Do you know that a typical Canadian uses 335 litres of water every day, and that an average European uses only about 160 litres per day? (Gilchrist, Calgary Herald) We waste an enormous amount of water in this country. We also believe in the 'myth' that we have an abundant supply of fresh water.
Thinking about how to conserve water in our own daily lives is a good way to start making this topic real to us.
To see how you are doing at reducing your water footprint, go to http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/home. From the sidebar on the left, choose "Your Water Footprint" and then "Quick Calculator" or "Extended Calculator." (When I tried both I got very different results, so I'd highly recommend doing the more detailed one or both.)
To see how you are doing at reducing your water footprint, go to http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/home. From the sidebar on the left, choose "Your Water Footprint" and then "Quick Calculator" or "Extended Calculator." (When I tried both I got very different results, so I'd highly recommend doing the more detailed one or both.)
In your blog post, comment on the results of your test and some ways that you might be able to conserve water in your homes in the following areas: kitchen, bathroom, and outside your home.Share your ideas with your classmates.
You will have until Tuesday, September 13 at midnight to post your comments. I realize that by starting with the first blog post a little later than Cathy's class started and then adding a second one during week 2, this puts us a little ahead of the game. Throughout the rest of the semester, I will post a new blog every Friday, and you will post your comments by the following Tuesday at midnight. Because there is a bit of an overlap now, I will allow you to miss one blog entry throughout the course. You can skip any one you want, so you may want to save up for a time when you are feeling a little overwhelmed with assignments to omit that one.
As usual, please let me know if you are having any technical or other difficulties posting to the blog.
As usual, please let me know if you are having any technical or other difficulties posting to the blog.
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ReplyDeleteThe result of my water consumption according to the "quick calculator water footprint" is 1325 in cubic meter per year, however the "extended calculator" resulted 2337 in cubic meter per year. As far as I'm concerned, water is very important for our daily life. We drink it everyday and use it to cook and wash things, we cannot live without water. If we continue wasting water in daily life it will cause a serious consequence in the future such as shortage of water. Hence, now we need find solution to solve globe water issue. First, take shorter time of showers and do not leave the tap running when we do not need to use water. Secondly, education is also very important, we should educate people to pay attention that waste water can lead too many negative effect. For example, start at beginning to educate the children about water's importance for our lives and teach them to save water at ordinary days. In addition, some water can be reuse such as save water from washing vegetables when we cook to watery plants. In conclusion, we need considerate about water issue and take action from now to protect our life.
ReplyDeleteMy results of water consumption regarding to the "quick calculator water footprint" is 785 in cubic meter per year. During extended calculation I got 644 in cubic meter per year. I think everybody need to understand necessity of saving water. I have some habbits from my childhood about saving water. I often off water during my teeth brush. I take a shower very quickly. I do our laundry once in a week. I teach my kids how to save water and how it important for people who don’t have enough access to clean water. I wish everybody think about it.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked by the big number that my total water footprint is 1040 cubic meter per year. (Because I rent an apartment, some sections I just filled out with 0 such as washing garden and rinsing driveways and so on.) Even I feel guilty as I think about people who could not access to clean water in some developing countries. Some steps that I can change to make my water footprint smaller. For instance, I can store water after washing vegetables and rice and reuse it to water plants or flush toilet. Equally important, do not leave the water running while I am brushing teeth and rubbing hands with soap. Shortening my shower time which I can do is another good way to save precious water. As for as I am concerned, it is the time for us to take responsibilities seriously in order to provide a sustainable society for our future generations and share more with them. Even though it is a long way off, as the old saying goes, “better late than never.”
ReplyDeleteI got two different results of water footprint. One is when I live in China, my water footprint is 1611 cubic meter per year; another one is when I live in Canada, my water foot print is 1116 cubic meter per year. I think the results are different because I realized that water is a scarce resource after I moved to Canada. I also realized that if we don’t use water efficiently, there will be no water left in not far away future. So I took short shower, I did laundry only with full tank of clothes and so on. Reducing water footprint is not a one day work. I will try my best to reduce my water footprint and I hope everyone has some thought like me.
ReplyDeleteAs a result, of this calculation I got 955 m3 in the quick one and 824 m3 in the "extended water footprint calculator" which is not a small number at all, it is almost 1/3 of an Olympic swimming pool (2,500 m3). Therefore, for my family I believe we need a whole pool. Actually, I try to save water every time I can and so I teach my children. Moreover, I think that is very important to understand that humans are responsible for most of the resources on our planet and we should take a good care of it. Furthermore, water is one of the most important resources on our planet. We rely on it and we think that there is enough of it for everyone but it is not. In some places such as Somalia, people already know that water is equal to life and they save every drop, while we use a lot and we even do not think about that. As a conclusion, I think that we must be more resourceful and use less water, pollute less and think more about the ways that we can use to do that.
