The fact that July was the hottest month in recorded history has not been lost of those seeking to move the narrative forward regarding our changing climate. Although it is hard to argue the temperatures on our planet are changing negatively but we are yet to discover how rainfall patterns will be affected by the changes we are currently seeing. There is little doubt we should be looking to sustainable sources of water as only three percent of the water on our planet is classed as freshwater. The melting ice caps, as highlighted by the recent funeral for the melted Okjokull glacier in Iceland in 2019, are now a major concern as the rising sea levels could swamp many of the freshwater supplies we rely on for survival close to coastlines around the world.
There is little doubt we should all be looking for the most ethical solutions to our water issues, including the ability to ensure our bottled water is not sourced in a negative way. Switching to Waiakea Water, an ethically sourced form of bottled water from Hawaii is a good first step to take. The ethical nature of the water and the brand combine to make this a zero-carbon emissions company that takes its responsibility to the land and people of Hawaii extremely seriously.
The waterfall used by Waiakea Water stands at the foot of the Mauna Loa Volcano where more than 200 inches of pure rainwater and snowmelt pass through a natural filtration system each year. The filtration of the water through volcanic rock has resulted in more than 393 million gallons of water moving into the basin each day. To ensure the source of water is not damaged in any way, Waiakea Water has pledged to withdraw just 0.01 percent of the water produced each day to avoid having a negative effect on the ecosystem.
We may not yet understand how the changing climate is affecting the water production of the world but we can see some problems already developing. The Southwest of the U.S. has been in what is described as a severe drought for a number of years with rainfall levels falling each year. Wildfires in California have been increasing in severity and regularity over recent years causing issues with water use and the loss of groundwater in fire-affected areas.
One area of water sustainability that is rarely discussed is that of the role water plays in agriculture. For the majority of us, we do not consider how water affects agriculture, but this is the largest user of water in the world. Around 70 percent of all freshwater is used by the agriculture industry and is already causing problems in some areas of the world. Severe droughts have been an issue in Southeast Asia in recent years with many looking at agricultural practices as part of the problem. As one of the largest carbon producers on the planet, the agricultural industry is causing a number of problems for the world. Not Least, the large amount of water being used by the sector is a major problem.