Solutions to the World Water Crisis

Despite the devastating water issues that plague our planet, there are solutions that can help address the water crisis.

Many organizations are leading the charge by bringing fresh water to communities in the developing world. Your donations can help support organizations that provide clean drinking water to those in need. Among these organizations is Charity: Water, which allows you to create a fundraising page to raise money to build wells in Africa. You can also directly donate through Water.org, an organization co-founded by Matt Damon. Just $25 provides clean water for a lifetime for one person.

There are also things that everyone can do in their homes and businesses. It starts with water conservation initiatives.

HOME

Here are some helpful tips for water conservation as well as tools that help individuals monitor and manage their water usage at home.

Take shorter showers and save up to 25 gallons of water a day by cutting 5 minutes off your shower time.

Turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving can save about 8 gallons a day.

Use a broom rather than hose down your driveway or sidewalk.

Landscaping using climate-appropriate plants need significantly less water.

Replacing showerheads with low-flow models and putting inexpensive aerators on faucets can cut water use by up to 20 percent.

Conservation Starts at Home: The average person uses 465 liters of water per day, this link helps you determine how much water you use.

Keeping Rivers Clean: Small steps to help keep pollution out of our rivers and streams.

Drop the Bottle: Communities around the world are taking steps to reduce water bottle waste by eliminating bottled water.

Technology for Good: An App that calculates the amount of water it took to make a given food.

BUSINESS

Green Biz has put together an excellent resource page for businesses looking to conserve water. They also include several resources to help businesses use water more efficiently.

Business for Social Responsibility has several online research reports on water conservation, including several case studies.

Water Conservation Tips: A 10-Step Approach for Your Business was prepared by the Long Beach Water Department for commercial and industrial businesses.

WaterSense This voluntary program is offered to manufacturers, retailers, distributors, nonprofits, trade associations, utilities and landscape irrigation professionals to bring water-efficient products to market. Website also offers water-saving resources. Contact: watersense@epa.gov or (866) 987-7367.

Waterwiser Website lists providers of water conservation products and services in a searchable database.

Forty-nine tips for saving water, can be applied to the office or home.

Cleaner Water Through Conservation is a US Environmental Protection Agency document that provides an overview of water conservation and provides action steps.

“Building the Way to Water Efficiency” is a feature story that describes how facility managers, municipalities and innovative companies are working together to make water conservation easier and more effective.

Another water management resource is the Water Sustainability Tool: This tool is designed to help individual companies build a business water strategy.