How is water use linked to what we eat?

March 22 is World Water Day, a time to celebrate water and raise awareness about water resource issues. This year's focus is on groundwater.

Water surrounds us, covering around 71% of the earth's surfaces, but did you know that only up to 0.5% is fresh water that we can access? Despite fresh water being a renewable resource, the amount of water available is fixed, making it somewhat finite. That means that every drop of fresh water is precious. 

We use fresh water for everything from drinking to cooking, washing, cleaning, generating electricity, manufacturing products, transportation, and growing food. As the population grows, so does the demand for fresh water. On top of this demand, urban development and environmental degradation are affecting the quality and quantity of fresh water available worldwide. This is why we all need to work together to reduce how much we are using.

About groundwater

Groundwater is a vital part of the water cycle. It is found below the surface, filling the cracks and soil spaces. When rain falls, water seeps into the ground, accumulates in the pores of rocks, fills the cracks, and becomes stored in aquifers. It then moves slowly through the geological formations and eventually discharges into lakes, rivers, wetlands, and creeks. While groundwater can be found everywhere, it varies in quantity and quality. It can be fresh, brackish, salty, or contain high levels of dissolved chemicals. 

Why is groundwater important?

Groundwater plays a major role in ecosystem functions and is necessary for animals and plants. Depending on where people are located, groundwater is often used for drinking water, growing food, and industrial processes. In Australia, groundwater accounts for over 30% of our total water consumption.

What is the leading cause of depletion of groundwater and fresh water? 

Groundwater can be depleted when it is over-extracted or extracted at a faster rate than it can be recharged (through rainfall). While this occurs naturally, human use, predominately animal and plant agriculture animals, is one of the leading causes of the depletion. This can lead to shallower surface water, sinkholes, a reduction in biodiversity, and a drop in food supplies.

This is why we need to learn about how water use is linked to what we are eating.

You can reduce your water footprint by making conscious choices

There are a few ways we can reduce our water footprint, from turning the tap off, using water-saving appliances, taking shorter showers, washing clothes only when necessary, or using a rainwater tank for your garden. The biggest way to reduce your water footprint, however, is through diet and lifestyle changes.

According to National Geographic, by choosing to consume a whole foods vegan diet, you can save up to 2,271.25L of water per day - that's over 800 million litres per year! This is because animals and their feed require large amounts of water during the growing stage and there is also extensive water use during the slaughter and processing of animal products. It is estimated that animal agriculture is responsible for 20-33% of all fresh water consumption in the world. Animals in many cases are also responsible for polluting surrounding waterways.

It’s important to point out that nuts also require a large amount of water. In saying this, if you limit your serving sizes you can maintain a low water footprint, as it balances out with other foods in your diet.

Processing food requires additional water for cleaning the food and machinery, pre-cooking, packaging, and delivery of the goods. By buying more plant-based whole foods you can reduce your footprint massively.

Every bit of food you throw out is wasting water. Australia wastes 7.6 million tones of food every year, with households being responsible for around 2.5 million tonnes. The amount of water used to grow this wasted food is 2,600 gigalitres - roughly five Sydney Harbours!

You can reduce your food waste by only buying what you need, planning meals, learning how to store food correctly, understanding 'best before' foods can still be eaten after this date (as long as it has been stored correctly), getting creative with left-overs, monitoring portion sizes to ensure you aren't throwing out food left on your plate.

All plants have specific requirements when it comes to growing. By choosing to eat produce that is in season, you can reduce the environmental footprint of your food choices. This is because foods that are out of season may have been imported - increasing travel distances - or grown in a man-made environment that requires more power and thus water. If you're not sure what produce is in season, you can download a phone app, like InSeason, to help you while shopping.

By purchasing local produce, you are helping reduce the amount of water needed for transport.

Water use isn't just linked to our food, it's also what we wear. You can reduce your clothing water footprint by

• buying second hand,

• avoiding fast fashion and choosing quality products that will last you years,

• prolonging the life of your clothes (wash carefully, air-dry, mend if torn),

• donating clothes or upcycle them,

• looking for sustainable brands certifications.

When cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals enter the water system, water treatment plant processes struggle to remove all the toxins. This means that some of the chemicals enter the waterways, contaminating the ecosystem, impacting animals and plants.

As a consumer, you can help reduce these impacts by purchasing eco-friendly, biodegradable, and natural products. These products have the bonus of being kind to animals, as they aren't tested on them! We've put together a list of some of our favourites here.

Want to learn more? Animal Liberation recently wrote a submission for the Inquiry into Food Production and Supply in NSW. Read it here (PDF will download).