Save that Drop (The Importance of Water Conservation) | Spela Kunstelj | TEDxYouth@Bologna

Summary

In just nine years, two-thirds of the world's population may face water stress due to overuse, pollution, and climate change, according to the United Nations Water Agency. This crisis will impact agriculture, food availability, and daily life, with potential water scarcity leading to conflicts. The video script explores the role of everyday actions in contributing to water stress, from soap ingredients to household water use, and emphasizes the importance of individual and collective efforts to conserve water and mitigate the looming crisis.

Takeaways

• 💧 In nine years, two-thirds of the world's population may face water stress due to overuse and pollution.
• 🌍 Water stress means insufficient water for agriculture, industry, and households, affecting 5 billion people by 2030.
• 🏞️ Over-extraction from surface waters like the Aral Sea and groundwater aquifers, along with pollution and overconsumption, contribute to water stress.
• 🌱 The year 2030 could see significant lifestyle changes, including water bans, reduced food availability, and contaminated tap water.
• 🚰 Agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater use, emphasizing the sector's role in water consumption.
• 🧼 Everyday products like soap can impact the environment, with ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate and sodium chloride affecting aquatic life and plant growth.
• 🌿 Experiments show that soap can negatively affect plant growth, highlighting the need for eco-friendly alternatives.
• 🛁 Simple domestic actions like turning off taps while brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, and fixing dripping taps can significantly conserve water.
• 🌊 Collective efforts in water conservation can make a substantial difference, emphasizing the power of individual and community actions.
• ⏰ With nine years left, there's an urgent need to raise awareness and act on water conservation to prevent a global crisis.

Q & A

How many years does the script suggest before two-thirds of the world's population will be living in water-stressed conditions?

According to the script, in nine years, two-thirds of the world's population will be living in water-stressed conditions.

What does 'water stress' mean in the context of the script?

Water stress means there is not enough water for agricultural, industrial, and domestic uses.

What are the four ways people contribute to water stress as mentioned in the script?

People contribute to water stress by withdrawing too much water from surface waters, withdrawing too much water from underground aquifers, polluting water through poor sewage systems or industrial waste, and overconsumption of water.

How many people are projected to be living in water-stressed conditions in nine years according to the script?

In nine years, over 5 billion people are projected to be living in water-stressed conditions.

What is the potential impact of water stress on daily life as depicted in the script's story set in 2030?

The potential impacts include a ban on watering, reduced food availability in supermarkets, non-potable tap water, and possible conflicts over water resources.

How much of the world's fresh water is used by agriculture, as stated in the script?

Agriculture uses over 70% of all fresh water worldwide and up to 82% in lower-income countries.

What are some of the chemicals in soap that can affect the environment according to the script?

Some chemicals in soap that can affect the environment include sodium laureth sulfate, sodium chloride, lactose, EDTA, and sodium lauryl sulfate.

What was the outcome of the experiment conducted in the script to test the effect of soap water on plant growth?

The plants watered with soap water grew slower, were smaller in size, and were less abundant compared to those watered with regular water.

What are three simple ways to reduce domestic water consumption suggested in the script?

Three ways to reduce domestic water consumption are turning off the tap while brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, and fixing dripping taps.

How much water can be saved by fixing a dripping tap according to the script?

Fixing a dripping tap can save up to 15 liters of water per day, which over nine years is equivalent to the volume of water in five large cars.

What is the main call to action for the audience presented in the script?

The main call to action is for each individual to actively decrease their water consumption to make a difference in addressing the upcoming water crisis.

Outlines

00:00

💧 Water Crisis in 9 Years: Global Impact and Personal Stories

This paragraph discusses the alarming prediction by the United Nations that in just nine years, two-thirds of the world's population will face water stress due to insufficient water for agriculture, industry, and domestic use. The script paints a grim picture of the future, where water scarcity could lead to dried-up landscapes, reduced food availability, and even fights over water. It emphasizes the urgency of the situation, suggesting that by 2030, the world might experience a dystopian scenario where basic water needs are unmet. The paragraph also touches on the role of individuals, questioning how we will live and produce food without sufficient water, and hints at the broader implications for future generations.

05:01

🌱 The Environmental Impact of Soap and Water Conservation

The second paragraph delves into the environmental impact of soap and its ingredients, exploring how common chemicals like sodium laureth sulfate, sodium chloride, lactose, and EDTA can affect aquatic life and plant growth. It describes an experiment conducted to test the effects of soap on the growth of green beans, radishes, and arugula, which unexpectedly showed negative impacts on plant growth. The paragraph transitions into a call to action for water conservation, highlighting simple steps individuals can take to reduce water consumption, such as turning off the tap while brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, and fixing dripping taps. It concludes with a powerful message about the collective impact of small actions, emphasizing that every drop counts and that collective efforts can make a significant difference in addressing the impending water crisis.

