We often celebrate the beauty of our beloved planet, admiring the vast oceans, the radiant sunsets and the mighty mountains. Perhaps though, we forget that our wonderful home that we have made here is fragile and sensitive. While considering this, though greenhouse gases or the deforestation of our precious forests are important, we shouldn't overlook the one thing that is said to be essential to life - water.
While we might not have dangers like water-borne diseases or problems like extreme water scarcity, Vancouver does rank high on water consumption per capita, totaling 542L per day in 2007. Of course, industry accounts for a large amount of this usage, but residential use accounts for almost 300L, or three bathtubs of water per capita per day. Unfortunately, over-consumption is one of the perils that Vancouverites face, especially during the summer months when the hot weather causes an increase in our water consumption. There's more bad news: The watersheds where our water is collected and stored are not inexhaustible, which underlines the importance of water conservation to all of our residents.
The good news is that by following a few simple tips, we can all take part in managing our water consumption with little to no effect on our lifestyles. Doing small things can go a long way towards conservation. Shorter showers, washing dishes by hand and using a bucket to wash the car are all ways in which we can consume less water. However, you can always do more than just turning off the tap when you brush your teeth or installing a low-flow showerhead. Take initiative to spread the word in your community, just as a group of environmentally-conscious Grade 12 students from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School are doing. These youths have taken the initiative to educate elementary school students on water conservation. The students are part of the Aquatic Conservation Team which is supported by the Vancouver Aquarium and will have traveled to many classrooms in Greater Vancouver to give interactive presentations on saving water.
"We're youths educating the next generation of youths," says Claire Tai, a member of the team. The group chose to focus its efforts on raising awareness for everyday water conservation to elementary school students. "Elementary school students have the greatest chance of changing our wasteful ways," explains Bing Li, another member of the group. The students presented to Grade 7 students at Jamieson, David Lloyd George, Jules Quesnel, and Maple Grove Elementary. "We hope that through our efforts the students will not only be encouraged to participate in their community, but that most importantly they understand why water conservation is such an important issue in our society."
Inspired? Why not start a water conservation club in the neighbourhood to educate others about this issue or talk to your municipal leaders to find out what the city can do to save water? A sea of opportunities in water conservation awaits you!
