Twenty years might have you reconsidering "you want fries and a shake with that?"
More than 97% of the world's water is too salty to drink, 2% is locked in ice caps and less than 1% of planet's water is available to meet daily drinking water, sanitation and food needs of Earth's 7 billion people. By 2050, a third of people on earth will lack a clean secure source of water.
Why should you care about water?
Water is the basis of life, and on this planet only a tiny share—less than one percent of all water—is available for nearly 7 billion people and a myriad of freshwater aquatic ecosystems. It's that tiny share of freshwater that we have to use to meet all of our needs—irrigation, industry, drinking water, and sanitation—and the needs of thousands, if not millions, of other species that we share the planet with. 4,800 people die every day from water-borne illnesses.
Though clouds hold just four one-hundredths of 1% of all fresh water, they still have 6x more than all the world's rivers. Barbara Kingsolver writes, “Even while we take Mother Water for granted, humans understand in our bones that she is the boss. We stake our civilizations on the coasts and mighty rivers. Our deepest dread is the threat of having too little moisture—or too much. We've lately raised the Earth's average temperature by .74°C (1.3°F), a number that sounds inconsequential. But these words do not: flood, drought, hurricane, rising sea levels, bursting levees. Water is the visible face of climate and, therefore, climate change."
For example: In just 15 years, 1.8 billion people will live where water is scarce. The Peruvian city of Cusco relies in part from the runoff of from the glaciers of the Qualccaya ice cap to provide water in summer. if the ice cap continues to melt at its current rate, it will be gone by 2100, leaving thousands without water or electricity.
Surprisingly though, its not the 15 minutes hot showers every morning that make the difference. The average American lifestyle demands 1,800 gallons a day to support, with 70% of that going to support our diets.
So; for all you apathetic, stubborn, "I could care less about global warming" types; you especially should hear this:
Earlier snow melt due to global warming will increase the rate of winter flow in freshwaters streams causing the fast moving water to scour riverbeds when delicate salmon eggs and young are present. Summertime flows in turn, will be reduced, leading to freshwater decline in adult salmon habitat. Which means--in a few years, no more salmon. If you're not the seafood type anyway, the consequences of ignorance are just as high on land:
Your Drinks:
---1 gallon of milk = 880 gallons of water
--1 gallon of beer = 689 gallons of water
--I gallon of wine = 1,008 gallons
--1 gallon of coffee = 880 gallons
Your Food:
--1 burger = 660 gallons
--To produce 1lb of pork; it requires 576 gallons of water
--1lb of chicken = 468 gallons
--And 1lb of beef = 1,799 gallons
--1lb of chocolate = 3,170 gallons of water
Your Life:
--It takes 2,900 gallons to produce 1 pair of blue jeans.
--1/2 lb of leather = 1,096 gallon
--1 t-shirt = 713 gallons of water
--500-sheet notebook = 1,321 gallons
So, while you may not care about global warming--care about your wallet. At this rate in 15-20 years; new shirt and jeans for your night-out will be $280, your 8oz steak = $125; a chocolate sundae @ $45; bacon, eggs and coffee the next morning @ $310 to cure your $360 hangover spent in drinks last night---might be just a little harder to fork over than before.
Test Your Water IQ:
How Much Water PerPound?: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/
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