With the green movement in full force, we seem to have gravitated toward being mindful of recycling, buying green products and conserving energy. But one of the most urgent problems facing us is the sustainability of our current water supply. We have a fixed amount of water on the planet and at the rate we are going we will be in dire straits as soon as 2050.

Some areas in the United States like Arizona and Nevada have already been privy to seriously decreasing water levels and have taken actions. Even if you do not live in these areas you need to pay attention as well, because water shortage will affect everyone soon enough. There are ways to begin water conservation programs as well as do our individual part.  Just as we already try to buy local and recycle, we need to put water conservation on our to do list.

The Trickle Down Effect

The states that have a water shortage now outnumber those who don’t. As many as 36 states are facing a water crisis within the next 3 years. So what does that mean for us as a whole? Americans have enjoyed abundant water for hundreds of years and our consumption shows it. We now average 150 gallons per day, in comparison with the UK at 40 gallons and China at 22 gallons.

We are rampantly using up our water supply and it will produce dire consequences. For instance, we could see the Great Plains turn quickly into a desert. The Ogallala Aquifers is a massive underground lake that runs from South Dakota to Texas and is being drained at an alarming rate. Consider the fact that if the Great Plains dries up, what will that mean for our agriculture? Water shortage will severely affect our food supply. This will in turn raise prices for everything astronomically. Not a great outlook at this point.

Global Impact

This is not only an American problem, but also a problem for the planet. With a water crisis looming it could leave 884 million people without access to safe drinking water as well as inadequate access to water for sanitation and disposal purposes for 2.5 billion people. This will then lead to overuse of the water upping its pollution content, as well as disrupting biodiversity that can cause a whole host of other issues. Many of these problems are due to mismanagement of current water supplies as well as inadequate infrastructure that is in place. The government will need to spend billions in order to get our systems up to standard.

Individual Responsibility

As with most important environmental changes, people will have to change their habits on a grass roots level. While the government is looking at the problem on a large scale, there are things we can do to conserve water before sanctions are imposed on us. Fresh water makes up 1 percent of all of the water on the planet, knowing this we should do our individual part to conserve it. Here are a few ways to start conserving today:

-       Check for leaks in your home, faucets and toilets are the main culprits

-       Invest in low flow toilets and low flow faucets

-       Prevent running the tap where possible such as when brushing your teeth, or hand washing dishes. Take shorter showers.

-       Run full loads when you do laundry

By making a few personal changes you can help to save the earth’s water supply. Even eating less meat will go a long way to saving water as most of the water supply goes to support cattle and all of the grain that they eat. The Internet is a great resource for ideas to conserve at home and how to save water when you travel. Water conservation starts with you!

Connie Prescott is a conservation writer who works with NRDC and other organizations to protect our health and environment. Connie feels one of the more important issues to address is that of water sustainability, in order to slow the shortages expected in the coming mid-century.