Water is a unique substance. It is not possible for life on earth to exist without water. Given the meager amount of drinkable water we have on Earth, it becomes all the more important to save this significant and unique resource. It’s available to us for free, this doesn’t imply, we can waste it.

We have only one Earth to live on, so it’s our moral duty also to protect this natural resource for our future generations, our own children…

Click on image to enlarge

This is a sourced article. [http://www.iloveindia.com/parenting/child-lifestyle/index.html]

You may be surprise at what your kids are capable of doing and at sudden development in their activities such as rolling over, crawling and trying to climb up using an open drawer as the ladder. These may lead to unexpected accidents such as tipping hot liquids over themselves, making a shelf and its content fall, cutting themselves, falling from height and wandering outdoors or on to the streets alone. To keep your child safe and secure, childproofing is must for every household with young kids and curious toddlers. Here are some things that you will need to make your home safe enough for your child:

• Attach any heavy furniture to the wall using furniture straps or brackets.
• Child gates should be used at both the top and bottom of stairs such as the hardware-mounted style for the top and the pressure-mounted style for the bottom.
• Children have choked on window blind cord wraps, so either cut them short so that they are high enough for the child or replace them with shades.
• Cover the outlets with plates. Plug covers can be pulled off easily and are not safe enough.
• For open railings on balconies or terraces, use plastic guards or netting that can keep the children from falling.
• Put a childproof lock on oven and stove knobs so that children cannot turn them on and put covers on power strips.
• Put any dangerous items such as knives, blades, medications and cleaning products in a higher storage area and put childproof locks in lower cabinets and drawers.
• Put corner and edge bumpers on tables and raised fireplace hearths, so that children don’t bump on it.
• Put cover on tub spout or anti-scalding devices on faucets and be sure that water is never heated more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the bath.
• Put covers on doorknobs and levers, so that children cannot open it without an adult’s help and wander outside unsupervised.
• Put locks on toilet seats too and never keep any water storage such as bucket open to prevent children from drowning.
• Window guards and secure locking system on windows is a must.

And this one is from Rediff India [ Author : Kanchan Maslekar ]

When a baby is on the way, we plan for cribs, clothes, toys and so on. Safety is something we often ignore. Childproofing your home is always good idea. It is also a good excuse to redecorate.

First, talk to experienced parents and start making a checklist of what you need. Remember that childproofing is not an alternative to strict adult supervision though, and that no device is completely childproof. Also, make sure you review your safety measures every three months to ensure your child has not outgrown or outsmarted any of them.

Doors and balconies

As soon as the baby starts crawling, doors become the first choice for exploration. Use safety netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks and landings, says Vinayak Nachare, an interior decorator. Your balcony or terrace wall must be sufficiently high. Make sure there are no chairs, tables, buckets or dustbins in the balcony. It is also worth investing in grills. “I also advice parents with young children to replace window blind cords (with loops) with safety tassels, as the former can be dangerous,” adds Vinayak.

Cabinets

Keep all cabinets and drawers in the kitchen, bathrooms and other rooms locked using safety latches and locks. This blocks access to medicines, household cleaners, knives and other sharp objects. Store potentially dangerous substances in upper-level cabinets. These include sharp knifes, scissors, alcoholic beverages, household cleaning formulas, laundry supplies, medication, paint, kerosene, gasoline, charcoal, lighter fluid, bug spray, pesticides, and fertilisers.

Staircases

It is a good idea to install safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases. At the same time, make sure the latches are not complicated and can be easily manoeuvred by an adult in case of emergency. Remove all clutter or toys near the stairs to prevent tripping. Install handrails along the entire length of stairs. Encourage your child to hold the railing or wall while climbing up and down the staircase.

Furniture

It should be sturdy and not tumble. Also, try to ensure there are no jagged or sharp edges. Use cushions wherever possible.

Electrical appliances

Wiring in homes must be properly insulated. A child can hurt himself or herself if cords are left dangling on the floor. Cover every electrical outlet in your home with a child-resistant outlet cover (the plastic plugs are easy to pry out). Teething babies often chew on wires, so try to fit all wiring into protective plastic tubing, or tie them together and tuck them out of reach. Position audio-video equipment so children cannot pull televisions or stereos. Position televisions, stereos, microwaves and other equipment against walls, so small hands don’t have access to the back surfaces or cords. Also install outlet covers and plates on outlets to prevent electrocution.

