Raising Awareness for Clean Water… Penns Grove Rotary Club (Part 1)

Ted LandsOcean City - Upper Township RC

Centennial PresidentAsst. Governor 2005-2008

District 7640 Clean Water Chairman

16 September 2010

Objectives

• Raise your personal awareness about Clean Water

• Share some information:– Water facts & figures– ID some of our challenges, incl. NJ– Impacts of water & sanitation on health– Offer some of the solutions/resources

• Encourage your participation

• Interest in safe water began in late 60’s through scouting, Earth Day (1969), Clean Water Act (1972), etc.

• Engineer, Water Commissioner (1993-1999), Peru water wells (1998), Guatemala (2009)

• Charter member of RI’s Water & Sanitation Rotary Action Group (WASRAG)

2004 6.5 Billion People2050 ~ 10 Billion People

1. ENERGY

2. WATER

3. FOOD

4. ENVIRONMENT

5. POVERTY

6. TERRORISM & WAR

7. DISEASE

8. EDUCATION

9. DEMOCRACY

10. POPULATION

Humanity’s Top Ten Problemsfor next 50 years

Apollo 8 – Earth Rise, Christmas 1968

Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface

Water Facts

• The collective mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet is called the hydrosphere.

• Earth's approximate water volume (the total water supply of the world) is 326,000,000 mi³. Of this volume:

• 316,900,000 mi³ or 97.2% is in the oceans.

• Remaining 2.8% is Fresh Water

What kinds of water do we have?

Salt Water97.2%

Fresh Water2.8%

Fresh Water is unevenly distributed

• Not always where we need it…• 2/3 Ice caps and glaciers - 68.7%, of which

– Antarctic ice cap - 90%, 9700 years renewal interval – Greenland ice cap - 9% – Other glaciers - <1%, 1600 years renewal interval

• 1/3 Groundwater - 30.1%, 1400 year renewal interval • Surface water - 0.3%, of which

– Freshwater lakes - 87%, 17 years renewal interval – Swamps - 11% – Rivers - 2%, 16 days renewal interval

• Ground ice and permafrost - 0.86% • Atmosphere 0.04%

Where is the 2.8% Fresh Water?

Atmosphere0.04%

Ground Ice & Permafrost

0.86%Surface Water

0.30%

Ground Water30.10%

Glaciers68.70%

Ground Water can take MANY years to replenish

Where is the 0.3% Surface Water?

Swamps11%

Rivers (16d renewal)

2%

Freshwater Lakes

(17 Yr renewal)

87%

Why we need Water

• Your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water.

• Although water contains no calories and may contain no micronutrients, it is an indispensable aid to digestion, nutrient absorption and waste-elimination. Water transports oxygen to your cells.

• It helps regulate circulation, body temperature and a host of other biochemical reactions.

• Water lubricates joints and maintains healthy skin.• We can exist without food for months, but without water

for only a few days.• CLEAN WATER (like air) is fundamental to our

survival

How Much Water do we Need?• A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number

in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. – If you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. – If you exercise you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20

minutes you are active. – If you drink alcohol, you should drink at least an equal amount of water. – When you are traveling on an airplane, it is good to drink eight ounces of water

for every hour you are on board the plane. – If you live in an arid climate, you should add another two servings per day.– In hot climates a family of 4 easily consumes ~40 gallons/day

• Twenty percent of your water needs will come from the foods you eat. The rest of your water needs should come from the beverages you drink. – Water is the best choice. – Sodas have a lot of sugar in them, so if you drink sodas, you may take in more

calories than you need. – Herbal teas that aren't diuretic are fine. – Sports drinks contain electrolytes and may be beneficial, just look out for added

sugar and calories that you don't need. – Juices are good because they have vitamins and nutrients.

Signs of Dehydration

• You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. – Diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol result in the need to

drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than we need.

• Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B Vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow.

• Thirst is an obvious symptom of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.

1 Gallon =

8.3 Lbs.

Ever have to fetch or

carryyour

water?

Water quality improvementsin USA

• Oil spills in the nation's waters declined from 22 million gallons per year in the mid-1970's to 2 million gallons in 1992.