ReplyDeleteMy result of water consumption is 2248 in cubic meter per year according to the " Quick calculator water footprint " . The other one, the " Extended calculator" resulted 1819 cubic meter per year. I always try to save water when taking shower, brushing my teeth, and shaving. When I was a child, I used to keep turning on the water. However, now I changed my habits because my grandparents always told me not to waste water. I can not count how many times I heard about it. I am sure that education is important at home because I would still waste water if they did not teach me.
ReplyDeleteI just took a quick look at the results of your Water Footprint calculations, and I'm amazed at the real variety in them. I hope you are reading your classmates' posts and seeing how your water consumption compares with theirs.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my quick waterfootprint calculation, I use more than 800 cubic meter water per day. I am astonished by seeing this result eventhough I don't have any idea about how it is calculated. It is my duty to think about it so that I will be able to organise myself and find a way to minimize my waterfootprint.
ReplyDeleteHello :D This is MJ. I have finished calculating my water footprint. My water consumption by quick calculator was 1476 in cubic meter per year and one by extended calculator was 6356 in cubic meter per year. I have checked "vegetarian" because I really like vegetables and I usually spend money buying vegetable instead of meat. According to the result, I have been consuming water for food, espacially friut. From today I think I need to reduce my water footprint to save the earth !
ReplyDeleteI got the result in website “water footprint” that calculate my water footprint per year. I did quick calculator that shows I use 592 in cubic meter per year. Compared with others this result is pretty small. Honestly, I didn’t do extended calculator because I didn’t measure and count how much food I eat and how many times I do personal hygiene. Therefore, I think I can’t get accurate result in this calculator. Also, I think the result I got in quick calculator is not correct, because I don’t have income. I think it might be why I got lower water footprint in our class. Despite all that, I want to share my strategies of conserve water with my classmate, such as don’t do bath, turn off tap when I wash hair. In addition, I heard a new when I lived in China, man stored water he used for washing hand, vegetable; taking shower to irrigate his plant, flush toilet. He didn’t waste any energy. When I was young, my grandmother was do similar things like the man who conserve water. At that time I thought my grandmother is stingy. However, I look back now I found my grandmother is real responsible person for our environment. I should learn from her that can keep our earth in a sustainable environment.
ReplyDeleteThe result astonished me, with 623 cubic meter per year in " Quick Calculator" and 625 cubic meter per year in "Extended Calculator". Honestly, i haven't realized how important and finite water is before until recently when i was assigned to read and watch some articles and speech videos about water.
ReplyDeleteThere will not be plants without water, and also there will not be living beings if there were no water. Water is to us what sun is to tree, so it is time for us, human beings, to recognize how vital and precious water is. Next, what we can do is to notice every detail of using water in daily lives and take immediate steps in the society. To begin with, do best to reduce the family daily water consumption. For example, decrease frequency of taking shower, take a shower every three or four days instead of every-day shower, and let the tap shut when washing dishes or brushing teeth. In addition, reusing water is very essential. For example, the water that has been used in wash dishes can be used to water the plants, also, the water which has been used to wash clothes can be utilized to flush toilets. Moreover, water games should be stopped. For instance, a lot of children would love to play games with water, like throwing water balloon to hit someone or using water gun to trick somebody. In addition to measures in our daily lives, some precautions also can be taken in the society. In particular, schools set up water education course and give students the tests then. Furthermore, governments and some other authorities should spend more money ,time and energy to appeal to people's attention. Governments can unveil the legislation to protect water resources. Authorities can launch many activities with water for theme. Last but nor last, media can be widely used to spread protection of water and prevention of water pollution. In conclusion, Water is vital to people, It was until people in Mexico faced the shortage of water that they realized how integral water is. Not until many people,even a lot of children in Somalia died did people around realize how finite and valuable water is. Therefore, only by saving water and reducing water pollution can we have a longer future, otherwise, it remains to be seen what will happen in the future with water shortage.
My result water consumption is 1015 cubic meter per year. It shocked me because I live in an apartment, so I just filled 0 for some questions. When I know the result, I think I need to save more water than ever. For example, when I take a bath I have to reduce the time and if I wash the meat, vegetable or fruits, I store the water and reuse for watering plants. I think everybody must save water because it is important for life. People who don't think about the next generation and future world may not care about water, and that's not good. It's very important to promote or educate people to save water, especially our family. Let's start from our selves right now…..
ReplyDeleteI need 1506 cubic meter per year. I cannot believe it. My domestic water is 116. I think it is reasonable. However, I use 759 cubic meters in industrial product and 321 in food. I don’t think so. I realize that water is a very important resource. I try my best to save water not only for the environmental conservation but also save my money. I hate to pay the utility pill. From the water foot print, I know that I need try hard to save water. Actually, I like to keep a simple life. I don’t like go shopping, I don’t like to travel, I don’t eat too much. I don’t understand why I use so much water.
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