WHAT CAN I DO?


According to the indicator for the amount of water available per person, Turkey will be among the countries facing a "water scarcity" in the near future.

The increasing demand for water on a global scale and the drought brought about by climate change intensify the pressure on water resources and the water risk that humans and all other living creatures as well as various sectors face.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE
FRESHWATER ON OUR PLANET ACCOUNTS
FOR LESS THAN 1% OF THE TOTAL WATER?

In Turkey, one person consumes 216 liters of water per day. The European average is 150 cubic meters. It should be borne in mind that this figure does not include water used for producing what we eat, wear and use. The water we do not use directly but indirectly consume in the production of food and non-food commodities is called "virtual water". When virtual water is included, daily water use per person in Turkey reaches 5,416 liters.

WATER FOOTPRINT OF OUR CONSUMPTION

The water footprint measures the amount of water directly or indirectly used to produce the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the things we use. A cup of coffee, for example, goes through the following processes before it reaches the end user: Planting and harvesting the coffee plant, processing, packaging and shipping the coffee beans, selling the coffee and pouring it into the cup. The entire process requires 130 liters of water. If the coffee is served in a paper cup with milk and sugar, the amount of water used goes up to 208 liters, on average. In other words, one cup of coffee contains 208 liters of water.
  • 1 serving of beef (200 g) costs 3,100 liters of water.
  • 1 serving of poultry (200 g) costs 780 liters.
  • 1 slice of bread costs 40 liters.
  • 1 cup of tea costs 30 liters.
  • 1 glass of milk costs 200 liters (this amount is five times more for milk powder).
  • 1 serving of rice costs 150 liters.
  • 1 cube of sugar costs 7.5 liters.
  • 1 slice of cheese (75 g) costs 375 liters.
  • 1 bag of potato chips (200g) costs 185 liters.
  • 1 hamburger costs 2,400 liters.
  • 1 orange costs 50 liters.
  • 1 glass of orange juice (200 ml) costs 170 liters.
  • 1 sheet of A4 sized paper costs 10 liters.
  • 1 cotton T-shirt costs 2,400 liters.
  • 1 pair of leather shoes costs 8,000 liters.

IT IS UP TO US TO REDUCE THESE AMOUNTS AND USE OUR WATER MORE WISELY!
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CAN YOU COMMIT TO DOING?

In the bathroom:
  • A running tap uses 14 liters of water per minute. Remember to turn off the tap while you are soaping up your hands, brushing your teeth or shaving.
  • You can install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors on the taps. This aerating system saves up to 30% of the water.
  • Leaking taps waste up to 4 liters of water a day. Consider fixing leaking taps.
  • You can save 3,750 liters of water a year by using a smaller toilet tank for flushing.
  • Take shorter showers and turn off the tap when you do not need to use the water.
  • Insulate your hot water pipes. This will prevent waiting as long for hot water when you turn on a tap, which helps to conserve water.
In the kitchen:
  • Instead of washing the dishes by hand, put them in the dishwasher and run the dishwasher when it is full. This will use less energy, water and soap.
  • When you must wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running and use a bowl to waste less water.
  • You can wash fruits and vegetables by filling a bowl and reuse the water to water your plants.
  • Instead of boiling vegetables, you may opt for steaming or cooking them with less water on low heat, which will preserve their nutritional value and help you save water.
  • Defrosting food in the microwave or in the refrigerator will save more water than defrosting them under running water.
In the garden:
  • For watering your plants, opt for more efficient methods like sprinklers or automated drip irrigation systems.
  • By watering your garden early in the morning or at night, you can prevent water loss via evaporation.
  • Place a barrel in your garden to collect rainwater for watering your plants.

BUY PRODUCTS CERTIFIED FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION.
Small steps can create an ocean from drops of water
Also:
  • Reduce your water consumption by properly sorting recyclable waste.
  • Buy secondhand products because each new product means tons of water used in its production.
  • Choose energy- and water- efficient products.
  • Buy products certified for sustainable production.
  • By purchasing sustainable textile products, you can prevent water pollution and consume less water thanks to the use of fewer chemicals in the production processes.
  • You can contribute to joint efforts by supporting non-governmental organizations working on water resources.
In short, avoiding consumption beyond our needs is the best measure we can take individually.
If there is no water, there is no life. We all have a duty to protect our water. Small steps can create an ocean from drops of water.#TogetherPossible