Water

Water
• Less than 3% of all water on earth is fresh water
• Only a small portion (0,3%) of this is accessible through rivers or dams
• Freshwater consumption has risen at a rate double that of population growth
• It is an increasingly scarce commodity for industrial, commercial and domestic users alike

DID YOU KNOW?

DID YOU KNOW?
More people have cellphones than toilets

Access for all
The poorest must be able to have access to water, but enough money must be generated to cover costs of treating and distributing the water
You have the right to water that is affordable, economical and sustainable

Access for all
Every household should receive 6 kilolitres of free water per month within 200 meters of their home – that is
25 litres per person per month

Why do we need water?
cooking shower bathing washing dishes industry agriculture cleaning toilets swimming gardening electricity brushing teeth drinking and more…

The Bigger Picture
Renewable Water Resources per Person in Africa

Water Conservation
You are not allowed to water your garden between 10 am and 4 pm

Water footprint
The total volume of fresh water that is used, either directly (actual) or indirectly
(virtual) to produce a product.

Cup of coffee
(250 ml)

Slab of chocolate
(100g)

Cotton t-shirt
(250g)

Pair of jeans

Electricity

www.virtualwater.com

Water in our homes
Saving water in the home:
• Shower rather than bath
• Rainwater harvesting or grey water use
• Install aerators
• Borehole and well points
• Read your water meter

Bottled water cost

Bottled water resources
1 litre = 26 litres

Bottled water waste

Bottled water waste

“ We cannot solve problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
”
Albert Einstein

Rethink…
It takes 10 litres of water to make an
A4 sheet of paper.

The challenge:
What are you going to do differently?