G06: I&S From Little Things, Big Things Grow: 3. Water Usage

Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater—the stuff we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly rare. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use.

Water connects every aspect of life. Access to safe water and sanitation can quickly turn problems into potential – empowering people with time for school and work, and contributing to improved health for women, children, and families around the world.

Up until the third quarter of the 20th century it was the world's fourth largest saline lake. Then, the Soviet government decided in the 1960s to divert those rivers so that they could irrigate the desert region surrounding the Sea in order to favor agriculture rather than supply the Aral Sea basin. What happened?

Most of us take water for granted, scarcely giving thought to water scarcity when we turn on the tap. But for many people around the world, having water everyday could mean walking miles to get it, and that means walking and carrying the heavy load themselves. Learn some facts about the water scarcity problem, such as: a child dies every 21 seconds from a water-related illness; almost 800 million people don’t have access to clean water; and each year almost 3 ½ million people die because of unsanitary water and living conditions.

Published on the Web by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this discussion of the link between water scarcity and poverty is from a collection of information resources intended to analyze the impact of water scarcity around the world. The material features a definition of water scarcity and a summary of conservation and sustainability issues related to the distribution and management of freshwater and ground water for human consumption, agriculture and industry. Illustrations include photographs, graphs, and a global water scarcity map to demonstrate the physical and economic distribution of resources.

This site is full of great information. Be sure to look around.

When officials calculate how much food we waste, they factor in all the resources that went into producing the food in the first place.

Information from "The Water Project"

From The World Bank

Be sure to look at the "Water Resources" tab as well as the interactive water calculators under the "Resources" tab

H2O Conserve Water Footprint Calculator. The program has since grown into a significant source of tools, tips and information that help make water conservation a daily part of our lives. Focus on how water is used in energy production, agriculture and consumer products, and on improved management of our water resources and systems is also provided.

One of UN-Water’s key objectives is to provide coherent and reliable data and information on key water trends and management issues. During past decades, several initiatives, mechanisms and programmes, both within and outside the United Nations family, have been collecting information on the various components of the water cycle.

The World Water Council is an international multistakeholder platform organization whose mission is to mobilize action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, by engaging people in debate and challenging conventional thinking. The Council focuses on the political dimensions of water security, adaptation and sustainability.

A platform for collaboration between companies, organizations and individuals to solve the world’s water crises by advancing fair and smart water use. We are a dynamic, global network that drives innovation and inspires the changes we must all make to share fresh water fairly amongst all people to sustain thriving communities and nature’s diversity.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.