As I loaded the dishwasher this morning for almost the 20th time this week following a lengthy power-shower this morning, it dawned on me quite how much water we’d used this Christmas period. Christmas is well known for being a time of excess but in no area, bar perhaps eating enormous amounts of cheese, is this more apparent than water usage. Large volumes are used for heating, personal hygiene, toilet flushing, laundry and most of all cooking vast quantities of food.
Waterwise state that the average UK citizen uses 150 litres a day, but when you take into account the embedded water used to grow and produce the food and drink we consume, this is closer to 3400 litres per day (2014). According to the UN a human being needs 50 litres a day to maintain good health, so on average the UK uses triple what we need. The pie chart below shows how the UK uses water within their homes (Waterwise).
In Africa the average water use is 20 litres a day per person for domestic consumption (Water for Africa Institute). That is a 1.5 minute shower for most of the UK population. As well as being a considerably lower volume of water per person than the UK, Africans also have limited access to clean water. Waterborne diseases are a constant threat.
As Africa’s population rapidly increases and climate change makes water more scarce, the volume of water available per person is decreasing even further below the level recommended by the UN. Whilst we in the UK need to become more water efficient and use less, there is an urgent need in Africa to improve access to larger volumes of clean and safe water. This blog has looked at some strategies already in place, and will continue to research into more.
Perhaps in the Christmas spirit of caring for others and giving you could have a think about what you can do to improve water access in Africa! Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
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