Water

2022-06-23

Bizz chats with Guiscela about wasting water and the differences she sees with water usage in Canada vs Mexico. Tips to reduce water usage: Turn tap off while brushing teeth Turn on only the hot water while waiting to heat and start using as soon as it warms up Water lawn before sunrise or after sunset Change lawn from grass to garden to grow food, or to something that doesn't require watering Shop less and/or shop second-hand (manufacturing requires water, too!) Use concentrated cleansers and drink flavours Check for leaks and running ...

Bizz chats with Guiscela about wasting water and the differences she sees with water usage in Canada vs Mexico.

Tips to reduce water usage:

Turn tap off while brushing teeth
Turn on only the hot water while waiting to heat and start using as soon as it warms up
Water lawn before sunrise or after sunset
Change lawn from grass to garden to grow food, or to something that doesn't require watering
Shop less and/or shop second-hand (manufacturing requires water, too!)
Use concentrated cleansers and drink flavours
Check for leaks and running toilets
Get/make a rain barrel
Shower less often/shorter showers/skip the hair every other time
Low flow toilets and shower heads
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
Reuse clean wastewater for plants

Things we talk about:

Water isn't just used by using water directly, not just the water we see
- Direct uses:
  - Drinking
  - Cooking
  - Water lawn/garden
  - Shower/bath
- Indirect uses:
  - Agriculture
    - Food
    - Raise animals
    - Materials for building
    - Materials for clothing
  - Industrial use
    - Make pretty much everything we use
    - About 1,800 gallons of water are needed to produce the cotton in a pair jeans
    - Processing materials such as paper and steel
  - Energy
- During a water shortage, often it's the individuals who are restricted, while large corporations can continue using as much as they want to produce non-essential products.
- Glaciers are receding - this is our water reserve!
- Lakes shrinking
- Oil spills can also affect water availability, and this can happen very quickly