• The number of people served by secondary sewage treatment plants increased by 83% from1972 to 1992, and the release of oxygen consuming organic wastes declined by 36%.

• From 1974 to 1989, waters with low levels of dissolved oxygen decreased from about 50% to 22 % of the streams monitored.

• Over 190,000 public water systems now serve 243 million people. Drinking water safety standards help prevent an estimated 200,000 to 470,000 cases of gastrointestinal illness per year.

• Amalgam Separators in dentist offices

• Still some local issues today:– Drought– Fertilizer Use (Nitrogen) & Hypoxia– Consumption per capita– Salt water intrusion

… Intensive nitrogen fertilizer use is likely to exceed the drinking water standard for nitrate by 2050…

Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone" Is Size of New JerseyJohn Roach

for National Geographic News

May 25, 2005Each year a swath of the Gulf of Mexico becomes so devoid of shrimp, fish,

and other marine life that it is known as the dead zone. Scientists have identified agricultural fertilizers as a primary culprit behind the

phenomenon. Researchers are now focusing on shrinking the zone.

“… a 30 percent reduction in nitrogen load from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers is being implemented."

The effort focuses on refining agricultural practices in the watershed. Such tactics include timing of fertilizer applications better, plowing

more efficiently, restoring natural wetlands, and improving manure management.”

South Jersey:“Abnormally Dry > Moderate >Severe”

Consider This

• Our planet is covered with water, but only 3 percent of that water is fresh water, and only 1 percent is available for human consumption.

• While the U.S. population doubled between 1950 and 2000, our water usage in the home tripled.

• Our average per capita water usage is ~61,023 gallons per year, while the average for the rest of the world is ~30,585 gallons per year.

• We need to do better….

DESCRIPTION:Latitude 39°43'18.7", Longitude 75°26'21.1"   NAD27Salem County, New Jersey, Hydrologic Unit 02040206 Well depth: 18.0 feet Land surface altitude: 25.40 feet above sea level NGVD29.Well completed in "Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system" (S100NATLCP) national aquifer. Well completed in "Magothy-Raritan-Potomac Aquifer System, Upper Aquifer" (211MRPAU) local aquifer

Coastal Plain Aquifer Studies

• Ground-water withdrawals from the Coastal Plain aquifers of southern New Jersey have increased steadily since 1900, lowering water levels by more than 200 feet in some areas.

• Every 5 years, the USGS, in cooperation with the NJDEP, measures water levels in more than 1,000 wells in the Coastal Plain over a 2-month period to prepare a "snapshot" of ground-water conditions.

• In 1985--86, the NJDEP used these water levels to identify two "Critical Water-Supply Management Areas"---areas where the ability of an aquifer to meet future water demand is compromised---and mandated studies to find new sources of water in these areas (fig. 2).

Critical Water-Supply Management Areas

Costal Plain Aquifers Water levels falling

Lack of Clean Water & Sanitation

• According to the World Health Organization, 1.3 million children, most under the age of 5, die every year of diarrheal disease caused by drinking contaminated water. – 4 billion cases of water-born diarrhea occur annually. – Large numbers of people are subjected to cholera and typhoid

fever epidemics. – 6 million people are blind from trachoma. – Approximately 10 percent of those living in developing countries

are infected with intestinal worms. – And millions of people are adversely affected by the arsenic and

other contaminates found in unsafe water.

Every Day is Thanksgiving…• All told, water–related diseases, which are usually easy

to prevent or to treat and are rarely seen in the affluent world, account for 80 percent of illnesses and deaths in the developing world.

• An adequate supply of clean, safe drinking water is urgently needed around the world.

• 28 July 2010: The UN declared that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right.

• UN Resolution declared that: – “… access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a

human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life".

– Urges the international community to "scale up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable water and sanitation for all".

• Every time you turn on the tap – for whatever purpose – remember how fortunate you are.

Mortality Rate under 5 – per 1000

Green & Yellow are bad on this chart….

Improved Water Sources - % with Access

Red & Orange are bad on this chart….

Improved Sanitation Facilities - % with Access

Red & Orange are bad on this chart….

