Preservation and Conservation of Water

2^nd Meeting updates of youth network

Date: 27-28th April 2013      

Place: DEEDS org Training Campus, Hunsur, D : Mysore

Organised By: Nisarga Foundation & DEEDS, Hunsur

Supported by: Tdh – Germany / AEI

No of Youth Participated: Male:  30     Female:  20        Total; 50 , others: 16 Total: 66

No of NGO’s Participated: 14

No of district Youth Participated: ( Dharwad 8, Belguam 4, Bellary 16, Davangere4, Bangalore 4, Mysore 6, Bijapur  4, Mandya 2 )

Mr. Ravi Kumar is known as “Mysore’s lake saver, a man who has made it his mission to preserve the city’s ecosystem through its wetlands” was the Resource Person for this meeting. He shared with the youth  group the importance of conservation and preservation of water and direct and Indirect usage of Water- “FOOT PRINTS “

Direct and Indirect usage of Water- “FOOT PRINTS “

The Ecological Footprint, as defined by the Ecological Footprint standards which calculates how much biologically productive area is required to produce the resources for the human population and to absorb its carbon dioxide missions. Consistency across applications will encourage even more widespread adoption of the Ecological Footprint, increasing its effectiveness as a catalyst for a sustainable future. Different end-use categories (food, shelter, mobility, goods and services), calculates how much biologically productive area is required to produce the resources for the human population and to absorb its carbon dioxide emissions. Consistency across applications will encourage even more widespread adoption of the Ecological Footprint, increasing its effectiveness as a catalyst for a sustainable future. 

Water Foot prints:

The water foot print of a produce is the volume of freshwater appropriated to produce the produce, taking into account the volumes of water consumed and polluted in the different steps of the supply chain.  The relation between consumption and water use: "The interest in the water footprint is rooted in the recognition that human impacts on freshwater systems can ultimately be linked to human consumption, and that issues like water shortages and pollution can be better understood and addressed by considering production and supply chains as a 

whole," "Water problems are often                           

closely tied to the structure of the global economy. 

National water footprint accounting: moving beyond traditional statistics

Traditional national water use accounts only refer to the water withdrawal within a country.

They do not distinguish between water use for making products for domestic consumption and water use for producing export products. They also exclude data on water use outside the country to support national consumption. In order to support a broader sort of analysis and better inform decision making, the national water use accounts should be extended.

The water footprint of national consumption is defined as the total amount of fresh water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation. It consists of two components:

• The internal water footprint, i.e. the water use inside the country,
• The external water footprint, i.e. the water use in other countries.

The water footprint within a nation is defined as the total freshwater volume consumed or polluted within the territory of the nation. It can be calculated by summing the water footprints of all water consuming or polluting processes taking place in the nation.

Therefore it is important as a consumer, we can reduce your ‘direct water footprint’ (home water use) by installing water saving toilets, applying a water-saving showerhead, closing the tap during teeth brushing, using less water in the garden and by not disposing medicines, paints or other pollutants through the sink.

Your ‘indirect water footprint’ – the water consumption and pollution behind all the goods you buy – is much larger than your direct water footprint at home. You have basically two options to reduce your indirect water footprint. One option is to substitute a consumer product that has a large water footprint by a different type of product that has a smaller footprint. Examples: eat less meat or become vegetarian, drink tea instead of coffee, or even better drink plain water. And replacing cotton clothes by clothes from artificial fibre saves a lot of water.  But this approach has limitations, because you may find it difficult to drastically change your consumption pattern. 

Photos