The Detroit unaffordable water crisis could spread.

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Our lives depend on water, but we’re guzzling much more than our fair share.

Water is essential to every part of our daily lives, whether we are coming into direct contact with the liquid or not. Water is necessary for anything from keeping us hydrated to growing the food we eat and many of the raw materials needed to produce the objects we use. We tend to see water as a readily available substance that appears when we turn on the tap, not realizing how every single choice we make affects the world’s constantly declining supply of water. We are currently using up so much of the world’s water that it is projected that by 2030 water demand will exceed supply by 40 percent. That’s only 17 years away – what will we do?

It takes up to 2,000 gallons of water a day to sustain the lifestyle of an average U.S. citizen, and according to water expert Sandra Postel, more than half of it goes into our diet. A single pound of beef requires 1,799 gallons of water while 132 gallons of water are required for a pound of wheat and 119 gallons for a pound of potatoes. Beverages also have highly varying water footprints, as 1 gallon of coffee requires 880 gallon of water, while 1 gallon of tea requires 128 gallons of water and a gallon of wine requires 1,008 gallons of water. We can obviously make wiser dietary choices when it comes to our water footprint by choosing lower impact foods. But it seems that most of the country has been slow to do so, seeing as we consumed more than 52 billion pounds of meat in 2012 for example.

Global agricultural production alone accounts for 92 percent of the total water footprint, but food crops make-up only part of the equation. Textiles, biofuels, paper, fiber composites, coal and oil all require water use. We use these resources all the time, but not many of us consider that more than 700 gallons of water were used to produce just one of our many cotton t-shirts or that more than 13 gallons are necessary for five sheets of paper.

One of the main reasons our society does not understand the true value of water is our disconnection from the origin of our products and their supply chains. Most of the water use for the products we consume occurs far away from our daily lives as several large companies have outsourced their production to countries where water is over-exploited and valued at lower prices. Half of China’s industrial production and 40 percent of its agricultural activity occurs in the country’s driest regions despite extremely high risk of damage to long-term water supplies. The ‘Made in China’ label can means much more than possible labor exploitation, poor working conditions and cheap materials – it also demonstrates how the largest water footprint of the USA lies in the Yangtze River basin.

Fresh drinking water is another issue that many of us in first-world countries don’t really have to consider, as we can easily get it from our filtered tap or buy it from the store. Although 70 percent of the Earth is covered by water, most of it is saline and ocean-based. Only 2.5 of the world’s water is fresh, with only 1 percent of it accessible, as the rest is trapped in glaciers and snowfields. Water scarcity already affects 2.7 billion people every year, but the amount of people facing that problem is set to grow. It’s estimated that by 2025 two-thirds of the world’s population will live in water-stressed or water scarce regions.

So what can you do to make a difference? The first step is to educate yourself, and understand the water footprints of the different products you buy, and find possible alternatives. Our choices as consumers make a significant difference to the way businesses operate worldwide. National Geographic has created an online platform that allows you to compare the water footprints of different agricultural crops and gives tips on how to conserve water on a daily basis. Educating yourself on greywater systems and how to effectively implement them in your toilet or irrigation makes an immense difference. You can also ask businesses and municipalities to adopt sensible water recycling schemes by writing to them, so make your voice heard. We are already in the middle of a water crisis, it just hasn’t become as pertinent in the lives of those who still have access to clean water. Let’s realize it by becoming aware and active in curbing the effects while we still can – every drop counts.

Image: likeablerodent

The post H2O Footprint: Do We Really Know How Much Our Drinking Water is Worth? appeared first on EcoSalon.

You’re not the only one who will enjoy cleaner drinking water with a Soma Water Filter. Now, buying one also gives money to clean water projects in Africa.

Even with the Clean Water Act, enjoying a glass of safe, delicious H20 isn’t as easy as you might think. Chemicals, residual pharmaceuticals, and straight up bacteria linger in even the cleanest public water supplies. And despite the higher price tag, bottled water isn’t much better.

Many have resorted to water filtration, whether a refillable jug or an under-sink system, to add a double layer of protection. Even these extra precautions have their drawbacks, however. Most only last a month or two before the filter becomes compromised, and then you’ve got to spend a lifetime buying refills.

