What Is Your Water Footprint?

Water Footprint

The buzzword for some time now has been "carbon footprint". Companies are measuring it in terms of energy usage, hours of commute, and even flying time. Given that carbon dioxide may be the most ubiquitous element, we are also talking about measuring and capturing ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and methane. However, with all this talk about chemicals, there has been relatively little about water footprints. Have you ever stopped to think about how much water you use everyday?

Think.

Shower. Toilet. Brushing your teeth. Laundry. Dishes. Those are just the basics.
What about washing your car? Washing the dog? Watering your garden?

Historically, water conservation efforts have been uphill battles due to the artificially low price of water. However, with a surging population, global warming, and ever larger quantities of waste, many believe we are approaching “peak water“. We have a finite supply of usable fresh water: Of the earth’s water, only 3% is fresh water and only 1% is drinkable.

Water is most certainly different than oil in the respect that we cannot live without it. Sure, oil has alternatives, yet there is no alternative for water. So, we must implement conservation efforts in every aspect of daily life and business. Many businesses recognize that water is a commodity and are implementing drastic conservation efforts to reduce need and, in turn, costs. As individuals, we can reduce water usage by 50% by doing simple things like installing low-flow faucets and dual flush toilets, repairing leaks, and installing/replacing aerators on sinks.

For more information on calculating your water footprint, check out the One Minute Water Calculator at http://goblue.zerofootprint.net.