Kitchen

All tablecloths should be secured to the table, so your child cannot pull anything. Place hot foods and liquids away from the edges of counters and tables. Move any sharp, tiny or poisonous objects to a drawer with a safety latch. Keep your fine crockery and china under lock and key. Neha Khanapurkar, a homemaker, recalls how her 4-year old daughter tugged at the toaster wire, bringing the toaster down. Luckily the switch was off, and missed her feet by a whisker. Now, Neha keeps all her appliances unplugged when not in use and all electrical cords coiled up.

Neha also has a trashcan with a lid, because children love to explore the bin. She also suggests that you keep your kid entertained when you are in the kitchen. “Have a ‘safe’ cupboard for child to explore while you are cooking. Fill it with wooden spoons, plastic cups and other harmless items. They can also cook like mama, without getting into trouble,” she adds.

To prevent unauthorised exploring, keep chairs and step stools outside the kitchen. Use a safety gate to keep children out of kitchen when you aren’t there.

Bathrooms

Keep the bathroom door is shut so your child does not enter the toilet unattended. Keep toilet seat cover closed to prevent accidents. Keep hair dryers, curling irons, electric shavers and other electric devices unplugged and out of reach. Don’t plug in anything near the bathtub. Install safety latches on cupboards, keep medications, toiletries and cleaning supplies out of reach. Store medication in original containers, this will help you identify the medicine in case your child swallows anything. In case you have a bathroom lock that your child can reach easily, remove it to prevent accidental locking.

Cribs

Make sure the mattress fits snugly, leaving no open spaces between the mattress and edge of the crib. Check all screws and bolts regularly to prevent the crib from collapsing. Though pillows, cushions and stuffed animal look very cute, avoid them; they could suffocate a baby. Always place a cushion or rug under the crib, cradle or changing table, which will act as a cushion in case of a fall. Make sure cribs, playpens and other furniture is not placed near windows, dangling cords, wall hangings or sharp objects.

Toy care

It is advisable to separate the older child’s games from the younger one’s, as many of these toys contain small parts that can be swallowed by toddlers. Inculcating the habit of put their toys away after use also helps. Also look out for broken toys, which could harm your child. As soon as the baby starts moving around, make sure you keep coins, small toys, nail scissors and balloons out of reach.

Quick tips

~ Use a cordless phone to enable you to keep a watch on your child.

~ Keep a list of emergency phone numbers — child’s doctor, your office numbers, neighbours or nearby relatives — at hand.

~ Keep a first aid box with all emergency medication.                

~ Place houseplants out of children’s reach; know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.

~ Keep remote controls, CDs and videos out of reach. This also applies to breakables like crockery or table lamps.

Set a good example. For instance, do not stand on a rocking chair to drive a nail or fasten a curtain. Your child is watching you and may try it later. Talk to the baby about safe behaviour and explain the likely dangers in the house.

This is a short but interesting post.

Image courtesy : designspongeonline.com

It is also based on a real life experience. My grandfather listens to a dozen of slokas and devotional songs everyday. He has a routine which he follows. The tracks that he listens to are:

1. Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam
2. Shri Hanuman Chalisaa (the whole album)
3. Lalitha Sahasranamam
4. Aaditya Hrudayam
5. Vishnu Sahasranamam (evenings)

The same songs are played everyday in the same order. So far he was using cassettes and a Philips tape recorder/player. The problem with this setup is that the tapes get worn out soon due to repeated usage and also get weak. So once in two weeks or so, one tape of another would snap. I would have to open them up and stick the ends with cello tape and put the tape back together. Occasionally the tape would get wound up inside the player due to some error.

And then we have speed playback issues, constant rewinding/fast forwarding and ofcourse, changing tapes problem.

So I decided to simplify the issue for him. I had an old unused MP3 player lying around. It had a defective ear phone socket. With some local supplies I managed to change the socket and replaced it with an external one. Then I copied the MP3 tracks for these songs onto the MP3 player. We had a spare set of speakers lying around. I connected these to the player and viola! – We had a digital system with all these songs stored in the order in which it would be required to play back.

