The Water Crisis is Everyone's Concern

It is summer, the heat is unbearable, you have worked up a sweat doing simple chores around the house and now you want to take a break to quench your thirst. You reach into the freezer; toss some ice cubes in a glass and reach to turn on the tap... But wait!

Before you take that first sip, take a second to think about this one simple act. This one small movement, filling your cup and drinking an ice-cold glass of water, is a luxury that one in eight people don't have.

Almost 1 billion people on this earth do not have easy access to clean drinking water!

That is the message Canadian billionaire and founder of Cirque du Soleil, Guy Laliberté brought to the world as he traveled to space in an attempt to raise awareness of the importance of water.

"Strong images are associated with water. Water symbolizes life. But water is also the main cause of death around the world," he said in a recent interview describing why he created the One Drop Foundation. He said his goal for the nonprofit organization is to fight poverty by ensuring that everyone in the world has access to water.

The climax of Laliberté's 11-day trip was on Friday, October 9 when, from the International Space Station, he hosted a global event and brining to the forefront the threat of a water crisis.

Joining him in this quest were international celebrities including, Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President, Dr. David Suzuki, U2 and Shakira. The event was simultaneously held in 14 cities on five continents.

One can now only hope that the world has heard his message from space. Although Laliberté is raising awareness of the crisis he also hopes to empower individuals to take action and for everyone to do their part.

"Managing the world's water resources is everyone's concern," he said in an interview. "We might not recognize it as we live in privileged circumstances."

Simple steps can be taken to cut back on water waste around the house. Turning off the tap when you brush your teeth can save almost 30 litres of water. Keep a pitch of water in the fridge so you don't have to let the tap run to get cool water. Cut down on your showers and take only five minutes. Better yet install low-flow showers and toilets in your house.

Preserving our water is also more than just conservation; it is also about protecting our water sources. This could mean using a laundry detergent and dish soap that are bio-degradable and free of phosphates and other harsh chemicals.

So now that you have taken a moment to think about water go ahead and enjoy that glass of water.