Tralee meeting will spell out need to value our water supply
TWO thirds of our planet is covered by water. Of that, 97 per cent is salt water and the remaining three per cent is fresh water which provides drinking water to the 7 billion people living on the planet at present.
However, maintaining this water supply will become more difficult in the coming 12 months — and into the future — as another 80 million babies are expected to be born in 2012.
The presence of water on the planet is one of the key reasons there is life on earth. Ensuring that we protect our clean water in the future will be the main reason that life can continue on this planet. This could be the biggest challenge facing us in the coming few decades. A challenge that will prove far greater than the economic ones we now face. Sustainable living will have to be taken seriously – that means living within the limits of our natural resources and the sooner we start the better.
You can begin by informing yourself of the issues. On Wednesday evening January 25 in the Carlton Hotel, Tralee, at 8pm there is a public meeting hosted by Transition Town Tralee on issues relating to the quality of our water, water conservation and water harvesting and the introduction of water metering. The event is free and is open to everyone.
Apparently 66 per cent of the human body is made up of water and it is recommended that we should drink at least a litre of water a day to keep us hydrated.
At just two per cent dehydration your performance decreases by around 20 per cent.
Eighty per cent of illnesses in developing countries are caused by water-related diseases.
The number of people with access to clean water has doubled in the last 20 years.
1.5 billion people in the world still do not have access to safe water; this is nearly 20 per cent of the population.
The UN estimates that by 2025, 75 per cent of the world’s population won’t have reliable, clean water, leading to more international conflict as clean water becomes a more valuable resource.
HOW TO SAVE WATER
An average bath uses 80 litres, an average shower only uses 35 litres.
Don’t leave the tap running when you clean your teeth.
Put a plastic bottle filled with water in your cistern to save water each time you flush the toilet.
Collect rainwater in a water harvester to water your garden.
Wash your car less often.