Water Conservation

The main threats to water supply are the threats to the quantity of water (water shortage) or the quality of water (pollution).

Water shortages may occur due to lack of rainfall or drought or land usage practice such as forestation (where the trees produced in large scale forestry can physically dry up surfaces and ground water sources).  

How Water is Conserved

Many underground water mains networks may be very old, and as the demand for water increases, so does the water pressure. This increase in pressure can cause an increase in the amount of water lost through leaks.

Water conservation can be accomplished by repairing leaks, replacing old sections of water pipes, reducing water pressures, carrying out surveys of areas of great risk and identifying sections requiring special attention.

Water can be conserved by metering usage to consumers, and banning water use for non-essential uses particularly in summer when demand is at maximum.

One of the best ways to conserve water is for the users to understand where they waste water and to change their habits. Many homes and businesses can easily achieve savings of between 20% and 50%.