10 ways to reduce water shortage in Pakistan
By: Tap The Tap
Tags: Water, Water Shortage, Water Conservation, Water Scarcity, Climate Change

We have all heard about how 70% of Earth is covered with water but how many of you know that there is actually only 3% of freshwater on the planet. From that small percentage most of this “freshwater” is in the form of glaciers and hence inconsumable to humans. The numbers grow scarier when it comes to Pakistan. For a country going through such drastic climate changes, it is advised to have a 1000-day storage capacity in case of water shortage. However, Pakistan can barely hold a 30-day storage capacity which is alarming at this point.

Fun Fact (not so fun actually ☹): The annual average water supply for every person in Pakistan would not even fill half of the Olympic swimming pool.

Here in this article we will discuss 10 simple ways you can act your part in reducing water shortage and hence saving Pakistan from a disaster.

Recycle water

As the need to conserve water grows everyday, recycling water is an important step in that. You can easily recycle water everywhere from your schools and offices to houses and basically help water.

2. Keep a check on your buying habits

Most of the things we use on our daily basis consist of a water footprint. The reason is that everything we consume uses a certain degree of water in manufacturing/production and transportation. Instead of buying the same products repeatedly, try to be careful and reuse or recycle products wherever it is possible.

3. Reduce energy usage

Water and energy are directly linked to each other. water is used to produce energy (electricity and transportation fuels). On the other hand, energy is used to heat, treat and move water. Hence, reducing the usage of energy will eventually reduce the use of water.

4. Water your lawn when absolutely necessary

When you water your lawn on a daily basis, it reduces the chances of cool spells and rainfall which can reduce the need to water the lawn everyday. One way to check if your lawn needs watering is to step on some grass; if it springs back, it does not need water.

5. Check your plumbing outside the house

it is easier to ignore leaks outside the house since they tend to not mess up the floor and the water leaking from the pipes does not keep you awake at night. However, these leaks waste much more water especially if they happen to be in the main water line.

6. Try to plant drought-resistant trees and plants

A lot of trees and plants do not need water to grow and survive. Moreover, try to plant those plants that are prone to weather conditions similar in your locality. This will ensure less water usage and hence contribute towards the conservation of water.

7. Check for leaks in faucets

Leaks tend to waste water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A single leak can cause a waste of 50 or more gallons of water per day.

8. Reduce water usage in farming

One way to reduce water usage during farming is to start drip irrigation. Drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to the roots of a plant during the cooler times of the day. This reduces the water loss. If the set up for drip irrigation is properly installed, it can save upto 80% of water than the traditional irrigation system of spraying water.

9. Population control

The demand for water is increasing with the growth in population. If nothing is done to control the increasing population in Pakistan, the country will soon be in a grave water crisis.

10. Plant more trees

Normally rainwater seeps into the ground where it is absorbed and then later used in a number of ways. However, the deforestation on vast squares of land has caused the water to go directly to saline waters instead of being infiltrated into the ground first. Planting trees can help reverse this process.

The time has come that we start acting responsibly and save this precious resource for our future generation.