Let us tackle the scandal of water wastage
AS we mark World Water Day today, there will no doubt be some familiar reminders on how to save water in the home. Fix a dripping tap and save seven buckets of water per day. Have a quicker shower and reduce water wastage by 17 litres per day. But in the age of increasing institutional environmental accountability, it is vital that the saving of water becomes more of a responsibility for organisations, not just individuals and households. Many public and private sector organisations in Scotland are taking steps to save water, but there is a long way to go.
One-third of the water taken from the natural environment in the UK is wasted; a shocking scourge on our planet’s precious resources. The theme of this year’s World Water Day is Nature for Water, which emphasises the potential of naturebased solutions to solve many of the Earth’s water challenges.
When we neglect our ecosystems, we make it harder to provide everyone with the water we need to survive and thrive. Environmental damage, together with climate change, is driving the water-related crises we see around the world. Floods, drought and water pollution are all made worse by degraded vegetation, soil, rivers and lakes.
Damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption. Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home; affecting their health, education and livelihoods. Sustainable Development Goal 6 commits the world to ensuring that everyone has access to safe water by 2030, and includes targets on protecting the natural environment and reducing pollution. Globally more than 80 per cent of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the environment without being treated or reused, a truly damning fact.
Noting the theme of this World Water Day we need to do so much more with “green” infrastructure and harmonise it with “grey”
One-third of the water taken from the natural environment in the UK is wasted
infrastructure. Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will rebalance the water cycle and improve health and livelihoods.
Individuals and organisations in Scotland could be forgiven for wondering why they should concern themselves with the environmental impact of wasted water. After all, we have a seemingly abundant supply of fresh water most years, our water systems are generally well-protected, and our reservoirs are full after the recent thaw. The answer is simple but possibly unexpected: carbon footprint. The water industry is the fourth most energy-intensive sector in the UK, requiring large amounts of energy for pumping, water treatment and waste management. Consuming less water requires less energy, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and assists in tackling climate change. Organisations can therefore count their efforts to reduce wasted water towards their carbon footprint reduction strategies. Indeed, the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Bill seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2050.
The good news is that there are now simple and cost-effective methods for organisations of all sizes to save both water and money. From our work with the Scottish public sector we have cut water wastage by more than 305 Olympic-sized swimming pools through, in many cases, very simple monitoring and efficiency measures (which, helpfully, has also saved on water bills).
While many individuals and organisations are stepping up to the challenge of reducing water usage, there is significant potential for more action to be taken to address this. This World Water Day it is vital that individuals, businesses and other organisations in Scotland work in partnership, rising to the challenge to reduce wasted water for the sake of our environment.
Agenda is a column for outside contributors.
Contact: agenda@theherald.co.uk