An annual event held every March 22nd, World Water Day helps to draw attention to the global water crisis. This years theme brings focus to Wastewater as a viable “reduce and reuse” resource.
Globally, the vast majority of all the wastewater from our homes, cities, industry and agriculture flows back to nature without being treated or reused – polluting the environment, and losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials. – United Nations World Water Day
At an interview with the San Diego CW6’s Morning show San Diego Living, I was fortunate to help bring attention to World Water Day and highlight what it means to be an Adventure Hydrologist. Sticking with the World Water Day Theme: Here is some Adventure Hydro Facts
- Up to 90 per cent of wastewater flows untreated into the densely populated coastal zones. And sometimes it crosses international borders – Spill
- The U.S spends billions of dollars treating water to drinking water quality when we use only 10% of it for drinking and cooking. That means about the 80-90% remaining gets flush down the toilet…literally – Flush
- Americans use 24 gallons of water each day to flush their toilets. That is about 5.8 billion gallons of water every day!
- “Toilet to Tap,” used to excite people against drinking recycled water, is misleading because drinking water undergoes extensive and thorough purification even after flush. In addition, it is usually added to groundwater or treated surface water for further cleansing and dilution.
- Unless you’re in the mountains…. there is a fair chance that your water once flowed through a “pipe or two” What the heck do you think you’re drinking now?? Point Loma
*In fact San Diego is already drinking recycled water because it imports 85% of its water from Northern California and the Colorado River! And by the way… yes, I drink tap 🙂
