Do you ever imagine what would happen if you turned on the taps one day and there was no water? Or worse yet, that you turned on the water and even though something came out, it was too dirty and contaminated to drink?
Here in Vancouver, BC Canada, we’re surrounded by fresh, clean, and pristine water, so it can be tough to imagine what life would be like if we weren't able to swim, fish, boat, drink, and enjoy the water the way we do.
Moreover, because we also have some of the best and cleanest tap water in the world, we tend to take the resource for granted. So today, we’re going to discuss what would happen if the water weren't so clean, what you can do to help preserve it, and the people you have to thank for your delicious water.
Clean Versus Contaminated Water
Clean water is life-giving because every cell in your body needs water to stay hydrated and healthy. When you drink contaminated water, on the other hand, the water delivers pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and pathogens throughout your body, causing anything from weakness to neurological problems to death. There are also many other negative side effects that can come from drinking contaminated water, such as:
1. Nausea and vomiting
2. Diarrhea
3. Reproductive problems
4. Confusion
5. Joint and muscle pain
6. Coma
7. Respiratory disease
8. Fatigue
Being an Eco-Friendly Water Conservationist
Clean water isn't just something that’s readily available everywhere, and many municipalities have to treat their water to ensure it’s free of contaminants.
This takes a great deal of time, resources, and energy, so you can do your part for the environment by reducing water waste and saving water whenever possible.
One of the most important things you can do to waste less water is to inspect your hoses, pipes, faucets, toilets, and appliances regularly for drips and leaks, and to fix any problems immediately.
Leaks can waste thousands of liters of water each year, even if it’s just a slow drip at the tap. Furthermore, when it comes time to replace any toilets, faucets, shower-heads, and appliances, upgrade to low-flow and water-saving models that will use a fraction of the water as older versions. Finally, take steps to cut down on water use throughout the house.
This includes things like turning off the tap when you're brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers, only running the dishwasher when there's a full load, using small-load settings on the washing machine when necessary, installing a rain barrel in the garden, filling the sink with water to wash dishes or clean produce, flushing the toilet less, and reusing cooking water in the garden.
The Superhero Plumbers that Bring You Clean Water
Saving water doesn’t just help the planet, your wallet, and the municipality that provides your water—it also helps the plumbers who work tirelessly to bring that water from its source to your house.
By installing, fixing, maintaining, and otherwise caring for the pipes and systems that transport clean water to your house and wastewater away, plumbers play a large role in providing you with the clean water you use for cooking, cleaning, bathing, washing, and drinking.
Safe and potable water isn't something that anybody should take for granted because there are so many people throughout the world who don’t have access to this resource.
Not taking water for granted means taking steps to reduce waste, being smart about the water you do use, and appreciating the people who make clean water from your taps possible, such as the plumbers who maintain the pipes and the treatment workers who keep the water safe.