Going into it, I knew water was a
scarce resource for many developing countries.
I also knew that the United States is a big consumer of all the world’s
natural resources and I wondered just what effect that would have on my
experience. What I didn’t know is the
extent of our wastefulness. Consider the following:
- Americans use about 100 gallons of water at home each day.
- Millions of the world’s poorest subsist on less than 5 gallons per day.
- 46% of the world’s population doesn’t have water piped to their homes (yet we have a water cooler in our office!)
- 1 out of 8 people in the world lack access to clean water.
- 3.3 million people die from water-related health problems each year.
- In Florida, 3,000 gallons are used to water the grass for each golf game played – and that’s just in Florida!
- U.S. swimming pools lose 150 billion gallons to evaporation each year.
So my question to you this week is
two-fold, “Do you think the United States should spend money to help the
developing world obtain access to clean water – even when we have our own
problems right here at home? What are
some things you could do to lower your own water usage?” Answers are due no later than Sunday, August
5th, 2013.
Water is a global problem. I do think America should fix it's problems first before it tries to fix anyone else.
ReplyDeleteThe United States needs to have plenty of water for its own country first. Then if we have a lot of water left over, the other countries can have some of ours. To lower water usage, we can shut off the water right after were finished using it. Do not leave water running unattended. People can also limit the amount of water they use for washing clothes.
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ReplyDeleteIt would be a nice idea to help out other countries, but the U.S. does have a lot to deal with on its own. If we did help out it would give the U.S. credit for at least trying to help and give information on what other countries could do and teach them about creating a filter system.
ReplyDeleteIt surprises me that we use so much water in one day, but then again it is completely understandable. We need water to clean, we need it to feed, and we even use it as a source of fun. I already take part in saving as much water as possible, I cut back my hour showers to forty minute showers.
I do believe that helping the world with water usages is a big priority. But as a country I feel like to some extent it's not our problem almost. I mean don't get me wrong, I love helping and I'll be the first to help anyone who needs it. I just don't understand why there hasn't been anything done about it already. I feel like if we were going to fix or help the situation we already have. Turning off the water whenever you don't need it is key when using water at home. Brushing your teeth, showering, cooking food.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate with what you went through while in Nicaragua. A few years ago, I had gone on a missions trip to Uganda and it was so eye-opening. We take so much for granted! I do think the United States could help out other countries by sharing resources, but I feel like it needs to be a team effort with other countries. We don't have near enough money or resources to help EVERYONE. I think we could lower water usage simply by taking shorter showers, and not let it run for too long. Instead of watering our grass everyday, water it every couple days. Simple things like that can go a long way.
ReplyDeleteI think the United States should fix some of the problems here first then go and fix other countries water supplies. The U.S. can go back and forth on the water supply. I would use less water when I was the dishes, take a shower, brush my teeth, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think with how "great and powerful" our country claims to be, we are also the biggest consumers. I think focusing our efforts on something as important as plenty of clean water for everyone would be a truly honorable and important task. I think we can afford to spread some love to those less fortunate. I think having a rain barrel would be something I would start using if I had access to one! I think they're neat and super efficient. That plus the simple stuff like turning the faucet all the way off, taking shorter showers, etc.
ReplyDeleteI watched a movie recently about the world losing land and water because we don't take care of it. That movie really makes it seem like it will become true. We use fresh water in toilets.... we could use something else. We used to collect rain to provide extra water, no one really does anymore. We water our lawns even if it just rained yesterday. We waste water that we could be sending to help. I think this is a major issue we have.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a blessing if people could get clean water. More than just obtaining clean water I think people need to understand ways to keep it clean. Just thought of the saying” what you sow, you reap”. With the increasing volume of factory sewage in rivers and other water bodies’ people are themselves contaminating the water. That needs to stop.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it would be a nice gesture, if the United States did something about it and helped developing countries in obtaining access to clean water and more than that teach them “responsible water management”.
I feel all of us need to make a conscious effort to save water. Some of the basic things we could do are:
1.We can save water when brushing our teeth. There are people who keep the water running the entire time that they brush.