Soma is a water filter of a different kind. The result of a successful crowdfunding project, the Soma features a beautiful glass carafe and 100 percent compostable filter made from all-natural Malaysian coconut shells, vegan silk, and food-based PLA plastic. Replacement filters are delivered right to your door via subscription service so you’ll never forget to replace the filter on time. But a unique, sustainable design is only the beginning of the Soma water filter’s positive impact.

This month, Soma embarked on a partnership with charity:water, an organization that uses 100 percent of its public donations to fight the growing water crisis all over the world. Now, every time you purchase a Soma water filter, you’ll be helping to fund well-building projects in Africa, and giving people access to safe, clean drinking water for the first time in their lives.

As part of the partnership, members of the Soma team recently traveled to Ethiopia with a diverse crew of story tellers to record the every day life of those who struggle to find suitable drinking water, and how the projects funded through charity:water are changing their lives.

The charity:water partnership is “a reflection of the product–water without compromise,” Soma co-founder Mike Del Ponte told Fast Co. Exist. “We want to hit on every level: user experience, the charitable element, the subscription model, and with the storytelling, we don’t want the traditional video of one person talking. It’s experiential, auditory, visual.”

Image: SomaWater.Co

The post The Soma Water Filter: Tiny Footprint, Big Impact appeared first on EcoSalon.

Instead of energy, the next century’s wars will likely be fought over access to water. Here are three strategies that could ward off the coming global water crisis.

More than 750 million people around the world already lack access to clean drinking water. Although Planet Earth is home to a lot of fresh water, it isn’t evenly distributed. While people in countries like the U.S. use fresh water to flush the toilet and water their inedible lawns, those in other nations must walk miles to draw water from rivers and lakes that are often contaminated.

Human-accelerated climate change has only compounded the existing problem by making drought, flood, and extreme heat the norm. As weather patterns change, regions that relied on heavy snow pack to replenish fresh water reservoirs are seeing resources dwindle. Assuming we can’t stop the effects of climate change, it’s time for humanity to find another way to quench its thirst…and fast. Here are a few of the most promising ideas in the works.

1. Conservation

The easiest and most obvious way to avoid a water crisis is to stop wasting what little we have left. The world’s population is growing by about 80 million people a year, implying increased freshwater demand of about 64 billion cubic meters a year. Unfortunately most of what we use, especially in the developed world, is wasted. Inefficient appliances like faucets, dishwashers, washing machines,  toilets, and sprinklers sends perfectly good water down the drain for no reason. Self-conservation is effective, but most of us struggle to be consistent. Upgrading to WaterSense labeled appliances makes it easy to conserve automatically without sacrificing convenience or water pressure.

2. Desalination

Like stranded sailors when the water bottle runs dry, many have started to eyeball the ocean as a potential source of drinking water. As it is, the high salt content of ocean water would kill us, but what if there were a way to remove the salt while leaving the water behind? This is the goal of the growing desalination industry.

As I wrote recently for EarthTechling, desalination technology, once considered far too costly and time-consuming, has made incredible advances over the past few years. Israel’s Water Authority has been able to reduce the amount of water pumped from the nation’s main source, the Sea of Galilee, by more than half due to above- average rain and higher use of desalination plants.

The Victorian Desalination Plant, located on Australia’s Bass Coast, is a rainfall-independent source of water capable of supplying up to 150 billion liters a year. Recently, solar and even wind-powered desalination processes have crept onto the scene, offering a low impact way to turn brine into drinking water.

3. Recycling

It’s easy to recycle cans and cardboard, but what about water? Before you get too grossed out, it’s important to mention that there are several different types of waste water, and just as many different ways to recycle it. Greywater is household wastewater from sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines that has never come into contact with feces or passed through a toilet. Black water is sewage and much more difficult to recycle properly (although it can be done).

Water recycling at home can be as simple as using a bucket to prevent greywater from escaping down the drain during your shower. There are also in-home recycling systems that can automatically repurpose water from sinks to flush the toilet or water the lawn. In countries like India, where water shortages are already pretty bad, water recycling has become mandatory.

Image: Bert Kaufmann

The post The Coming Global Water Crisis And 3 Ways To Deal With It appeared first on EcoSalon.

A round-up of what we’re reading right now. 

