Encouraging Sustainable Behaviours in Water Sustainability

On World Water Day, an annual event held in March, the United Nations (UN) aims to highlight the significance of one of our most valuable natural resources.

This year, the UN's campaign urges the global community to expedite transformative actions, encouraging individuals, families, communities, and industries to modify their behaviors for the benefit of all. Achieving water sustainability requires close management of our water supplies to ensure adequate availability for everyone.

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Our planet is covered approximately 70% by water and is often referred to as the "blue planet" as a result. However, only a mere 3% of that water is freshwater. While it may be challenging for many to envision a future where water is not easily accessible at the turn of a tap, an estimated 1.1 billion people worldwide currently lack access to clean water.¹

Water demand is on the rise, surpassing the rate of global population growth since 1950. This prompts the question: how can the water industry promote the sustainable utilization of this invaluable resource?

Encouraging Sustainable Behaviours

The global water industry can actively promote changes in the way people use, consume, and manage water. Some of the measures that can be taken include:

1. Raising Awareness: The water industry can raise awareness about the significance of water conservation and the consequences of wasteful water practices through educational campaigns, public service announcements, and various outreach initiatives.
2. Promoting Water Conservation: Encouraging individuals to conserve water can be achieved by promoting technologies like low-flow showerheads, efficient irrigation systems, and other water-saving devices. Alternatively, implementing higher rates for excessive water use can serve as an incentive for conservation.
3. Investing in Infrastructure: To ensure efficient and effective water resource management, the water industry can invest in infrastructure. This may involve constructing new reservoirs, pipelines, and treatment plants, all aimed at ensuring water availability in areas of need.
4. Supporting Research and Development: New technologies and approaches have yielded significant water supply and distribution efficiencies, such as digital water treatment analyzers and tools for leak detection in distribution infrastructure.

By increasing awareness, promoting sustainable behaviors, investing in infrastructure, and supporting research and development, the industry plays a vital role in responsible water resource management. 

Enabling Change with Measurement

Measurement plays a pivotal role in enhancing the sustainability of global water supplies. Through the monitoring and analysis of water quality and usage, opportunities for conservation and areas of waste can be identified, resulting in more effective and sustainable management of this valuable resource.

Improving water management through measurement encompasses several key aspects: 

1. Identifying water loss: Measuring water flows enables the identification of areas where water loss occurs due to leaks or inefficient systems. This knowledge aids in reducing water waste and conserving precious resources.
2. Promoting water conservation: By closely monitoring water usage and pinpointing areas of excessive consumption, individuals, businesses, and governments can be encouraged to reduce their water usage and adopt more sustainable practices.
3. Enhancing water distribution: Smart cities are adopting measures that provide municipalities with insights into the availability, quality, and distribution of water resources. Armed with this information, informed decisions can be made regarding water allocation and conservation efforts.
4. Supporting sustainable development: Measurement of water resources ensures that new development projects, such as those in agriculture or urbanization, are prioritized with water conservation. This proactive approach helps prevent the depletion of water resources and fosters long-term sustainability.
5. Maintaining the water distribution network: Flowmeters aid in the ongoing monitoring of distribution networks, facilitating the identification of leaks and other sources of loss. To minimize inaccuracies stemming from measurement, regular calibration and maintenance of water meters, flowmeters, and other measuring devices are essential.  

Improving Sustainability

Measurement is a vital instrument in enhancing the sustainability of global water supplies. It enables us to gain insights into our water usage and distribution, empowering us to effectively manage and conserve this invaluable resource, ensuring its availability for generations to come.

References and Further Reading

1. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by ABB Measurement & Analytics.

For more information on this source, please visit ABB Measurement & Analytics.