{"id":15804,"date":"2013-08-05T14:49:42","date_gmt":"2013-08-05T20:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=15804"},"modified":"2013-08-05T14:49:42","modified_gmt":"2013-08-05T20:49:42","slug":"water-proof-the-history-and-future-of-water-conservation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/water-proof-the-history-and-future-of-water-conservation\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Proof: the History and Future of Water Conservation"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the developed world, water is a seemingly ubiquitous resource. Many Americans often take it for granted. Submerged in a culture of excess<\/a>, it\u2019s often difficult to keep one\u2019s head above the waste. Water conservation<\/a> is a murky subject for the average consumer. We\u2019re often more likely to recycle than forgo filling our swimming pool. Thus, the history and future of conservation is worth examining.<\/p>\n

A Brief History of Water Conservation in the U.S.<\/h3>\n
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Image via Flickr<\/a> by Veronique (Image Focus Australia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From rain catchers to contemporary, eco-minded conservationists, people have always known\u00a0the value of water<\/a>. Yet with the age of industrialization and modern mechanics, we began to think of water as a commodity rather than a natural resource.<\/p>\n

Acknowledging the decrease in the attributed worth of water, in 1950 the U.S. Water Resources Policy Commission released a state of affairs entitled\u00a0A Water Policy for the American People,\u00a0according to the Truman Library<\/a>. The document preceded Truman\u2019s call for the Water Resources Policy Commission \u2013 a seven member committee \u2013 to study water use in America and develop conservation methods based on their previous and future findings.<\/p>\n

Although the Water Resources Policy Commission disbanded in 1983\u00a0due to lack of funding<\/a>, the 1965 Water Resources Planning Act \u2013 established by the commission \u2013 still exists today and contains important guidelines for American federal water conservation.<\/p>\n

The Shallow State of Preservation<\/h3>\n
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Image via Flickr<\/a> by treesftf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although water conservation policy has been a longtime focus of the U.S., globally, preservation is a huge issue that reaches far beyond the western world. In many areas water sources have completely dried up or simply aren’t potable.\u00a0The World Water Council states<\/a>\u00a0(WWC), \u201c[\u2026] more than one out of six people lack access to safe drinking water, namely 1.1 billion people, and more than two out of six lack adequate sanitation, namely 2.6 billion people.\u201d<\/p>\n

WWC also notes that the majority of those affected live in high stress areas \u2013 locations where water consumption doesn\u2019t match the available resources. While parts of Africa and South America are greatly stressed, so still is Europe and even the U.S. WWC blames this on an unfortunate equation of population growth plus industrialization and urbanization.<\/p>\n

A Deluge of Facts<\/h3>\n
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Image via Flickr<\/a> by woodleywonderworks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When considering the high levels of water stress, it\u2019s no surprise that only\u00a0one percent<\/a>\u00a0of the world water supply is drinkable by humans. With so little water actually available for consumption, it\u2019s startling how much water is used outside of drinking,\u00a0according to National Geographic<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Industrialization:<\/strong>\u00a0Includes the manufacturing and transportation of industrial goods, including Apparel and electronics.<\/p>\n