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Root Pike Initiative Network. (n.d.). Pike Watershed Initiative Network. Root Pike. Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://www.rootpikewin.org/#intro

United Nations. (n.d.). Water. United Nations. Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/water

Water4Org. (2021, May 12). Problem. Water4. Retrieved December 21, 2021, from https://water4.org/problem/

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1. What contributes to unclean water? Why is it so common for people to not have clean water?
2. Since having access to clean water is a human right, shouldn't there be more of a concern to those who do not have access to it? What can people do to help those in need?

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Before taking this class, I did not consider how much water footprints affect those around me. My perspective and understanding of global perspectives has drastically changed for the better. I can now understand that every situation has multiple perspectives. Something as simple as turning off a water faucet when you brush your teeth makes a huge difference. Moreover, individuals, communities, and populations who experience unsanitary conditions and unclean water come from every part of the world. People from Africa, U.S., and China experience unclean water. Previously, I would have associated poverty and unsanitary living conditions with just parts of Africa. However, after taking this class, I know that stereotyping and generalizing is not okay and often leads to many misconceptions. Now, I can fully understand that several countries all over the world experience similar conditions and it's not limited to just countries in Africa. Resources and other class materials have helped shape and broaden my understanding of how to think more critically and analyze every situation with an open mind set. While I cannot fully understand a given situation because I have not experienced it, I can become more educated and rely on reliable resources to help my understanding. With the activities we did in class and the the time spent in groups, I have learned a lot and have benefited a lot from taking this course.

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As a teacher, I think using read alouds or introducing reading materials to the students about water conservation would be a great idea. I think providing a world map and current statistics about water consumption for countries (compare and contrast these statistics to the US) would be a good activity. I think having students compare and contrast data from other countries helps widen their perspectives. I would provide a lesson, but for the main activity to teach students, (after researching statistics about water and sanitation for specific countries), I would create a list to help students acknowledge their water footprint. This list would be an ongoing semester project where students would write down goals such as taking shorter showers or turning the faucet off when brushing your teeth. I think this activity would help students understand the importance of conserving water and also, how other countries may already have some of these implications in place to help reduce their footprint. I also think placing posters around the classroom can be used a great learning tool for students to reflect back on.

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Local Water Organization (Kenosha, WI) (Personal Application part 2)

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Local Water Organization (Kenosha, WI) (Personal Application part 2)

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Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network is to restore, protect, and sustain all watersheds in the Root-Basin. This non-profit organization provides education, implementation, and restoration to landowners and other municipalities. The Root-Basin covers 327 square miles in Southeastern Wisconsin. I think getting involved in organizations, especially those close to home, can help broaden my understanding about the impact we have on the Earth. Moreover, this organization helps everyone affected by the Root-Basin, which can also be those living on Lake Michigan. Not only can I take small steps, like turning off the facuets when I'm not using them, but also join or donate to organizations, like this one.

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Restoring the Root-Pike Basin Watersheds: Pike River, Root River, Oak Creek, Pike Creek, and Wind Point through EPA-approved nine-element watershed restoration plans

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Individual Application Part 1 (Personal Life)

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Individual Application Part 1 (Personal Life)

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Becoming more educated about how so many people do not have access to clean water or sanitation really gave me a new perspective. After learning more about this topic, I have looked into how to reduce my water footprint and how to become more sustainable. I can take small actions such as using a reusable water bottle, instead of plastic. I can also take shorter showers, use the faucet less, and also carpool more to reduce pollution. Overall, my footprint should reduce and I hope to educate others about the water footprint as well in hopes to help them decrease their water footprint.

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Everything we use, wear, buy, sell and eat takes water to make.

The water footprint measures the amount of water used to produce each of the goods and services we use. It can be measured for a single process, such as growing rice, for a product, such as a pair of jeans, for the fuel we put in our car, or for an entire multi-national company. The water footprint can also tell us how much water is being consumed by a particular country - or globally - in a specific river basin or from an aquifer.

The water footprint is a measure of humanity's appropriation of fresh water in volumes of water consumed and/or polluted.

The water footprint allows us to answer a broad range of questions for companies, governments and individuals. For example:

where is the water dependence in my company's operations or supply chain?

how well are regulations protecting our water resources?

how secure are our food or energy supplies?

can I do something to reduce my own water footprint and help us manage water for both people and nature?