All my grandfather has to do is press the play/pause button and change the single AAA battery once in week or so. I could have simplified it further by hooking up a power supply to the MP3 player, but perhaps I save it for another day.

I will try and post some pictures of the same soon. In case you want more details, leave your comments behind.

With the onslaught of the monsoon, here are some tips to prepare your house and ensure that it is a comfortable place to live in.

“As rain drops keep falling on our heads”, it is time to take measures to ensure that our houses are not only weatherproof but are also well equipped and decorated to keep us warm and dry during the monsoon.

Making it more live-able

Colours: On a cold rainy day, it is ideal that your house is decorated in bright colours to liven up your mood. Reserve blue and green colours for the summer heat. The monsoon calls for lively bright and warm colours such as yellows and oranges to brighten up your rooms. Ideally dark colours should be avoided as the skies are generally overcast and you want whatever light that enters your house to be maximised by light colours and other reflective surfaces. At the same time, avoid very light colours such as white and beige. These are colours which are very difficult to keep clean during a muddy monsoon.

Reduce the amount of greenery inside the house. In fact, with the onslaught of the monsoon, it is the ideal time to keep your plants out in the rain to get watered naturally. Plastic plants such as green ferns can be replaced with colourful ones such as plastic yellow sunflowers or orchids.

Carpet Care: Roll away that expensive Persian carpet for the monsoon. Ensure that once rolled, the carpet is covered in a plastic sheet. This will reduce the chances of moisture or accidental leakages damaging the carpet.

Invest in a bright, multi-coloured machine made acrylic washable carpet. These are light carpets and will dry faster than a Persian carpet if it gets wet. A more water-resistant option is a carpet made out of PET fibres. These are polyethylene and terephthalate fibres, made from recycled plastics. These carpets may not be as plush or soft to the feel as other synthetic fibres but they are very durable, water, static resistant, and offer extremely good value. They are also treated to be moisture and mildew resistant.

A cheaper alternative to this would be a decorative bamboo or coir mat. 
 
Window Drapes: Monsoon season is the time to have translucent window drapes. Invest in lace curtains or curtains without lining to ensure that the daylight passing through will bathe the room in a suffused glow. These curtains will allow sufficient amount of light to enter the room and at the same time provide the privacy that you seek.

Taking Precautions

Storing important documents: Water is a menace for books and important documents. Ideally, keep important documents such as your passport, driving licence, title deeds, etc. in a waterproof, zip-lock case or box. Ensure that you have photocopies of this document similarly protected in another place in the house.

Stocking up: If the rain is pouring down for days and the streets are water-logged, you may not be able to venture out of your house for some time. Remember to stock up with enough food items and other basic necessities in advance to prepare for such circumstances. Another thing to ensure is that you have torch lights, emergency lamps, and extra fuel for generators, or a backup battery for your UPS.

Preparing for the rains:Ensure that your house can withstand the onslaught of the rain. Fill up any minute cracks with plaster of paris or white cement until more professional restoration work can be undertaken. Fill gaps between sliding windows with rubber lining to keep water from seeping through on a windy, rainy day. If you have metal surfaces that you suspect could get rusty, treat them with a waterproofing spray.

Care should be taken to prep the outside of the house as well if you are not living in a flat. Ensure that the drains and culverts around the house are not clogged. Rake leaves regularly and dispose of them to ensure that rain water will not drag them into the drainage system. Cut down branches that you feel are likely to fall in a rain. Ensure that the water drains on your roof are working well; otherwise water may stagnate on the roof and start seeping through the ceiling and walls.

Ensure that you designate an area to dry off wet umbrellas and raincoats. Somewhere close to the front entrance is ideal, as you would have guests coming in with their wet raingear. Remember to keep a good waterproof doormat in front of your house so that people can reduce the amount of mud that they might unintentionally bring in.

It’s the rainy season and the greenery catches your eye. Nature thrives everywhere…including your cupboard! As the humidity level rises your carpets, upholstery, walls, bed linen, wardrobes retain the moisture and dampness too. You can also notice mould formation in the un-aired cupboards.

Dampness In Your Cupboard?

