We Conserve: Be the We

This column features the We Conserve program and its work on campus.

The world’s total water supply exceeds 325 million cubic miles and more than 71 percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The old saying “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink” is truer than ever. This is because 97 percent of the world’s water is saline and of the remaining fresh water, two-thirds of it is locked up in ice caps, glaciers and permanent snow. That leaves less than 1 percent of the world’s water supply available for human consumption.

The limited availability of fresh water is further impacted by the accelerating population growth (drink, wash, human waste, agriculture), pollution (industry, chemicals, road salt), climate change and man-made dams interrupting the rivers. During the past half century, the world’s water usage has doubled and consumption is projected to increase by another 50 percent by 2050.

Currently, 1.1 billion people lack access to clean water, and 2.4 billion lack access to proper sanitation. This catastrophe of human hunger and disease results in more than 2 million deaths annually.

More than 96 percent of all available fresh water is in the ground.

In Wisconsin, 70 percent of residents depend on groundwater for their drinking supply. However, even in a water-rich state like ours, there is plenty to be concerned about. For example, in Madison, growth, development and groundwater pumping has resulted in a decline of groundwater levels to the extent that in some places, lake water is being pulled into the groundwater, rather than groundwater feeding Madison’s Yahara lakes.

UW–Madison has contributed to our community’s huge water consumption and pollution problems. In fact, by 2002 the university’s water use had reached more than 3.1 million gallons per day.

To reverse this growing trend in consumption, the university launched a comprehensive water conservation program in 2002 by replacing inefficient water fixtures such as toilets, urinals and shower heads; modifying air-conditioning systems; re-examining campus irrigation policies on watering lawns, trees, shrubs and flower beds; and promoting awareness and education.

These university-wide efforts have resulted in a reduction of more than 41 percent in water consumption. This level of savings is enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools every day and to reduce the university’s water bill by $700,000 each year. It’s also a perfect example of what happens when we decide to conserve.