Because you should never be without a to-go cup: now you can make your own from a mason jar. Just make sure you use a reusable straw. [Via Fine and Feathered]

It’s back-to-school season, but what does education look like in the rest of the world? This portrait slideshow takes us into classrooms from around the globe. [Via Brain Pickings]

Summer isn’t over until the fall equinox, and this healthy Mint Mojito Smoothie might just be the afternoon reminder that you need to embrace the late season. [Via Well+Good NYC]

Movies can be educational, which is why someone came up with this list of Lifetime movies for Republicans who don’t understand rape. [Via The Cut]

Minimalism is on trend right now. Even for Kuwaitis. [Via Dezeen]

Your drinking habits depend on the shape of your glass. [Via The Atlantic]

Our new dream house? A converted barn in France. [Via The Style Files]

On average, Americans eat 200 pounds of meat a year. That’s not just bad for our health, it’s also fueling the water crisis. [Via Mother Jones]

Trying to figure out how to live better in small spaces? You need the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Feng Shui. [Via Greatist]

Image: Fine and Feathered

The post Link Love: How to Turn a Mason Jar Into a To-Go Cup, Kuwaiti Minimalism and Movies for Republicans Who Don’t Understand Rape appeared first on EcoSalon.

Fifteen facts about golf courses that will make you think twice about picking up that putter. 

Avid golfers look at a golf course and see lush, green fairways, rolling hills, and the summer sun reflecting off the dew. They feel the silence before an important shot and smell the crisp, verdant aroma of freshly shorn grass. But many environmentalists look at a golf course and see a giant ecological disaster. They see wasted water, pesticides, and displaced wildlife. They miss the natural landscape that was cleared in order to make room for the links, and they despair at a parking lot full of gas-wasting SUVs.

The golf industry has received harsh criticism for its lack of environmental stewardship, and the good news is that many golf course designers and superintendents are paying more attention to the environmental impacts of golf courses. More courses are now designed to feature native plants and grasses, especially those that are most pest-resistant and require the least amount of water. Increasingly, courses are irrigated with reclaimed water, taking the pressure off of municipal drinking water supplies. That’s all good news.

The bad news is that golf courses still wreak havoc on the environment, and as more people take up the sport and play golf regularly, the future’s full of even more courses vying for scarcer resources. The golf industry may be trying to change itself for the better, but as these facts show, it might not be changing fast enough.

• The United States is home to about 18,000 golf courses, about half the world total of 35,000.
• Golf generates about $49 billion per year for the American economy.
• It takes about 2.5 billion gallons of water to water the world’s golf courses each day.
• The UN estimates that 2.5 billion gallons of water per day would provide 4.7 billion people with clean drinking water.
• The average golf course is treated with 18 pounds of pesticide per acre per year.
• The average acre of agricultural land uses 2.7 pounds of pesticide.
• Only 29 percent of American golf courses participate in any formal environmental stewardship program.
• The average golf course in Thailand uses approximately 6,500 cubic meters of water per day, or about the same amount as is consumed daily by 60,000 villagers.
• According to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, about 27 million people in the United States play golf regularly, which is less than 10 percent of the total population.
• There are approximately 2,244,512 square acres of golf courses in the United States, an area of land larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
• The size of golf courses is growing. Thanks to modern equipment, golfers hit the ball farther than they used to, resulting in newer courses being longer and wider than older ones.
• The average American golf course uses about 312,000 gallons of water per day. A desert course (such as one in Palm Springs or Las Vegas) can consume up to one million gallons of water per day.
• The average American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water per day, or one million gallons every 6.8 years.
• Las Vegas is home to more than 60 golf courses. The Palm Springs region has more than 125.
• According to a survey conducted by Golf Digest in 2008, 41 percent of golfers do not believe in climate change.

Image: lana_akaBADGRL

The post 15 Reasons Why You Should Give Most Golf Courses the Finger appeared first on EcoSalon.

Water makes the world go round.

It is estimated that only one percent of the world’s fresh water supply is available for human use, in the form of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other above and below ground sources. Given the world’s impending water crisis, it’s more important than ever that we keep our water sources clean and free of impurities. This Earth Month, take a moment to appreciate this photo selection of healthy rivers, then learn more about the world’s water issues from our vault.

