The 18th of September was world water monitoring day. I don't think it was well advertised but here are a few interesting - and sobering - facts and perhaps some reminders of the part we can all play:
- Although over 70% of the earth’s surface is water 97% of that water is saline (salt water), leaving a mere 3% of fresh water. Of that 3% over 2% is frozen in glaciers and frozen ice caps leaving less than 1% readily available for consumption.
- While fresh water is a renewable resource, the world’s supply of clean usable water is decreasing faster than it can be replenished.
- Here in NZ over half of our monitored rivers are unsafe for swimming, one third of our lakes are unhealthy and two thirds of our native freshwater fish are at risk or threatened with extinction.
"We forget
that the water cycle and the life cycle are one" ~ Jacques Cousteau
Water
saving tips:
(Just 5 taken from 100 ways listed here.)
1. Don’t
leave the tap running when you clean your teeth.
2. Shorten
your shower time by one minute and save hundreds of litres a month.
3. Wash
your car from a bucket – not a hose.
4. Save the
cold water when you are waiting for the tap to run hot in the kitchen sink.
Catch it in a jug for drinking water or a small watering can to water house
plants.
5. Compost
food waste instead of using an insinkerator/waste disposal – saves many litres
every time.
If you live in Auckland make sure you go and see AQUA at Auckland Museum (till
24th October Labour Day). Click here for more information. It is excellent
– and suited for all ages.
"We never
know the worth of water till the well is dry"
Thomas
Fuller
