Alicia Lee Proposal English 2010 July 15, 2013 Lara Asplund

Water for Life Water is used for keeping the Earth alive, taking a shower, brushing teeth, cooking, flushing the toilet, cleaning, etc. In most parts of the United States, we are lucky to have access to clean water. Even though the media often announce news about droughts, we still have access to safe water and easily disregard the serious issue. According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 97.5% of total water on the Earth is salt water, and 2.5% is fresh water. Only 0.3 % of the worlds fresh water is contained by fresh water lakes and rivers. 70% of fresh water is formed in ice and snow in mountains regions, and 30% is stored underground (UN Water). Average American family uses more than 350 gallons of water per day at home (Water Sense). UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) say in the United Nations World Water Development Report 2012, Humans are over-consuming natural resources at an unsustainable rate. Around 3.5 plants Earth would be needed to sustain a global population achieving the current lifestyle of the average European or North American. They also warn, in 2030, 47% of world population will be living in areas of high water stress (UN Water).

The 2011 US drought covered southern states; Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico were most adversely affected. Drought also affected parts of Arizona, Kansas, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, South and North Carolina. The extreme U.S. great grain belt brought of 2012 is forecast to persist into spring of 2013. Drought in large parts of the United States also pushed up world food prices, exerting pressure on the cost of living and affecting food security. The estimates are that US retail food prices will increase between 3 and 4 % in 2013 (FAO). World dissertation and drought continue to increase and caused the decrease of accessible fresh water. In order to improve water scarcity, we should take actions before it is too late. DIRECT IMPACTS OF DROUGHT Reduced crop, rangeland, and forest productivity Reduced water levels Increased fire hazard Damage to wildlife and fish habitat Increased livestock and wildlife mortality rates Increased insect infestations Increased plant disease Increased wind erosion

Not only droughts affect our water accessibility. Clean water both on surface and underground get polluted by chemical fertilizers, animal wastes, pesticides and other substances. Patricia L. Brown on New York Times (November 2012) reports the filthy water issues in Seville, California. Drinking water in Seville, with population of about 300, is contaminated. Most residents are farm workers, and the average yearly income in $14,000. They have to purchase safe-to-drink water, and some farmers have to drive 152 miles to obtain water for one million acres of farmland. Schools spend hundreds dollars to provide clean water to students ( New York Times). The chart below shows the trends in surface-water, groundwater, and total-water withdrawals for the United States from 1950 to 2005. According to USGS (U.S. Geological Survey), about of the water used in America comes from surface water. Water use peaked in 1980 and has been fairly steady since then. There has been an increase in water usage since 1980 because of such things as: higher population, the need for irrigation, further industry, etc., yet total water use hasnt risen. This shows that water conservation efforts and greater efficiencies in using water have had a positive effect in the last 30 years (USGS).

Due to the seriousness of water scarcity, governments regulate laws and encourage companies and citizens to participate in conserving water. World Water Day has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly on March 22 since 1993. Senate Bill X7-7 was enacted in November 2009 (The Water Conservation act of 2009) in California, requiring all water suppliers to increase water use efficiency (Water.ca.gov). The State of Utah runs Division of Water Resources website to share information on how to conserve water. The simplest way to conserve water individually can be by changing water usage habits at home such as: turning off the water while applying soap during showers, using a cup when rinsing mouth after brushing teeth instead using running water. We use ordinary showerheads with flow rate of 5 Source: Wholeliving.com gals/minutes, and for 10 minute shower, about 50 gallons of water are used (NCCE). 13.7% of water we use is wasted by leaks, so begin checking for leaks in your property. Purchase or change toilets and shower heads that are made for water efficiency. EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency, reports that WaterSense who helps communities, organizations, and individuals learn about water conservation has helped consumers save a cumulative 487 billion gallons of water and over $8.9 billion in water and energy bill to date (epa.gov). By our small efforts, we can access and share safe water, and there will be less people suffering from water shortages.

For more information on water conservation, please refer: Divison of Water Resources: http://www.monolake.org/about/waterconservation Water Conservation: http://www.monolake.org/about/waterconservation WaterSense: http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/index.html U.S. Drought Monitor: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ Division of Water Resourceshttp://www.conservewater.utah.gov/ 50 Ways to Conserve Water Whole Living: http://www.wholeliving.com/174858/50-ways-conservewater/@center/136755/green-home-guide Source:gardencad.net A water saving front garden to a courtyard home

Work Cited An EPA Partnership Program: Our Water: Water Use Today. Water Use Today | WaterSense | US EPA. WaterSense, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Web. Last updated on 20 June, 2013. Statistics: Graphs & Maps: Water Resources. UN-Water Statistics - Water Resources. UN Water. Web. Drought. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. March 11, 2013. Web. Trends in Water Use in the United States, 1950 to 2005. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)s Water Science School. Last modified: May 23, 2013. Web. Brown, Patricia Leigh. The Problem Is Clear: The Water Is Filthy. New York Times. Web. Published: November 13, 2012. A.R. Rubin, Extension Specialist. Saving Water and Saving Energy Saving Water and Saving Energy HE251.North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Web. Last Electronic Revision: March 1996