When you think about how water is used, it’s not just what we drink or use to cook and wash with. Water’s used in almost everything we do and consume, often in ways we don’t see. This hidden usage is called “Embedded Water” and it’s crucial to understand to know our true water footprint.
Hi. I’m Arno. I’m with the Aquanauts.
We’re wild about water and how to make sure there’s enough for everyone who needs it now and in years to come.
Here at Aquanaut HQ, we’re checking out the embedded cost of water in everyday things.
We use water all the time, every day…
We use around 6 litres every time we flush the toilet… and one litre when we boil water for our pasta.
Do you know how many litres you use if you leave the tap on when brushing your teeth?
Answer: It can be as much as 9 litres!
What about how many litres are used to produce a single sheet of paper?
Answer: 10 litres for every sheet of paper!
How many litres are needed to grow a kilo of apples – that’s about five apples?
Answer: 830 litres!
And finally, how many litres to make a kilo of chocolate?
Answer: A massive 17,000 litres – that’s like taking 130 baths!
Now, whilst it’s easy to see our water usage when we use it directly – not just by watching the water as it comes out of the tap but also by checking the water meter change, it’s a lot harder to see how much water is used when its used by others to make things we want. Let’s call it the hidden gulp!
So, when making some pasta, we use boiling water to cook it in a pan, but have you thought about the water needed to grow the wheat, produce the fuel for machines to harvest it and to create the electricity for processing the wheat into flour and pasta?
And what about when you put your clothes into the washing machine…
You know that water is swishing around to get everything super clean but do you know how much water is used to produce the textiles for your school uniform?
It takes around 2,700 litres to produce each cotton t-shirt. That’s enough for one person to drink for 900 days! This is the ‘Embedded Water’ cost and it’s something we rarely think about.
Even things we usually keep well away from water, like our mobile phones, use a phenomenal amount of water in their production.
Aquafact – The water footprint of a smartphone is a whopping 14,000 litres. That includes water to extract the minerals used for the components in the phone, as well as the manufacturing process itself.
Water is used in almost every industry, and we’re going to check out three major sectors:
First up… factory production. Many factories use water in production of goods, either as an ingredient or as part of the production process like cooling, washing, diluting, boiling or cooking, transportation of raw materials, and as a cleaning agent.
Next, let’s get ready to power up! Making energy is very water intensive, even greener types of energy use lots of water. Geothermal energy uses the heat of the Earth by drilling down into hot layers of underground rock and using this heat to convert water into steam, which then drive generators to produce electricity.
…and finally, farming. We all know farms uses water, from giving animals a drink to watering crops. It’s a large number. 70% of water used globally is used to water crops, in particular through spray irrigation where pressurised water is sprayed over plants and quite often over roads and anything else around… including humans!
The good news is the job can done more efficiently by using drip-feed irrigation systems where water is fed to the roots through narrow pipes, dripping water onto the soil near the base of the plants, taking the water directly to the growing crops and reducing loss by evaporation.
But what can WE do to grab back the hidden gulp? It’s all about the three Rs.
- Reduce – buying fewer products reduces water use in factories.
- Re-use – instead of disposable wipes when cleaning, re-use clothes that can be washed.
- Recycle – instead of throwing away old clothes, paper and plastics – and especially electrical gadgets and mobile phones, recycling and donating them for others to use saves gallons of water.
Sounds pretty easy! Now, no one can have a zero water footprint, but our daily choices add up. Every small action can make a big difference.
By just thinking about the hidden water in our everyday lives, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future. So next time you pick up a t-shirt, have a snack or use your smartphone, you can be an Aquanaut by remembering the hidden water behind it all.
Water Workers
Maybe think about a career in water technology. There’s a wide range of jobs across the water sector… and today’s water worker is Environmental Engineers!
Environmental engineers use engineering and scientific principles to protect the environment by reducing pollution and waste. They work to improve the quality of life for humans and the environment.
As we’ve been finding out, the water we use doesn’t just come out of the tap! It reaches to almost every industry and every part of our environment. Environmental Engineers are involved in managing and reducing waste and minimising pollution, including in our water systems, in order to protect, restore and preserve the planet.
Take the challenge!
Discover Gravity Defying Water in this really fun and easy experiment. Ready? Download here.
Want to know more?
‘This is Engineering’ is an initiative led by the Royal Academy of Engineering in partnership with EngineeringUK and major engineering organisations to encourage young people from all backgrounds to consider a career in engineering. Click HERE to find out more… or perhaps visit the Museum of Engineering Innovation.
Stick with us, we’re going to be helping you understand the challenges ahead, and discover some of the cool engineering and careers that are helping solve the issues. We’re also going to find out how we can all make a difference with more tips on how you can become an Aquanaut and help engineer our water future!