Water Conservation and the Role of Senior Citizens

Water Conservation and the Role of Senior Citizens

(Contributed by Sri MN Gupta)

 

We all know that the quantum of sweet water is depleting all over the world. Global warming, climatic changes resulting in diminishing rains coupled with wastage are contributing to it. On the other hand as, year after year, population is increasing; the share of available water per person is automatically decreasing.  Water required to produce some common produce is given in the table below:

 

Product	Quantity	Water Required (Liters) for various activities connected to this
Milk	1 Liter	1000 Cattle maintenance, milk collection & processing
Coffee Powder	1 Spoon	140   Coffee plantation collection processing
Wheat	1 Kg	1100 Agriculture
Rice	1 Kg	3000 Agriculture
Sugar	1 Kg	3200 Agriculture

 

The above statistics are just to depict how precious water is for our daily lives and importance of water conservation for our survival. It is essential to adopt rain water harvesting in a big way not only by digging water harvesting pits but also by reviving abandoned wells, ponds, lakes etc to store water

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We senior citizens can play a very useful role in spreading awareness of water conservation by starting from our family and then persuading our neighbors friends and society. We can give small talks in nearby schools for children.  We can help neighbours design rain water harvesting by providing know-how and do-how from suitable sources. We may donate money for prizes for college students for debates / programs on water conservation. While we visit public toilets / hotels etc close taps if they are leaking or complain about them. Here are a few tips on how to save water in our residence:

 

1.      Do not keep the tap open throughout while brushing and shaving. Better keep water in a mug

2.      Do not let the shower run throughout while bathing; Better use a bucket instead of shower.

3.      Immediately repair or replace a leaking tap.

4.      Use washing machine or dish washer on full load.

5.      Do not throw away water stored the previous day. Use it for washing clothes and utensils, bathing, cooking, watering plants, mopping etc

6.      Use water kept in a bucket or tub for washing vegetables, rice, pulses etc instead of washing in running water. Water left over after washing can be used for watering plants

7.      Replace Old type of flush tanks with slim line flush which hold lesser water.

 

These are only few tips of saving water. If we observe critically, we will be able to detect many more ways how domestic water gets wasted and how it can be conserved. Today it might appear an exaggeration but in future there may be wars to get control on water resources instead of oil, in case we do not stop wasting water all over the world.

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Dr P Vyasamoorthy
30 Gruhalakshmi Colony, Secunderabad 500015 Telangana
LL 040-27846631 / Mobile: 9490804278

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