It is a well known fact that about 97 per cent of the water on Earth is salt water and only three percent is fresh water and two thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for use.
Even though we have all learnt this very important fact when we were younger, are we taking a conscious effort to conserve water?
A survey conducted a few years ago by the Emirates Wildlife Society — World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF) revealed the shocking fact that the UAE residents waste 250 litres of water every day. I am afraid that a recent survey might be more alarming.
There is a lot of pressure on the authorities to draw millions of litres of fresh water from the ground and desalination sources, according to sources at the Dubai Municipality.
Having been raised in Mumbai, India, I have often seen the trials and tribulations caused by water problems. Water is a precious commodity and nobody has the right to waste it. The UAE authorities come up with such innovative campaigns every year to raise awareness and inspire all the citizens to conserve water. For the past few months, I have adopted a simple step to conserve water, which has made my balcony more green and beautiful!
I preserve the water used for washing vegetables in a can every morning, which otherwise goes down the drain. With this water, I have been watering my plants. With global warming taking its toll on the planet, it is imperative that each one of us cares about and conserves precious resources. Hence, I request the UAE residents to come up with innovative ideas to conserve water and share it with others so that we can reduce water consumption and make a difference.
— The reader is based in Dubai.