Keep any of these inside to keep the moisture at bay.

• A saucer with cloves.
• A box with quicklime or a block of camphor is good too and besides it will also bring a tangy aroma to the closet.
• A jar full of salt.
• A jar full of charcoal briquettes or a coffee tin will keep dampness away.
• Keep away musty odors by placing perfumed bath salts in the bottom of the cupboard.  

Dampness In The Room

Place a piece of camphor in the room. It will evaporate, leaving the room dry

Dampness In Your Bed?

The walls become practically damp during this season. It can be due to condensation or some leakage through the walls or ceiling.

• Place a silver foil over the damp area inside the room.
• If the side touching the wall is wet then the dampness comes from outside. Call for professional help. Identify the location of the leakage and water proof accordingly.
• Improve ventilation to stop condensation inside the room, for e.g. an extractor fan on the windows would be the solution.  

Source: [via PetroZine newsletter ]
http://www.indiaparenting.com/homedecor/decoratehome/data/decorate034.shtml
http://www.tips4me.com/tips/homehints/others_main.asp?file=/monthly/july/cv_07_28.htm 

Well the lamp in the picture above  is the new one. Our fridge is about 6 years old and the bulb inside gave away recently. So I set upon the task  to replace it myself. The bulb is enclosed by a clear plastic case. This protects the bulb from objects and also from water which can develop inside the fridge.

Once the plastic case is removed, the bulb can be unscrewed just like the typical Indian incandescent bulb. Push inwards and twist it out anti-clockwise. The area were the bulb fits into the holder is covered with rubber to avoid water from getting into the socket.

The bulb inside is called “practitone” and is manufactured by Philips in India. The cost if the bulb is 17 rupees in Chennai. It should be easily available in electrical stores. Please note that this bulb is not common across all refrigerator models. Our fridge is from Godrej. Direct cooling type.

This is what the bulb looks like. This one ofcourse is the blown one. To replace it, you have to push it into the socket and screw it clockwise and release it.

The bulb is also called as “pygmy lamp” probably because of its shape. The same model is used in kitchen chimneys which illuminate the hob area.

In case you need details about the bulb you can reach Philips at :

1860-180-1111 (BSNL/MTNL only)

or

011-6600-1111

We wanted to add a couple of accessories which would go into your mini bar. To start with we talk about the “Jigger”.

Image Courtesy : wineaccessory.com

Simply put, Jigger is a measuring device which is used to pour alcohol or other liquids in proper proportion while mixing cocktail drinks. The image shown above is what is very common. It has two parts. The one at the bottom is used to dispense 30ml or 3cl of liquid (also known as “small”) and the one on top is used to dispense 60ml or 6cl of liquid (also known as “large”).

Generally cocktails consist of one or two alcoholic beverages with fruit juices, spices, fruit bits, ice and flavouring syrups. You can check the internet for some amazing recipes for cocktails.

Some variants of a Jigger are shown below:

Image courtesy : egullet.com – Click on Image to enlarge.

The next accessory is somewhat too professional in our opinion. But it can come in very handy and avoid all the mess. We are talking about the “pourer”.

Image courtesy : wholesalebarproducts.com

These devices plug into the bottle’s mouth and provide an easy way to pour the liquid into the jigger or directly into glass. They usually fit every bottle and have a rubberised “one size fits all” kind of a design.

They can be reused for many bottles. Just make sure you wash them before plugging it into another bottle.

The last item which we would discuss in this article is the ice-crusher. With the exception of “one the rock” drinks, ice cubes are not a favorite for most drinks including cocktails. Most people do not like to see ice cubes floating in the drink. So we can use the ice crushed, reduce the surface area of the cube and use it in cocktail mixers. Some drinks like Irish Cream are actually served on crushed ice. So it is a good option to have one too.

Image Courtesy : lakewoodconferences.com

We hope that we were able to give you some good tips to set up your mini bar.

This article is sourced from a marketing flyer from “Surf Excel Matic”.

 Choosing the right detergent for your machine

If ordinary detergent powder is used to wash clothes in washing machines, you would typically require upto four times the water as compared to a handwash. Due to this quantity of water, the detergent usually gets diluted and fails to give you the desired results. This problem would not arise if a machine specific powder is used.

