Good morning one and all. Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends, it is my pleasure and privilege to stand before you today. I am honored to have this opportunity to speak to such a distinguished audience.Today on this occasion, I would like to talk about the noble act of water conservation.
Water is the very basic requirement of all life on earth. It is an essential component for survival of all living beings, without water all life would cease to exist. Water conservation is an act of using water wisely and judiciously. We must all strive to save as much water as we can.
Interestingly, out of the 70% of water occupying the earth’s surface, only 3% is freshwater. However, the majority of this freshwater reservoir is unavailable to humans since it is either frozen in polar ice caps or is too deep underground for easy extraction. Moreover, a large portion of the accessible freshwater is now heavily polluted. This leaves us with approximately 0.4% of potable water that has to be used by 7 billion people.
Thus, conserving water is the need of the hour. It is an act that is of utmost importance in order to preserve life on earth. Unfortunately, because of modernisation, population explosion and urbanisation we have lost much access to clean water. Saving water at an individual level is easier than you think.
It begins at home by fixing and leaking pipes and taps. If you simply turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or use minimal water for washing hands, you will save a lot of water. A neglected dripping tap can waste thousands of litres of water in a year.
In addition to this, we can invest in basic everyday appliances that save water and install low flow showerheads and faucets. Studies reveal that a 5 minute shower can consume around 10 to 25 gallons of water. Governments should make facilities to popularise and implement the practice of rainwater harvesting.
In simple terms, rainwater harvesting is the practice of storing rainwater for future use. This can be done by installing a rainwater harvesting system in our homes, schools, and offices. Instead of using freshwater, this stored water can be used for various purposes like watering plants, washing clothes, and flushing toilets. This reduces the demand for freshwater and helps in conserving water.
The deteriorating condition of earth and consequent shortage of freshwater are critical issues that call for our immediate attention. Not only should we save water but also aware others and encourage them to do the same. Let us all pledge to save water and thus save life.
