by the American Water Resources Research Act of 1964 as one of the National Institutes for Water Resources.  Over it’s more than half century of work on water resources for the benefit of the State of Washington, The WRC has become an integral connection between academics; local, state, and federal government; and the private sector.

The Integrated Drought Information System supports drought research, climate change, and the impact on water. And the U.N. is building a support and knowledge base for countries to learn how to better manage water.

Visit the Washington State Dept. of Ecology’s website and view their Water Resources program, which supports sustainable water management.

CLEAN WATER

A shortage of clean water is a reality.

In this article, The Waters of Life. Maintaining Our Most Precious Resource, General Electric speaks to the dangers rivers are facing with pollution.

“Nowhere is our need for water more emotively displayed than in our rivers. If clean water is our lifeblood, then our rivers are the arteries through which it travels. Here in Malaysia those vital arteries are already under strain. A 2013 study by the Department of Environment indicated only 2% of water from our entire national river system would be considered clean enough to drink.”

Clean water changes everything. We see this change in remote countries with limited access to clean water. Organizations, such as, MyCharity.Org and The Water Project, help raise money for cleaner water and helping communities thrive. Clean Water Action works on issues related to Clean Water.

Organization, like these, play an important role in water’s future.

Working together

Organizations, like, Sustainable Northwest, who bring people, ideas, and innovation together, play an important role in the future of sustainable living. People, government agencies, communities, countries, all of us are responsible and need to work together to protect our most valuable resource – water.

Drop by drop, each must do their part to ensure a future and to sustain a life we should expect.

 

Let’s All Do Our Part