2. We could also switch to water saving appliances.
3. Also, switch to water saving shower heads and faucets.
I think a national campaign to get people to use less water would be a great idea in the U.S. I bet most people don't know how much water they waste. I also think that we should help other countries that don't have access to clean water. It's really sad that some people don't have access to one of the basic necessities needed to survive.
ReplyDeleteAs for saving water, I think that all irrigation systems should run off of rain water. A few years ago, I saw a toilet that had a sink built into the back of it. The water that you used in the sink would then go to the tank, and be reused in the toilet. I think this should be the standard in all homes.
I feel like the United States government should not help any country until we fix what's going on in our own country. We can't spend money on others when we don't have money ourself. Now for myself I could take shorter showers, turn off the water when I brush my teeth, and not letting the water run.
ReplyDeleteI understand that we have our own problem to work on,but that don't mean to look over the fact. We really should lead a hand and help out our neighbors.That really need help it people that die because they didn't have clean water. We have to remember all people should be able to have clean water.
ReplyDeleteI do you think the United States should spend money to help the developing world obtain access to clean water. Even though we have many problems in our own territory; however we are constantly fighting battles that are not ours. Why not take a battle to alleviate a issue that would show that we are the better country.
ReplyDeleteSomething that I can do to lower my own water usage is limit the time that I am in the shower and as well make sure that I fill up my dishwasher before washing my dishes.
I'm being completely honest when I say that I really do think that there is something that America, and maybe even other countries around the world, can do to help provide clean water to countries that need it. I know that I tend to waste water. Maybe my showers could be shorter, not leaving the water on when i wash my face or brush my teeth. But in places like Nicaragua, those things are done without clean water. One way that I think would maybe help, although it might be expensive, is water purification. I own a water purifier for my sink (even though it doesn't fit the faucet), but I also know that they make special water bottles and pitchers with a built in purifying apparatus.It may be extremely difficult to do, and would take a lot of funding and donating from companies like Brita who specialize in water purification, but if we could find a way to distribute these devices, we could help with this issue. It might not be the most realistic idea, but it coldn't hurt to try.
ReplyDeleteI think we should most definitely be spending more to help get developing countries water and other needed resources; sure we have issues here at home but we always will, and frankly we waste more than enough on silly stuff, it should be easy to throw a few billion at world water; let's take it out of our stupendously inflated defense budget.
ReplyDeleteAs for me- I've been aware of this problem long enough that I've already adapted a lot of minimal water habits- within financial means obviously- but things like shorter showers, I don't water my yard etc. If I had the capital I'd love to install a grey water system -it takes your sink water, filters it a bit, and pushes it into your toilet's water tank, pretty cool- I'd also like to install an ac water heater -this uses the heat your ac vents out the top to heat water- more energy saving than water saving, but I like anything that increases efficiency.
I think the United States is fine with it's water consumption. We have the resources available and the money and technology to have clean water available to us, so why not use it? I, personally, could wait to run the dishwasher when it is completely full to conserve water.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think as a human race it is every person's duty to look out for their neighbor, I struggle sometimes with lending a helping hand only because these days you don't know how to trust. In the words of Bob Marley "Some will eat and drink with you,
ReplyDeleteThen behind them su-su 'pon you." The very people who we need to and should help are the same ones sending terrorist here to harm us. Playing devil's advocate maybe we are the reason they are suffering and its the least we can do to help. I still have to admit we are a wasteful country and could use a lot more restraint. Maybe that alone would help.
These types of questions really irritate me. I don't know how to answer them. I'm being asked if the United States should help other people get water, but what I really want to be asked is if rather or not people should be punished for setting up a world system that has polluted our waters. I mean, why in the hell do we have to pay for water??? That's some bullshyte. I can't wait until the world powers change. I can't wait until the first is last. I see it coming and I will be glad when it happens, even if it means I will also have to suffer in the process.
ReplyDeleteI feel like America's should help with the water development even with our own country's problem. Maybe it just shouldn't be at the very top of our priorities list, but we should definitely be a big help in this sad crisis.
ReplyDeleteThere's a few minor things I could do to lower my water usage like take showers instead of baths, don't run the water when washing dishes, don't wash small loads of clothing just large loads, and various other little things.