Keywords

💡Water Stress

Water stress refers to a situation where there is an insufficient supply of water to meet the demands of agriculture, industry, and domestic use. In the context of the video, it is a critical issue that will affect two-thirds of the world's population within nine years, as predicted by the United Nations. The video emphasizes the severity of this problem by illustrating potential future scenarios where water scarcity leads to conflicts and lifestyle changes.

💡Aral Sea

The Aral Sea is used in the video as an example of the consequences of over-withdrawing water from surface waters. It has suffered significant environmental degradation due to excessive water diversion for irrigation, leading to a massive reduction in its size and ecological impact. This serves as a cautionary tale for the broader issue of water stress discussed in the video.

💡Aquifers

Aquifers are underground layers of water-bearing rock or sediment from which groundwater can be extracted. The video mentions the over-exploitation of aquifers as one of the ways humans contribute to water stress. This is a significant concern because aquifers are a vital source of freshwater, and their depletion can lead to long-term water scarcity.

💡Pollution

Pollution, as discussed in the video, is another factor contributing to water stress. It refers to the contamination of water bodies due to human activities, such as poor sewage systems or industrial waste. The video highlights how pollution can render water unusable for various purposes, exacerbating the problem of water scarcity.

💡Overconsumption

Overconsumption is the excessive use of water resources beyond sustainable levels. The video points out that overconsumption is a significant contributor to water stress, as it leads to the depletion of freshwater resources. It calls for a change in individual behavior to reduce water usage and mitigate the impact on water resources.

💡Soap Ingredients

The video delves into the environmental impact of common soap ingredients, such as sodium laureth sulfate, sodium chloride, lactose, EDTA, and sodium lauryl sulfate. It discusses how these chemicals can affect aquatic life and contribute to water pollution. This part of the video serves to raise awareness about the everyday products we use and their potential consequences on water resources.

💡Eutrophication

Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and a decrease in oxygen levels. The video mentions that certain soap ingredients can contribute to eutrophication, which can harm aquatic ecosystems by creating 'dead zones' where oxygen is depleted.

💡Water Conservation

Water conservation is the practice of using water resources wisely to prevent wastage and ensure sustainability. The video encourages viewers to adopt water conservation measures, such as turning off the tap while brushing teeth, taking shorter showers, and fixing dripping taps, to reduce domestic water consumption and contribute to alleviating water stress.

💡Agricultural Water Use

Agriculture is highlighted in the video as a significant consumer of freshwater, accounting for over 70% of global freshwater use. The video suggests that even small changes in individual water use can have a collective impact on reducing the strain on water resources, especially when considering the scale of agricultural water consumption.

💡Domestic Water Consumption

Domestic water consumption refers to the use of water in households for daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, and personal hygiene. The video emphasizes the importance of reducing domestic water use through simple measures, as even small savings can add up to significant volumes when practiced widely across the population.

💡Awareness and Action

The video calls for raising awareness about the impending water crisis and encourages viewers to take action. It suggests that by understanding the issue and making conscious choices to conserve water, individuals can play a part in addressing water stress. The message is that collective action can make a difference, even if each person's contribution seems small.

Highlights

In nine years, two thirds of the world population will be living in stressed water conditions.

Water stress means there is not enough water for agricultural, industrial, and domestic uses.

Four ways people contribute to water stress: withdrawing too much water, polluting water, and overconsumption.

In nine years, over 5 billion people will be living in stress water conditions.

Agricultural sector consumes over 70% of all freshwater worldwide.

Soap ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate, sodium chloride, and lactose have environmental impacts.

EDTA increases heavy-metal mobilization and causes eutrophication in lakes.

Sodium lauryl sulfate has been proposed as a herbicide and pesticide.

Soap water negatively affects plant growth, causing slower and less abundant growth.

Domestic water pollution is a considerable contribution to water stress.

Simple actions like turning off the tap while brushing teeth can save up to 12 liters of water.

Shorter showers can save from six to forty-five liters of water per minute.

Fixing a dripping tap can save up to 15 liters of water per day.

If everyone fixes a dripping tap, we could save enough water to fill six Olympic-sized pools.

There are nine years to make a difference and solve the water crisis.

Individual actions, like decreasing water consumption, can collectively make a significant difference.

Every drop of water saved matters, as one drop leads to more and can add up to a substantial amount over time.

Transcripts

[Music]

