The Impact of Water on the World
To understand how a day without water would impact society across the globe, it’s best to take a look at how communities utilize water in the first place. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American uses roughly 156 gallons of water per day. This amount stems from a variety of personal needs, including bathing, household cleaning, plumbing systems, and general consumption.Outside of daily water use for hygiene, hydration, and sanitation purposes, water is also required on a massive scale for agricultural purposes. In fact, agriculture accounts for upward of 70% of water use worldwide for purposes of crop irrigation and livestock management. Now, imagine if access to such enormous global water supplies was taken away from us. Just one day without access to water would cause unprecedented impacts on society.
What a Day Without Water Would Look Like
With 1 in 3 individuals across the world already struggling to access a safe and usable water supply, imagine if all water sources across the globe became completely inaccessible for a day. From human health to city infrastructure, a day without water would bring steep consequences worldwide.Impacts on Human Health
Without safe drinking water, human life would be unable to regulate body temperature and maintain typical body functions that would negatively impact the body’s cells, tissues, and organs. Following just one day without water, a person would begin to experience symptoms of dehydration, including headaches, fatigue, and diarrhea. Though the average person can survive a day without water, it takes just three days without water for an individual’s body to shut down.Impacts on Global Infrastructure
In terms of global infrastructure, a day without water would negatively impact economic stability in cities across the world. Various industry sectors that rely heavily on the presence of water, including restaurants, schools, and hospitals, would all struggle to operate efficiently and may need to shut down. Likewise, with roughly 70% of annual freshwater usage allocated to agriculture purposes, farming and livestock operations would halt, inducing shortages and damage to the industry itself.Impacts on Average Households
With the average American family using more than 300 gallons of water in their home daily, a day without water would cause typical household functions to become inaccessible. Septic systems, plumbing, and irrigation systems would all be unusable, completely barring the household from any water use. Furthermore, without access to water, a shortage of waterworks professionals who make clean water systems possible may induce health concerns of waterborne infections like cholera and E. coli.Recognizing Our Waterworks Professionals Today and Every Day
When discussing how crucial water is to society’s daily functions, we must also bring recognition to waterworks professionals who make safe water sources possible. From household plumbers to city pipelayers, Proudly Essential Pros by MORSCO understands the vital role waterworks professionals play in the conversation of global access to safe water sources.As a professional yourself, use October 21 as a day to educate family, friends, and customers alike on the importance of universal access to safe drinking water and the individuals who make it possible. Share this infographic today.
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