The Embedded Cost of Water – World Economics

Reducing the amount of water we use and avoiding wasting it, isn’t just something we need to do to make sure there’s enough in our taps to make a cup of tea or a glass of squash – it’s something that saves money and even lives, not just in this country but all over the world.

Hi. I’m Arno. I’m with the Aquanauts.

We’re wild about water and how to make sure there’s enough for everyone who needs it now and in years to come.

Here at Aquanaut HQ we’re discovering world economics. We might take water in our taps for granted but globally, water is surprisingly scarcer than you might think, which means it’s more important than ever not to waste a drop, not just to save lives but to save money too. 

Let’s take a dive into the numbers. 

• 70% – that’s how much of the planet is covered by water.
• 3% – that’s how much of that water is fresh enough to drink.
• 1% – that’s how much water is readily accessible and not stuck in glaciers or snowfields. 

There’s 8 billion people living on Earth and with population expected to increase, you can see there’s a danger that there isn’t enough water to go around. If there’s not enough water, that can cause several types of harm.

As you might imagine, hot dry countries such as across Africa and Asia, are affected the most, and quite often countries without clean accessible water supplies are rarely as rich as countries with easy access to water.

So you might be thinking “what’s water got to do with how wealthy a country is?”.

To get the full picture, we have to go back to school – literally! No country has succeeded in growing their economy quickly without at least 40% of adults being literate – that’s being able to read. Being literate means getting an education and here’s the thing, if you have to walk long distances every day to carry water to survive, then you won’t have much time left to go to school. Women are more likely to be the ones that collect the water, meaning they can’t do other things as well.

Aquafact – It’s a knock on effect – every 1 dollar spent on improving access to water and sanitation can generate up to 20 dollars in saved costs and improved productivity.

It’s not just about saving money, it’s also about saving lives.

Less than half of the population in sub-Saharan Africa can access clean water and this can have a devastating effect. Many diseases in developing countries are related to poor drinking water and sanitation. Even where there are sources of clean water, carrying it for long distances can cause injury. 

So, what could we do to solve the problem?

The amazing thing is, if the world did nothing besides just providing access to clean water without any other medical involvement, we could save more than 2 million lives every year. Even more amazing, solving the problem might only cost 30 billion dollars, which sounds like a lot but it’s just a third of the amount we spend on bottled water every year, and it would help economies grow.

Here in the UK, even though water is comparatively cheap and isn’t as scarce as in other parts of the world, it makes economic sense not to waste what we have. Managing waste water has an impact on the environment and that’s something we want to avoid. 

Aquafact – more than 20% of the water supply in the UK is currently lost because of leaks in the system

That’s why engineers are vital, working to find new and better ways to identify where leaks are and replacing or repairing the infrastructure with minimum cost and disruption.

You can be an Aquanaut too, simply by not wasting water! Only use what you need in the kettle and take a shower instead of a bath. Did you know a dripping tap can almost fill a bath in a day so make sure you turn them off properly! As well as preserving our supplies, if your water is metered it will make a difference to your family’s bill.

Water Workers

Maybe think about a career in water technology. There’s a wide range of jobs across the water sector and today’s water worker is Leak Detection Specialists!

As we’ve heard, one way of helping us to not waste water is to identify any leaks in the system and plug them up! Specialists in leak detection, often from a plumbing background, use their expertise and technology to identify the weak spots and to replace or repair weaknesses in the system – sometimes in and around our houses or part of the main water supply.

Take the challenge!

Track your water use by creating a water use diary. Do this multiple times to reduce and make your water use more efficient. Ready? Download here!

Want to know more?

‘This is Engineering’ is an initiative led by the Royal Academy of Engineering in partnership with EngineeringUK and major engineering organisations to encourage young people from all backgrounds to consider a career in engineering. Click HERE to find out more… or perhaps visit the Museum of Engineering Innovation.

Stick with us… we’re going to be helping you understand the challenges ahead, and discover some of the cool engineering and careers that are helping solve the issues. We’re also going to find out how we can all make a difference with more tips on how you can become an Aquanaut and help engineer our water future!

AQUANAUTS! CREATED WITH SUPPORT FROM THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING AND CARDIFF UNIVERSITY.