Water Usage

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Water Usage
Introduction
Water is a fundamental requirement for every living thing. We require it for all our day-to-day activities ranging from washing, drinking, cooking, energy production and industrial processes. Without it, there can be no life. It is thus highly important that we not only use it wisely but also conserve the sources and avoid processes that can pollute it. Allowing industrial practices that release their effluents to the water catchments bodies will only jeopardize the environment and cause adverse effects to not only the humans but also animals and plants. Where some places like the western countries are experiencing desert conditions, there is an abundance of the resource in the US. The state has about 4.5 percent of the global population and eight percent of the freshest water resources in the world. It harbors the largest freshwater lake in the entire world. Some of the other richness is the great lakes and the mega Mississippi river, all that culminate to the over six quadrillion gallons of fresh water. However, many of the water resources are being polluted currently, and the rate of water usage per homestead is increasing gradually. The rate, however, does not tally with the population increase ration in the country. This is a clear indication that citizens have not embraced the need to conserve water usage. Although the water resources are endless, the citizens and state as a whole must work to protect and preserve water.

Domestic Usage
According to the report by the Grace Link Foundation, the domestic water consumption per person in the US goes to as high as 60 gallons. Out of this, 28 % is used in the toilets, 22 % on washing, 19 % of baths and showers. Further, 16% is used on the sinks, and the rest are just wasted on uncontrolled leakages. This means that much water goes to waste. All the water used for the toilets, washing and sinks is all lost and finds its way back to the soil and water catchment areas. A large concern rests on the type of water that we return to the ground after withdrawal. This counts to the total abstraction. Although there is too much withdrawal, only 5% of the water gets to permanent use and never gets back the freshwater sources (“Water Statistics – Statistics Explained” 2). The rest percentage is retrieved back to the sources but in a contaminated state. This brings about the wider issue of environmental pollution and water contamination which remains the primary challenge any states are facing today.
Industrial Usage
Water used in the industries has increased considerably since the 1980s. This can be associated with the growth of the industrial sector and agricultural production. Essentially, the agricultural sector is the leading in inefficient water usage among the industrial sectors. By 2005, the industrial withdrawals stood at 18,200 gallons every day. This was just 5% of the surface and ground water combined. However, this had more than doubled by 2010 where the gallons per day stood at 355,000. Out of this, the power production consumed 51% while 29% was used for irrigation (Howard Perlman 3). The quantity is expected to double by 2020 meaning that we continuously require more water for the industrial sector while little the same companies have done little to prevent releasing effluents to water sources.
Discussion
Freshwater abstractions are the primary causes of water challenges in the US despite the country having an abundance of the resource. Abstractions occur from the public water supplies, industrial processes, irrigation and another house usage. Of late, water distribution varies too much among countries. Unlike in the arid regions where water supply must be met by going beyond the sustainable processes and use, America does not have to compromise the environment to feed its people. However, the issue of inefficient water usage is creating a significant imbalance between the supply quantity and quality and the demand. This has created socio-economic and environmental consequences such as low river flows, salinization of the previously fresh water sources, loss of wetlands, reduced food production, and above all a statewide water shortage. This is an issue directly linked to water abstractions.
Domestic water usage contributes to the pollution of the sources in some ways. First is the municipal waste. Due to the issue of urbanization, the municipal authorities collect all the wastewater into what are referred to as sewage systems. The level of refuse in the sewage depends on the rate of water usage in the homesteads, industries, and floods. While the waste management by the municipal represents to only a third of the entire public sector, its impact on the water sources is substantial. Most of the water collected is contaminated with all sorts of deposits such as salts, chemicals, pesticides, and acids from industrial effluents. When these react with the acidic sewage water, the resultant is a dangerous solution. Although this water is treated before it is released to the catchment areas, it can never be free from salts and other chemicals. However, much of the direct release emanates from the industries. These have a greater impact given that most of the effluents are contaminated, acidic or containing soluble substances. In the end, most of the previously freshwater systems have turned salty, and the soil is acidic. The major stake is however on the ecosystems and the biodiversity.
The main water supply refers to the quantity of water that can be used without the current state of growth of the water resources. Every time the water supply sets an upper limit to the consumptive withdrawal of water. This represents the first time diversions where the water is consumed into the human-made and natural flow networks. The total deliveries consist of both the withdrawals and reflows. However, whether in domestic irrigation or household use, we depend on the hydrological cycle for a continuous supply of water. Once we contaminate it with nutrients, sediments, and chemicals, the same is reflected from the precipitations and freshwater systems. Since the 1980s, when large irrigation farms started depending on fertilizers for more food productions, our water systems have never been free of contamination.
The terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems are an integral part of the water cycle. Their management requires embracing integrated management and planning of all water usage and activities within and without the basins. Although the industries have been termed as the major causes of water pollution and water wastage, it is now evident that household usage is the leading cause. If we were to curb the issue of uneven hydrological cause and supply-demand cycle, then we must start by managing the water usage at the domestic level. One thing that the US is working toward is having water access to every citizen. However, the supply-based approach has not been effective owing to the wastage in major cities. People must thus be trained to manage their usage in order to realize the vision of equal access to natural resources.
One advantage of efficient water usage is that it will bring about balance in the withdrawal and return rate. It should be understood that the less the water we use, the more stable will the hydrological cycle be and hence the fresher the water. With the current supply rate, more people would be connected to piped water if everyone was to cut the use by half. Secondly, the cost of treatment will be less due to lowered amount of sewage and pollutants. This means that less contaminant will reach the water sources. The money used in treating the sewages could be utilized in making the water accessible to all other areas including the rural. Further, the biodiversity would be conserved. Many animals and plants are affected by the acidic or rather poisonous water. Its increased acidic and saline level has made the soil nutrient imbalanced. As a result, much of the surface cover has dried up creating the desert-like condition. By managing the usage, we could be solving the projected global warming effect. Apart from saving some of the money, the families have to pay to the water companies every month; efficient use would allow cities to plan for their usage and the future of their resources. This will warrant that there is enough water for the future generations whose population is bound to have doubled in the next century.
Conclusion
Water conservation is the only way to have a better tomorrow. Without access to clean water, our health will be at risk as is our biodiversity. Efficient water use at home is simple as it would only require personal monitoring and rationing. When we shall have cut our usage to the minimum, there our ecosystem will be safeguarded, we shall save more energy and money, and have kept our hydrological cycle intact for use by many generations after us. In the end, we shall have sustained ourselves through adequate food resources and the other lives through safer environments.
Works Cited
Howard Perlman, USGS. “Total Water Use In The United States, 2010, The USGS Water Science School”. Water.usgs.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
“Water Statistics – Statistics Explained”. Ec.europa.eu. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.