Dosage for you machine

How much detergent is enough? It is very essential that you dose your machine with the right amount of detergent.

For front loading washing machines:

• Tough stains – use 60 grams of detergent
• Regular stains – use 45 grams of detergent

For top loading washing machines :

• Tough stains – use 90 grams of detergent
• Regular stains – use 60 grams of detergent

Care tips for washing machines

• Do not overload the machine as this may affect normal washing operation.
• For a top loading washing machine, lay clothes loosely inside the washer until tey reach the top of the  tub.
• For a front loading machine you can fill it until it is full with minimum compression of clothes.
• For optimal performance, arrange clothes properly – bigger at the bottom and smaller at the top.
• Placing items of different sizes in the same load will improve the washing action.
• Always use a high quality detergent which is designed specifically for washing machines.
• For extra dirty pants, clothes should be washed inside out, exposed to the washing machine.
• While washing the clothes, always empty the pockets, zip up the zippers and button the clothes.
• Do not move the machine while in operation.

[Source: http://www.redwoodcity.org/publicworks/water/tips%20and%20links.html] Via – Petrozine newsletter.

General :

• Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or for cleaning around your home.
• Verify that your home is leak free. Many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
• Repair dripping faucets. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 10220.61 Litres per year. This adds to the cost of water and sewer utilities and adds to your water bill. 
• Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors to slow the flow of water.
• Insulate your water pipes. You’ll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
• If you have a well at home, check your pump periodically. Listen to hear if the pump kicks on and off while water is not being used. If it does, you have a leak. 

Bathrooms :

• Inside your house, bathroom facilities claim nearly 75% of the water used.
• Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the toilet bowl within 30 minutes.
• Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)
• If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
• Install a toilet dam or displacement device such as a bag or bottle to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush. Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts.
• When purchasing new or replacement toilets, consider low-volume units which use less than half the water of older models. In many areas, low-volume units are required by local building codes.
• Take shorter showers. Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water temperature knobs.
• Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water and use this to water plants. The same technique can be used when washing dishes or vegetables in the sink.
• In the shower, turn water on to get wet; turn off to lather up; then turn back on to rinse off. Repeat when washing your hair.
• Don’t let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.  

Kitchens :

• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded. Set the water level for the size of load you are using.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Dont let the tap run while you are waiting for cool water to flow.
• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
• Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste, instead of using a garbage disposal. Garbage disposals also can add 50 percent to the volume of solids in the sewer system or they can lead to problems with a spetic tank.
• Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you dont have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce water heating costs for your household.  

Outdoors : 

• When washing the car, use soap and water from a bucket. Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for the final rinse.
• Use a broom to clean your driveway.
• Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. Check and maintain your sprinkler system regularly.
• Do not water on windy days. A heavy rain means you dont have to water at all. Teach the family how to turn off an automatic sprinkler system in case a storm comes up during the sprinkling cycle.
• Always water during the coolest time of the day to minimize evaporation. Early morning is best, and the peak water consumption hours (4 p.m. – 9 p.m.) should be avoided.
• Minimize grass areas in your yard because less grass means less water demand. Replace with low-water use landscaping.
• Adjust your irrigation schedule to accommodate changes in seasonal water demand. Install an automatic timer.
• Buy a rain gauge to determine how much rain or irrigation your yard has received.
• When mowing, raise the blade on your lawn mower to at least three inches high, or to its highest level. Closely-cut grass makes the roots work harder, requiring more water.
• Drought-tolerant plants are more than just cacti! For landscaping, use native or other low water use plants. Check with your local nursery for the best native or low-water use trees, shrubs and plants.
• Using a layer of mulch around plants reduces evaporation and promotes plant growth. Water retaining basins also allow water to be concentrated around the plants.
• Use the principles of Xeriscape (pronounced ZERE-AH-SCAPE). This landscaping method uses native and drought-tolerant plants, mulch to hold in moisture, and grouping plants according to your water and light needs. 