Impact of Access

• 40 billion hours spent, per year, in Africa alone collecting and hauling water

• Women and children (usually girls) spend up to 6 hours per day fetching water– Not in school

• Families often spend up to 25% of their income to purchase water

How to Quantify the Impact

• Water borne diseases have a major impact on the health of the world:– 8000 people dying every day, mostly children– 240 children dying every hour– Filling 50% of world’s hospital beds

• Every 15 seconds, a child dies in our world from the effects of poor water quality.

• Imagine if 18 fully-loaded jumbo jets with children were to fall from the sky for just one day

Would that make the evening news?

The Millennium Development Goal (MDG)

 

• Target 10—to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015.

• Currently over 1.1 billion people (~1 in 5) do not use drinking water from improved sources… ….. while 2.6 billion (2 in 5) lack basic sanitation.

• Access to a clean water supply and proper sanitation is a major factor in reducing child mortality. Over 1.5 million deaths per year worldwide (most of which are children) are attributed to water and sanitation-related diseases, such as infectious diarrhea.

Why Hand washing with Soap?

• Hand washing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries every year.

• Turning hand washing with soap before eating and after using the toilet into an ingrained habit could save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention, cutting deaths from diarrhea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by one-quarter.

• A vast change in hand washing behavior is critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goal of reducing deaths among children under the age of five by two-thirds by 2015.

• October 15, 2010 = Global Handwashing Day

How can we Make a Splash?

• Think Globally – Act Locally… • Consider participating in a Clean Water project

– Donation or collaboration– Community or International

• Water Conservation & Protection– Protect NJ Watersheds (Bayshore Discovery)

• Wash your hands• Leave the campsite better than we found it…• WASRAG Project & Video• Q&A

Conserving Water• A typical American household can save 50,000-100,000 gallons of water

annually by observing a few simple habits/rules:– Repair leaky faucets, indoors and out; just one leaky faucet can waste as

much as 4,000 gallons of water per month.– Install faucet aerators to reduce water usage up to 60 percent. Also install

a low-flow showerhead and take showers instead of baths. Short showers use on-third the water baths do.

– Don't let the water run from the tap in the kitchen or bathroom when you are not using it. Turning off the water when you're brushing your teeth can save 4 gallons each time.

– Select a dishwasher with a "light-wash" option and use it only when fully loaded. When hand-washing dishes, save up to 15 gallons by soaking dirty dishes in the sink instead of letting the water run over them.

– When you shop for a new washing machine, consider a water-saving, energy-efficient appliances.

– Repair leaky toilets and save another 50 gallons a day; install a tank-dam and save five to seven gallons per flush. The new low-flush toilets save over 7,000 gallons a year.

– When washing your car, turn the hose off between rinses to conserve about 150 gallons per washing or use a car wash that recycles water

Conserve & Protect Water• Help to protect our limited fresh water supplies:

– Water your lawn in the early morning hours when evaporation is slower. In most locations, one inch of water per week to your lawn or garden should be enough… Soaker hoses.

– Plant indigenous species of shrubs accustomed to local water conditions.

– Set your lawn-mower blades at the 2-3 inch level for healthy grass and better water retention.

– Don’t over fertilize your lawn• Consider lower maintenance native species – less water &

fertilizers required– Think twice before you flush things out of sight… They will come

back in unwanted ways…• Don't flush prescription drugs down the toilet• Dispose of Hazardous chemicals, paints, anti-freeze/coolants

properly

Take Away Points• Everyone needs clean water

– 1 in 5 do not have access to clean water– 2 in 5 do not have proper sanitation

• Health impacts are enormous– Children pay the greatest price (18 jumbo jets/day)

• Improvements can be made– Cheap, easy, sustainable solutions are available– Solutions depend on the problem domain (W&S)

• Access to water – drill wells ***Africa – Vineland Rotary Club *** • Poor water quality – filters ***Guatemala, DR & Haiti – Several Rotary Clubs *** • Proper sanitation & hygiene – 1st Rotary Service Project ***Guatemala – Several

Rotary Clubs *** – Impacts are local and global

• We need to conserve & protect our groundwater resources now for our children & grandchildren

– Consume water carefully and don’t over-fertilize NJ water sources• Clean water and proper sanitation can save lives and can significantly

reduce infant mortality rates… more than any single vaccine