Depending on the question you are asking, the water footprint can be measured in cubic metres per tonne of production, per hectare of cropland, per unit of currency and in other functional units. The water footprint helps us understand for what purposes our limited freshwater resources are being consumed and polluted. The impact it has depends on where the water is taken from and when. If it comes from a place where water is already scarce, the consequences can be significant and require action.

The water footprint has three components: green, blue and grey. Together, these components provide a comprehensive picture of water use by delineating the source of water consumed, either as rainfall/soil moisture or surface/groundwater, and the volume of fresh water required for assimilation of pollutants.

Direct and indirect water use

The water footprint looks at both direct and indirect water use of a process, product, company or sector and includes water consumption and pollution throughout the full production cycle from the supply chain to the end-user.

It is also possible to use the water footprint to measure the amount of water required to produce all the goods and services consumed by the individual or community, a nation or all of humanity. This also includes the direct water footprint, which is the water used directly by the individual(s) and the indirect water footprint - the summation of the water footprints of all the products consumed.

The three water footprints:

Green water footprint is water from precipitation that is stored in the root zone of the soil and evaporated, transpired or incorporated by plants. It is particularly relevant for agricultural, horticultural and forestry products.

Blue water footprint is water that has been sourced from surface or groundwater resources and is either evaporated, incorporated into a product or taken from one body of water and returned to another, or returned at a different time. Irrigated agriculture, industry and domestic water use can each have a blue water footprint.

Grey water footprint is the amount of fresh water required to assimilate pollutants to meet specific water quality standards. The grey water footprint considers point-source pollution discharged to a freshwater resource directly through a pipe or indirectly through runoff or leaching from the soil, impervious surfaces, or other diffuse sources.

Components of agricultural water footprint: green, blue and grey (from SAB Miller and WWF, 2009)

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," says Professor Arjen Y. Hoekstra, creator of the water footprint concept.

"Water problems are often closely tied to the structure of the global economy. Many countries have significantly externalised their water footprint, importing water-intensive goods from elsewhere. This puts pressure on the water resources in the exporting regions, where too often mechanisms for wise water governance and conservation are lacking. Not only governments, but also consumers, businesses and civil society communities can play a role in achieving a better management of water resources."

A film by UNESCO WWAP. Produced and animated by Steve Cutts

Some facts and figures

The production of one kilogramme of beef requires approximately 15 thousand litres of water (93% green, 4% blue, 3% grey water footprint). There is a huge variation around this global average. The precise footprint of a piece of beef depends on factors such as the type of production system and the composition and origin of the feed of the cow.[download report]

The water footprint of a 150-gramme soy burger produced in the Netherlands is about 160 litres. A beef burger from the same country costs on average about 1000 litres. [download report]

The water footprint of Chinese consumption is about 1070 cubic metres per year per capita. About 10% of the Chinese water footprint falls outside China. [download report]

Japan with a footprint of 1380 cubic metres per year per capita, has about 77% of its total water footprint outside the borders of the country. [download report]

The water footprint of US citizens is 2840 cubic meter per year per capita. About 20% of this water footprint is external. The largest external water footprint of US consumption lies in the Yangtze River Basin, China.[download report]

The global water footprint of humanity in the period 1996-2005 was 9087 billions of cubic meters per year (74% green, 11% blue, 15% grey). Agricultural production contributes 92% to this total footprint. [download report]

Water scarcity affects over 2.7 billion people for at least one month each year. [download report]

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The water footprint is the amount of water consumed by human activity as well as the assimilation capacity used (the ability of a body of water to cleanse itself).

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Access to Clean Water in Rwanda | UNICEF USA

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Access to clean water | A basic human right

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5. Every year, 297,000 children under the age of 5 die due to diarrhea linked to poor sanitation. 

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5. Every year, 297,000 children under the age of 5 die due to diarrhea linked to poor sanitation. 

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6. 2 Billion people lack basic sanitation

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6. 2 Billion people lack basic sanitation

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7 out of 10 of those from that population live in rural areas. 1 out 3 of that population live in Developing countries.

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3. Conservation and reducing usage can help reduce the overall footprint around the world

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3. Conservation and reducing usage can help reduce the overall footprint around the world

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4. In Africa, 42 percent of health facilities do not have improved water sources

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4. In Africa, 42 percent of health facilities do not have improved water sources

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2. Dirty and unclear water is the leading cause of child mortality

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2. Dirty and unclear water is the leading cause of child mortality

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1. Access to clean water is a human right

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1. Access to clean water is a human right