General Facts :

• A human can live more than a month without food but only as much as one week without water.
• The average toilet uses 18.93 Litres to 26.5 Litres of water per flush.
• A shower can use 94.64 Litres to 189.27 Litres (18.93 Litres per minute).
• Just washing your hands can use up to 11.36 Litres of water (with tap running at 11.36 Litres per minute).
• Leaving the water running while you brush your teeth can waste 11.36 Litres of water (at 11.36 Litres per minute).
• Outdoor spigots can pump out 18.93 Litres to 37.85 Litres per minute.
• Automatic dishwashers use about 56.78 Litres per load.
• Washing one load of clothes in an automatic washer uses about 170.34 Litres.
• The average bath takes about 136.27 Litres of water.
• Cutting one minute off your shower time can save about 2649.79 Litres of water per month. 

Geography :

• The earth’s oceans cover about 140,500,000 square miles and contain almost 330,000,000 cubic miles of water.
• Scientists estimate that there may be enough ground-water in North America to cover the continent with a sheet of water almost 100 feet (30 meters) thick.
• The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls (Venezuela) with a total drop of 3,212 feet (980m).
• River that carries most water in the world is the Amazon River (South America) which discharges about 4 million cubic feet every second into Atlantic Ocean.
• The longest river in the world is the Nile River (Africa) at 4,145 miles (6,670km).
• The world’s shortest river is the Roe River in Montana at 201 feet long.
• The deepest and oldest lake in the world is Lake Baikal (Siberia) at 6,365 ft. (1,940 m) deep and 25 million years old. Lake Baikal holds one-fifth of the earth’s available fresh water.
• The largest ocean in the world is the Pacific Ocean at 64 million sq. miles (166 million sq. km).
• The worlds largest (surface area) freshwater lake is Lake Superior (North America) with an area of 32,000 sq. miles (82,103 sq. km).
• Tutunendo, Columbia is the world’s wettest place with an average rainfall of 463.4 inches (annual mean).
• The world’s driest place is Desierto de Atacama (near Calma, Chile). It remained almost rainless for about 400 years (to 1971). 

Where’s the Water?

• 80% of the earth’s surface is water.
• 97% of the earth’s water is seawater.
• 2% of the earth’s water supply is locked in icecaps and glaciers.
• 1% of the earth’s water is available for drinking.
• About 60% of the weight of the human body is water.
• An elephant is 70% water.
• A tomato is 95% water.
• An egg is about 74% water.
• A watermelon is about 92% water.
• A piece of lean meat is about 70% water. 

 [Source : http://www.wichita.gov]

[via : PetroZine Newsletter]

Water is life ! It is a precondition for human, animal and plant life as well as an indispensable resource for the economy. Water also plays a fundamental role in the climate regulation cycle.

The Pacific Ocean covers half the globe – an area big enough to fit all the continents. In fact, 75% of the world is covered by water, so although we call our planet ‘Earth’, perhaps we should really have named it ‘Water’! Most of the water on Earth is salty. Only about 3% is fresh water and some of this is frozen in glaciers and icebergs. Water is essential for the survival of living creatures, but there is a relatively small amount to be shared around – and that makes it very precious. We need to get better at looking after this valuable resource.

What do you know about water conservation and water pollution? Read about Water and test your knowledge here!

Awareness on water conservation

Water is a precious resource in our environment. Growing populations and ongoing droughts are squeezing our water resources dry, causing natural habitat degradation and impacting our everyday use of water.
 

Why save water?

Of all the water in the world, only 3% is fresh. Less than one third of 1% of this fresh water is available for human use. The rest is frozen in glaciers or polar ice caps, or is deep within the earth, beyond our reach.

To put it another way, if 100 litres represents the world’s water, about half a tablespoon of it is fresh water available for our use.
 
The global water situation
remember that our local water supplies are part of a bigger global water cycle

Fresh water is essential to our existence – it allows us to produce food, manufacture goods and sustain our health. It is also an essential part of the natural environment which supports all human, plant and animal life. 
 
Global water consumption has risen almost tenfold since 1900, in many parts of the world, and they are now reaching the limits of their supply. World population is expected to increase by 45% in the next thirty years, whilst freshwater runoff is expected to increase by 10%. UNESCO has predicted that by 2020 water shortage will be a serious worldwide problem.

One third of the world’s population is already facing problems due to both water shortage and poor drinking water quality. Effects include massive outbreaks of disease, malnourishment and crop failure. In addition, excessive use of water has seen the degradation of the environment costing the world billions of dollars.  
 

