How can we use water wisely ?

The infographic on the right gives an idea of the amount of water that is needed (water footprint) to get a kilogram of fruits, vegetables, butter, cheese, chocolates etc. The graphic tells us that tomato consuming 214 kgs for each kilogram is the least damaging and chocolate is the most damaging taking up almost 17,196 kgs of water for a kilogram of chocolate. 

An information of the water footprint of the different eatables helps us to decide what foods to promote and what to avoid. Water is  scarce resource on planet earth with just 3% being fresh water and most of it in the icebergs of the polar regions.

How can we use water wisely ? There are two ways by which we can use water wisely, First is to prevent wastage of water. The existing water resources will help us to conserve. Avoid water pipe breaks. The second is to innovate ways in which water is used, reducing the consumption etc.

Andrew Winston and Bill DSarni in HBR of Jan 2011 titled Innovation in Managing water (click here), mentions about the losses of water that happen in our daily lives. As per data from ITT a global water treatment and transporting company, it is said in US from where we have accurate data available on water distribution and consumption, daily there are 650 water mains breaking incidents happening across US resulting in losses of $2.6 billion a year. 1.7 trillion gallons of potable treated water is wasted yearly which is equivalent to the use of 68 million homes.

While human efforts at avoiding pipe breaks, pilferage etc is strictly being monitored across the world, only innovations can bring really brilliant uses and purification of water to the limelight. 

GE is one of the world pioneers in understanding the importance of bringing fresh water into our lives and is constantly trying to come up with innovative equipment and technology to use energy to purify water. With better technology, the energy to purify a fixed quantity of water will reduce.

What are the interesting innovations happening in water purification ?

• Aguavia developed a nano membrane that is 67% energy reduction and 50% cheaper. 
• Blackgold biofuels generates energy from waste water streams generating renewable energy resources from pollution liabilities
• FogBusters treats petroleum, biofuel and food processing wastewater “better, faster, cheaper, cleaner and greener” while capturing the FOG (fat, oil and grease) to make into biodiesel.
• NLine Energy, Inc. converts wasted energy found in water transmission and distribution systems into renewable energy.
• Puralytics, uses photochemical processes work to break down or remove contaminants from water.
• Water Resources Management Co. helps water utilities realize the full benefits of their investments in advanced meter reading, system control and asset management.

The basic purpose of this article is to stress that as much as prevention of water wastage, developing innovative methods to clean impure water is necessary if we are to survive in this world.

George