Access to Water and Responsible Water Use
Access to clean water is a basic human right.
Responsible water use is our collective responsibility.
We must ensure a sustainable future for all.
Small changes can lead to a big impact.
Earth's Water Resources
- 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water, but only 2.5% is freshwater.
- Less than 1% of global resources are suitable for drinking.
- By 2050, up to 7 billion people in 60 countries may suffer from a lack of drinking water.
Global Water Consumption
The average Australian uses 500 litres of water daily.
European countries, including Poland: 200-300 litres daily.
Kenya and Palestine: about 50 litres (in some areas only 30 litres).
Mozambique: only 10 litres daily.
Access to Water and Sanitation
Nearly 900 million people lack access to safe water sources:
- 3% in Europe
- 55% in Asia
- 38% in Africa
2.5 billion people live in health-threatening conditions due to inadequate sanitation.
Global Causes of Water Shortage
1
Climate change and global warming.
2
Natural disasters, armed conflicts, and poverty.
3
Population growth and urbanisation.
4
Water pollution and deforestation.
5
Inefficient irrigation systems in agriculture.
Water Footprint
1
The water footprint is the amount of water used directly and indirectly when consuming goods that required water for their production.
2
In Poland, a household uses about 360-400 litres daily.
3
In countries like Rwanda or Haiti, water consumption is only 15 litres per household.
Consumption and Water Footprint
1
Meat
- Producing 1 kg of beef requires about 15000 litres of water.
- 1 kg of pork about 6000 liters
2
Vegetables
Vegetables and fruits have significantly lower water consumption, e.g.,
- Potatoes: 287 litres per 1 kg
- Rice: 2500 litres per 1 kg
3
Milk
- 1 litre of milk requires 940 litres of water
- 1 kg of cheese - 3180 litres of water
4
Jeans
- Producing one pair of jeans requires about 10000 litres of water.
5
T-shirt
- Producing a T-shirt requires 2500 litres of water.
Daily Activities Water Consumption
Toilet: Flushing the toilet — 10 litres
Shower — 40-60 litres
Bath: Bath in a tub — 140 litres
Cleaning Tasks
- Dishwashing — 10-20 litres with a dishwasher, about 3 times more for hand washing
- Brushing teeth with running water — 16 litres
- Washing machine — 35-50 litres
- Leaky faucet or valve dripping 1 drop of water per second — 168 litres per day, or over 61 m³ per year.
How can we save water?
Conscious shopping – reducing the consumption of clothes and products with a high water footprint.
Efficient water management at home.
Supporting actions to protect water resources.
