"WOLLY" is the emblem of the Wollondilly Phosphorus Action Campaign
Clean, fresh water is a major
conservation issue for the entire planet. 70% of the world’s
surface is covered in water, but less than 1% of this is
actually fresh water. Less than 1% of this 1% is clean enough
to drink!
The
Mosquito and You! Information Pamphlet
Will our water run out?
Some scientists believe that clean, fresh water is the
world’s fastest declining resource. It has even been suggested that water shortages
will be the cause of war, with countries across the globe actually fighting one another
for possession of this essential resource that many of us take for granted.
In Australia, many major rivers are already polluted to the
point where harmful algal blooms and salinisation are a regular occurrence. Water from
major rivers is captured in dams and reservoirs and then directed to homes, in both city
and country. You would think that we would take better care of our precious rivers. Yet
our rivers continue to be dumping grounds for sewage
effluent, storm water, industrial wastes and chemical overflows.
If water came in buckets, how many
would you use?
Australia is an arid country. This means water is
scarce because most of our country is desert. Yet the average household uses 900L of water
per day! Industry uses a huge amount of water too. It takes 200L just to make a single
pair of pantyhose. It takes 1600L to produce a steak and 250 000L to produce enough steel
for the family car. A dripping tap can waste up to 300L per day.
What can you do to save water and keep your
rivers clean?
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth!
- Use water wisely in the garden – try growing plants
native to your area
- Replant river and creek banks
- Stop putting rubbish, like vegetable peelings and oils, down
the sink
- Fix dripping taps
- Fill up the machine before you do a wash
- Sweep paths instead of using the hose
- Take shorter showers
- Use phosphorus-free detergents and washing powders
- Put a dual-flush system on your toilet
- Stop soil erosion by replanting gullies
- Provide alternative stock water and fence off creeks,
marshes and rivers
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