(above) Trento, Italy

Susquehanna River Valley, Pennsylvania, USA

Luckiamute Falls, Falls City, Oregon

Southern Ontario, Canada

River Dodder, Dublin, Ireland

Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon, Arizona

Farningham, England

Munnar, Kerala, India

Budd Creek, Yosemite National Park, California

Red Deer River, Alberta, Canada

Strassel, Oregon

Firehole River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Chirkhuwaa Khola, Khanbari, Nepal

Moor Brook, Dartmoor, England

Amazon River, Peru

Vuoksa River, Russia

The post 20 Photos of Healthy Rivers appeared first on EcoSalon.

Fact: It takes over 1,800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to make 1 pair of jeans, and over 400 gallons of water to make one t-shirt.

The water crisis conversation is growing exponentially. Fears of losing access to potable water face a growing number of people across the globe. In fact, it’s expected that two-thirds of the world’s people will run short of fresh drinking H20 by 2025. So, in just over a decade, it’s possible that 75% of the globe’s population might not have access to clean drinking water. What does fashion have to do with this? A lot.

As a $450 billion global industry, only half of 1% of those garments are created in a way that attempts to respect people and the environment. When the majority of the garment industry production happening in an “unsustainable” way, their unfortunate use of dirty chemicals is leading to toxic runoff that flows into rivers, lakes, and streams and diminishes the world’s fresh water.

In textile production, the dyeing and finishing stages typically require high water and chemical use. According to Global Action Through Fashion, the majority of compounds used for applying color are highly carcinogenic or otherwise toxic, and those chemicals generally are discharged into nearby waterways. Brooklyn, New York was a hub for textile manufacturing and dying back in the 1920s and 30s. Josh Verlean, Staff Attorney and Chief Investigator for Riverkeeper tells EcoSalon that before the Clean Water Act amendments of 1977, the colors of the Hudson River were often stained by automobile dyes or textile dyeing; the water would reflect the colors that specific dye houses were processing that day. Much of the dyeing process for larger companies has now moved overseas, but that doesn’t mean it has disappeared.

Outsourcing expands into cotton production as well. According to the Environmental Justice Foundation, about 44 per cent of the world’s water use for cotton growth and processing is not serving the domestic market but instead, is being soaked up for export. And cotton – the fabric of our lives – is responsible for a large dent of the garment industry’s water waste. It takes over 1,800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to make 1 pair of jeans, and it takes over 400 gallons of water to make one t-shirt.

Fashion is interrupting the natural current of the world’s most vital resource. So, what’s it going to take to ensure that the fashion industry stops contributing to this daunting reality, and who are the superstars in the fashion industry that are working to conserve, protect, and keep the fresh water flowing?

Costello Tagliapietra Spring/Summer 2012

AirDye Solutions has tackled the issue in a tech-savvy and action-based way. AirDye technology allows for the application of color to fabric without the use of water. It ends up using about 90% less water and 85% less energy than conventional dyeing processes. Standout designers like Costello Tagliapietra have been using this innovative and water conserving technology for the past several seasons. When asked if they notice a difference between using AirDye and conventional dying techniques, Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra say “Absolutely.”

“We have the amazing opportunity to have the backside of the fabric look just as beautiful as the front, something that is not possible with traditional dyeing; we are even doing prints on both sides in some pieces.”

With luxe collections packed with color and mesmerizing prints, Costello Tagliapietra is definitely not sacrificing style for ethics, which has interested more designers to jumping onboard the AirDye train thanks to their lead.

Another brand, BluDemocracy, has tackled the agua quandary head-on by replacing cotton with bamboo in the production of all of their everyday basics. The LA-based company claims that to make a cotton t-shirt, it takes 11,500 cups of water, whereas to produce a bamboo tee, it only takes 3,840 cups. By producing and processing their bamboo collection sustainably, Blu Democracy hopes to make a dent in this overwhelming statistic: 1 billion people worldwide don’t have access to clean water…right now.

Blu Democracy’s representative Walka Quiroa tells EcoSalon there are ways to instigate change by sharing “in your face knowledge about the extreme lack of clean drinking water around the world, along with spreading simple ways individuals and companies can make positive change to these frightening statistics.”

Massive transformations in our daily lifestyles are not required, according to Quiroa, but rather, creating awareness around products that are good for the earth is the first tread. As Quiroa tells EcoSalon, “Knowledge inspires change.”