Embodied water
What is embodied water?

When thinking about how much water you use you probably think about how much water you use from the taps or tanks around the house and garden, and perhaps even the amount you use at work. But have you ever thought about the amount of water used to produce some of those items you take for granted in your life – food, clothing, furniture, building materials, etc.?

There is often a high amount of ‘embodied water’ associated with many items we use or consume on an everyday basis. This is the amount of water used during the growing, processing and transportation of the goods we use or consume, or the services we use.

As an example, here are some statistics showing the amount of water used to produce some everyday items.
It takes…

• 140L of fresh water to produce 1 cup of coffee
• 1,000L of fresh water to produce 1L of milk
• 1,350L of fresh water to produce 1kg of wheat
• 3,000L of fresh water to produce 1kg of rice, and
• 16,000L of fresh water to produce 1kg of beef 
   

The impacts of consumption
There are many hidden effects of excessive water consumption, including:

Building more dams. This has severe environmental effects such as destruction of wilderness, creation of greenhouse gases from rotting vegetation, altered stream flows and degraded ecological health. It’s also very costly!

Maintaining other infrastructure for water supply and use. This includes costly upgrades and maintenance of pipes, sewers and treatment facilities.

Erosion, salinity and desertification. Water consumption for agriculture alters the natural water cycle in many areas of Australia. This degrades production areas and intensifies other environmental problems such as land clearing and desertification.

Degradation of water bodies. Many of our rivers, wetlands and bays are degraded. This is partly due to the high levels of water extracted, as well as polluted surface runoff and storm water flushed into them.
It’s time to take action
let’s not play the blame game, each of us needs to take responsibility and take action at home, at work and at play!

As populations increase across the rest of the world, demand for water will also increase. If we don’t reduce each individual’s demand for water (both directly and through embodied water) the water situation will become dire
Concepts and Techniques on water conservation

Rain Water Harvesting
The rainwater that falls on the rooftops can be harvested for groundwater recharge using appropriate techniques. This method may be applied for the roofs of existing houses/buildings as well as those to be constructed in future.

It is estimated that a total of 2 MCM of water can be utilized for groundwater recharge at a cost of Rs.18.92 crores.
 
Lakes and Depressions
Lakes have often been misused for dumping of solid waste and sewage disposal. Water quality can be improved by replicating the principles of wetlands by the introduction of aquatic plants and fish in a systematic manner. Unique phenomenon of algae, bacteria symbiosis reduces the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand). The fish population acts as an ecological manipulator by grazing on the algal population.

The storage capacity can be increased by desilting and widening. By desilting and deepening the lakes with the assistance of draglines machines, the lakes would need to be linked up with storm water runoff in the vicinity to augment the inflow.

This measure improves the quantity of groundwater recharge as well as the quality of available groundwater.

Floodplain Reservoirs
In this method we creates a recharge basin and reservoirs on the flood plains by scooping out earth from the flood plains at appropriate locations and letting these reservoirs to be filled up by the expanded monsoon season flow of the river.

The Yamuna flood plain comprising of 97 sq.km. of area in Delhi offers a good scope for development of groundwater resources subsequent to the storage of monsoon waters on the flood plain itself. Out of 580 MCM of monsoon season flow allocated to Delhi about 280 MCM goes unutilized due to lack of storages. 
 
 
Quarry Reservoirs
Abandoned quarries are available in the vicinity of urban areas. With some modification of their catchment area and/or linkage with some nearby channels these can be used to store water, which would otherwise run-off. Depth and width of these quarries can be increased where the volume of runoff waters can be calculated to be in excess of present storage capacity.

Historical Water Bodies
Many ancient reservoirs have been disused due to change of catchment characteristics or due to destruction of feeding channel. These baolis/reservoirs can be reused as small recharge points. Major gains can be made only from the large reservoirs.

Paleo-Channels
These are abandoned course of rivers or streams and can be served as excellent ground water storage and recharge locations. Division of some of the monsoon flows into these channels greatly replenishes the declining water table for subsequent use.

