Fresh water is a precious resource.

 

We need it to drink. We cook with it, clean with it and bathe in it. We produce food thanks to water and our industries rely on it to manufacture life’s luxuries and necessities. Without water, we wouldn’t exist.

 

But less than 3% of the world’s water is fresh - and most of this is frozen in ice caps or out of reach of humans.

 

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth - but per capita we are one of the world’s largest consumers of water.

 

Taking into account all uses of fresh water, the average Australian uses more than 1 million litres of water per year. The water is mainly used for irrigation (about 75%), with urban and industrial use accounting for about 20%.

 

There are many good reasons to save water. It’s good for the environment - and your hip pocket. This website contains a range of helpful and practical ideas for you to save water.

 

On The World Stage

 

Poor drinking water quality and low supplies are problems that face 1.1 billion people in the world today.

 

Without fresh water, whole communities and countries face outbreaks of disease, malnourishment and crop failure. Excessive water use in many regions of the world has also led to significant and sometimes permanent environmental degradation.

 

Global water consumption is doubling every 20 years and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has predicted that by 2020 water shortage will be a serious problem for many parts of the planet.

 

SA Water is proud to be a founding member of sponsor of WaterAID Australia.