BluDemocracy bamboo tees

How important is water? We humans are comprised of 65% of it, and 75% of the earth’s surface is covered with the stuff. We need it, plants need it, animals need it – where did the disconnect evolve away from such a crucial resource?

In a recent visit to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, an exhibition titled: “Upon Native Waters: The Photographs of Edward Curtis,” sparked reminders of the basic foundation that water’s worth was built upon. Edward Curtis’ photographs of Native Americans in the early 1900s showcased vividly the ways that water was integral to the everyday lives of people. In these times and through these cultures, a clear connectivity could be observed between water and humanity.

Photograph from “Upon Native Waters: The Photographs of Edward Curtis,” currently at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum

Water didn’t used to flow out of faucets and it never grew on trees. It might be time to take a tip from our elders and remember that water is a valued resource necessary for survival – one to be respected and appreciated.

Image: Nadia Moro

The post Swimming Against the Mainstream Fashion Current appeared first on EcoSalon.

Water is being seen as the next great war for which we will fight for and against each other to get access.

Water, water everywhere? Maybe so, but it remains a precious resource that the modern world seems keen to squander in increasingly inventive ways. This week we suggested a single Superbowl ad could give 140,000 people water for life, so we thought a deep dive into our watery archives to resurface more about the stuff of life was in order.

Less than one percent of all the world’s fresh water is available for human use in the form of lakes, underground sources, and reservoirs. The rest is soaked into the soil, too deep underground to reach, or manifests itself in the icecaps of the world’s polar regions.

 – 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Water

 A single bottle of water generally runs about one to two dollars. In some cases, such as at concerts or amusement parks, one bottle can cost up to nearly three dollars. Even if bottled water is bought in bulk, the price still averages around .50 to .89 cents per bottle. Filtered tap water is essentially the same product and costs a fraction of the price.

 – 9 Reasons To Ditch The Bottle Once And For All

The toilet of tomorrow will not flush about on its own pot of porcelain, nor will it necessarily compost. The toilet of tomorrow will be a self-regulating and mindful machine, eminently cognizant of the water crises ahead.

 – Toilets Designed For The Water Crisis Ahead

It takes time and energy to pump the water out of the ground, bottle it, label it, market it, sell it and transport it. (Time and energy that is doubling up on what the government is already doing in supplying you with clean, safe, free tap water.) It’s bad enough when the water is from a Scottish spring and sold in London or from two states over in the United States, but when you’re selling Evian from France in Australia and Fiji water from the South Pacific in Denver, there’s something seriously wrong.

 – Stop The Bottle In 2009

Keep a few large containers under the bathroom sink and in the kitchen to fill while you’re waiting for the hot or cold to kick in. You can use this room-temperature water for your houseplants and herbs, or for rinsing delicate dishware, mopping the floor and washing dusty windows.

 – 3 Easy Water Saving Tips

Even though each person only requires 48 liters of water on a daily basis, individuals in the United States use an average of 500 liters, those in Canada an average of 300 liters and those in England an average of 200 liters.

 – 10 Amazing Facts About Water Use Worldwide

Images: laszlo-photo, FreeWine, calliope, Roca, daviddesign, Teo and Prabhu B.

The post From The Vault: The Water Chronicles appeared first on EcoSalon.

Really.

With population growth, industrialization and limited resources, access to freshwater has become a crisis. 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water – that’s more than one out of six people. Every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related illness. Water is such an issue that it is a key component in achieving the United Nation’s Millenium Development Goals.

These statistics are hard to grapple with, but for perspective, consider that this past weekend, a 30-second advertising spot during the Super Bowl ran for $3.5 million.

According to Water.org, the same amount of money it took to bring you a baby being catapulted to a bag of Doritos, could have been used to get 140,000 people water for life. For every 30 seconds of advertising, you could give hundreds of thousands of people around the world access to the one of the essential items that you need to survive.

Diverting Super Bowl advertising dollars to the water crisis may not be a viable solution, but it’s a start. Instead of being captivated by flashy cars and beer, imagine if just a percentage of those advertising budgets went to solving global problems instead of funding a vicious consumer cycle focused on buying more. One can dream.

Images: AngieSix [top left], hdptcar [right]

The post Just 1 Super Bowl Ad Could Give 140,000 People Water for Life appeared first on EcoSalon.