nine years 3285 days 78840 hours four

million seven hundred and thirty

thousand minutes

are you wondering what's going to happen

in nine years well according to the

United Nations of Water Agency and nine

years two thirds of the world population

will be living in stressed water

conditions that means this is the world

population everyone - right here - you

you would be unlucky and you'd be living

in stress water conditions a few of you

here would be lucky for now however what

is water stress what does it mean well

it means there is simply not enough

water for agricultural industrial and

domestic uses and there are four ways

that people contribute to it by

withdrawing too much water from surface

waters life from the aral sea for the

past 30 years or withdrawing too much

water from underground aquifers

polluting water like with poor sewage

systems or let's say paper mill

factories and finally overconsumption of

water well nine years nine years there

will be 8 billion people living on this

planet that means over 5 billion people

will be living in stress water

conditions 5 billion isn't that a lot I

guess that's just me I guess however if

there won't be enough water how will we

live can I tell you a short little story

imagine that it is the year 2030 well

your lush green backyard has changed to

dried brown shrubs

you can't water it because there's an

active ban on watering and when you go

to the supermarket there's fewer and

fewer foods available some of your

favorite foods disappear from the store

shelves and your home tap water is no

longer potable and you have to buy it

from the stores it may get so bad that

you have to actually get into fights

with random strangers just to make sure

that you have enough water but how would

you feel if this little story that I

just said about it this dystopian

universe can happen in our universe in

the short span of nine years yes nine

years safety of 5 billion people in nine

years I'm going to be 27 years old how

old are you going to be your children

[Music]

this is an issue that will not only

affect future generations it will

directly affect ours but wait a second

if we won't have enough water to drink

well then how are you going to produce

our food agriculture is a huge consumer

of water with over 70% of all fresh

water worldwide and up to 82% in

lower-income countries that's a lot of

water but I know that I'm not a farmer I

can't help reduce the amount of water

agriculture uses but is there any way

that we can contribute and help decrease

our water footprint well I was in the

shower and observing those little

bubbles going down the drain and what I

thought well how do we affect the

environment is there a way that soap

which we practically use every day

hopefully but does it really affect the

environment and how does it so I began

researching the effects of soap on the

environment and I realize that there are

a few ingredients that really do make an

impact well or a very important soap in

general

so we first have

sodium laureth sulfate it is a very

important chemical which is the second

right after water and soap however it is

considered so pretty good because it is

still biodegradable and not talked too

sick to aquatic life in the

concentrations found in soap

however then we have sodium chloride

sodium chloride is otherwise known as

table salt while table salt is delicious

in our food and moderate quantities of

course it is terrible for plants it is

the cause of marginal leaf scorching or

when all the leaves turn brown or well

there's a little sprout spots on it how

means it is not good for plants at all

and then we have lactose

now while lactose makes our milk nice

and sweet it is also bad for the

environment it promotes bacterial growth

which then causes oxygen depletion and

soil and water which means that is very

bad for aquatic life now we have EDTA

EDTA is essential in all cosmetics and

products because it is a preservative

however it is not good for the

environment because it increases

heavy-metal mobilization and it is not

biodegradable

however it also increases the

eutrophication of lakes that means that

it increases the rates or how Lakes

future of eutrophication that means

algae blooms then we also have another

very interesting chemical called sodium

lauryl sulfate it is extremely similar

to sodium laureth sulfate but it says

even been proposed as a herbicide and

pesticide in the United States so this

made me think that well maybe soap is

actually pretty good for plants I mean

okay - the sodium chloride but I mean we

hear eutrophication that means will grow

faster and then we have herbicide of

pesticide so I thought that maybe soap

will help the growth of plants so I

decided to test my theory out on green

beans radishes and arugula to see does

it really affect the growth and while I

thought that these plants water those

soap water would grow faster bigger and

more but

in the end there were smaller in size

grew slower and were less abundant from

this I learned that we can't take our

water for granted we are actively

polluting our water we cannot think that

our domestic contribution to water

pollution is not a considerable amount

because we clearly are actively

polluting it we're actively contributing

to water stress so from this how can we

make a difference because we know the

agriculture industry want our biggest

consumers of water and I realize that

I'm not a part of and I'm not an

industrialist I'm not a farmer but to

the reason why I wanted to talk to you

about this topic today is because we're

not talking about it enough I'm not sure

how many of you knew that this in nine

years we will face this crisis not many

and so I wanted to raise awareness in

nine years this is not a long-term

sustainability issue it is short term it

will affect us so while we are raising

awareness for this right now we can

still decrease our own domestic

consumption of water so do you really

need to have the tap running while

you're brushing your teeth if not you

could save up to 12 liters of water

every time your brush in nine years

that's the volume of seven adult

elephants yes seven and do you really

need to take long showers I know it's

really nice and pleasant but it won't be

that difficult to take shorter showers

when you realize that you could be

saving from six to forty five litres of

water per minute and finally fix that

dripping tap in your house dripping tap

can waste up to 15 litres of water per

day that means in nine years that's the

volume of five large cars that means

that if everyone in this room fixes a

dripping tap in your home we could be

saving the water it takes to fill six

Olympic sized pools

and that is a lot of water nine years we

can make such a big difference so I know

why this sounds pretty depressing nine

years we will be facing this issue we

can still make a change we still have

nine years to solve this issue so there

are seven more than seven billion of us

on this planet and if each and every one

of us decides to actively decrease our

water consumption we can make a

difference there's seven billion people

of us and don't think that one drop will

not make a difference because one drop

leads to two drops and in a day that can

lead to 300,000 drops that means that

each and every one of us can make a

difference so what will you do to

protect our water in nine years

you