We know this statement to be true on a human physiological level but it’s also accurate on the level of local infrastructure, regional agriculture, and environmental sustainability for all living creatures (not just humans). To address the complexity of water issues is to take on a much debated, very complicated, and highly contested dilemma which impacts communities, countries, and continents globally.
Consider each individual person’s hydration needs and our ever increasing watery desires, we can definitively say that how we choose to use water makes a big difference in terms of maintaining physical health but it also directly correlates to the sustainability of our communities.
Water is half the body weight
Water makes up more than half our body weight when we’re elderly and as much as 75% of our weight when we’re babies. To maintain proper health at least 2-3 liters of water is required daily for physiological homeostasis (balance) in the replacement of minerals and salts lost to perspiration and to facilitate the removal of toxins from the tissues of the body. The kidneys are the organs of detoxification and can only perform at their optimal level when hydration is sufficient. Drinking water and other non-alcoholic beverages are good ways to hydrate but a little known fact is that the consumption of food is a large source of how we get water in our diets (about 20%) and eating large amounts of fresh produce will offer the most hydration.
Thirst signals the body to hydrate but it’s not always present in dehydration
Not everyone senses thirst, in fact, many people don’t realize they are thirsty and will begin to feel secondary symptoms of dehydration instead. Signs of dehydration may include headaches, constipation, fatigue, dizziness, chapped lips and even dry eyes. Studies have found that elderly people tend not to sense thirst though they may be in a dehydrated state which can lead to serious health consequences such as hypotension (low blood pressure) and even stroke.
Water wars and human migration
Fresh water is becoming more and more scarce, both locally and globally. Wars are being fought over the scarcity of water while corporate water grabbing has become an increasingly problematic issue for poor and underdeveloped countries. As the climate heats up human populations struggle with entire regions of arid continents experiencing desertification (transitioning to desert) with upwards of 24% of the earth currently becoming desertified. The poorest people often cannot afford to leave their traditional lands and will suffer the loss of children and elderly to dehydration and famine through crop failure when water becomes scarce. Mass migration drives neighboring countries to attempt to mitigate the influx of desperate water refugees through either relief efforts or denial of entry to those wetter regions.
“Climate change is fueling water-induced migration, as rainfall variability in particular drives people to search for better prospects elsewhere. Seventeen of the world’s countries – home to 25% of the world’s population – are already experiencing extreme water stress.”
“The Middle East and North Africa Region encapsulates many of the issues surrounding water and human mobility. It is the most water-scarce region in the world and is experiencing unprecedented levels of forced displacement.”
Turn off the water!
Consider how many ways humans waste water through both sanitation and recreation. Performing activities such as tooth brushing, shower taking, toilet flushing, dish washing, produce rinsing, laundry doing, car cleaning impacts water resources far beyond our individual homes. Every time water runs out of the tap, hose, or pipe it has big costs, and not just on our water bills, but more importantly on our ability to sustain viable water resources in our communities.
Important questions to ask yourself
How clean does your car need to be, how often must you wash it?
How quickly can you shower?
How efficiently can you wash dishes?
Can you brush, shave, and scrub with the tap turned off?
Consider these watery facts
Fresh water is becoming more scarce even for traditionally wet regions.
Hydrating the body is one of the more important ways we can use water to sustain health.
Eating more fresh produce is an effective way to increase hydration (and get vitamins and minerals).
Utilizing water for growing food crops and planting shade trees to prevent evaporation is more effective for maintaining sustainable water resources rather than watering lawns (or golf courses).
Dollars make sense
Look at your water bill to compare the rate of fresh water in vs. wastewater out, you may be surprised at the breakdown of water metering. Every gallon of fresh water costs us plenty but removal of waste water is also costly. Consider using rinse water to water plants, flush the toilet less, and definitely turn off the water when you brush and scrub.
Awareness is a solution
If we all begin to appreciate the fact that we can simply turn on a faucet and receive uncontaminated, potable water we can begin to acknowledge ways in when we can reduce our use. Consider how millions of humans living in dry regions around the world have no tap to turn on, requiring people (mostly women and children) to walk far, sometimes many miles, to retrieve just a few gallons per day of water. Every drop does counts for them and for us.
Be grateful for the supply of fresh water but also recognize it is not guaranteed forever and it’s up to each of us to ensure the water continues to flow.