Check Dams
In the regional topography several small or large check dams are possible and may be created not so much for surface withdrawal but for recharging the falling ground water table. There are number of micro watersheds present in Delhi e.g. in the Ridge which provide excellent topographical formation to conserve monsoon runoff through simple recharge structures.
 
Village Ponds
The original purpose of village ponds was to give sustainability to adjacent wells and for cattle drinking, bathing, etc. As village are absorbed into urban areas with increasing reliance on tube wells, the ponds are becoming cesspools. These ponds can function as storage reservoirs and recharge areas subsequent to desiltation and improvement of their water quality. Following recommendations are given:
No sewage should be diverted to ponds in order to maintain their water quality.
No garbage dumping should be permitted.
Technique of in-situ improvement of water quality using aquatic plants and fishes can be introduced where necessary in order to avoid mosquito breeding.
Grass plantation should be carried out along the perimeter of ponds in the immediate sloping catchment.
Existing ponds are to be widened to the extent possible and deepened by 1.0m and nearby storm water drainage is to be used to fill up the additional capacity thus created.
Pond may be desilt and deepen with the assistance of draglines machines.
 
Ecoparks
This involves the creation of artificial wetlands using aquatic plant root zone system to treat sewage waters up to tertiary levels for recycling to the irrigation and horticultural sector and possibly some industrial estates.

The system utilizes the roots of certain type of plants to provide sub-striates for the growth of bacteria, which utilizes the nutrients present in the effluents, and for the transfer of oxygen. The plants commonly employed are duckweed, water hyacinth, pennwort, etc. The plants have to be harvested regularly and about 20 to 25% plants should be removed at each harvest. These plants have a root system of rhizomes, containing thick hollow air passages, from which fine hair roots hang down.  
 
This root zone can support a very large population of aerobic microorganisms. Bacteria, dominate the microbial population, which is expected to degrade most of the simpler organic materials i.e. those contributing to BOD. The fungi and actinomycetes, although fewer in number, have a wider range of hydrolytic activities and are expected to degrade many of the large molecules that contribute to the COD.

The waste water encounters alternate aerobic and anaerobic microbial population which convert carbonaceous and to a lesser extent nitrogenous and phosphatic, contaminants in the water to less polluting materials. Further microorganisms can form biofilms around lower stems, which can then trap particles suspended in the wastewater by absorption.

It is expected to achieve an effluent quality of 5-10mg/l of suspended solids. A total of 495 MGD of recycled water can be made available for irrigation, horticulture and industrial needs and for domestic non-drinking supply.

We have no choice but to pay more attention to how we are using water, and how we may be wasting it. We must bridge the gap between our understanding of how important water is to our survival and what we can do to ensure that we have an adequate supply of clean water for years to come. 
 
It’s time to be water efficient!
It is obvious that we cannot increase demands for water much more without detrimental effects to the environment, society and the economy.

It’s all too easy to blame someone else for the water situation – “if 70% of water is used for agriculture then that’s what we should target” – but it’s not that easy. We all depend on the food and resources that agriculture provides, and while there are definitely opportunities to increase water efficiency on the farm, the solution will take more than that.

We each share responsibility for the sustainable management of our water resources, which means using less water at home, in the workplace, at school, on holidays, on the farm, … everyone, everywhere, every time.
 
It’s time to become water efficient! This involves reassessing our relationship with water, and learning to use it more sparingly. On the most basic level, it requires a behavioural change, and assigning a value to water that truly reflects its worth.

We can also unlock economic benefits of being water efficient. There are many real world examples given in the case studies on this site.

Everybody has a responsibility to save water, if future generations are to enjoy a similar standard of living to the one we enjoy now. In fact, many of the impacts associated with water use are likely to have an effect on our own lives!

When you purchase a new appliance for your home, you may want to know how old it gets with passing time. This would also tell you that the default warranty which comes with the device is about to expire as well.

Typically people tend to sign up for “annual maintenance contracts” at the end of the default warranty. But even AMC require annual renewal.

Any Indian home today would have:

• A television
• A DVD player
• A refrigerator
• A washing machine
• A water purifier
• A vacuum cleaner

Remembering the purchase dates, warranty terms and so on for all these devices and more is a tedious task.

Our suggestion is to automate the reminders by putting the dates and some key words online on one of the many free reminders services that exist on the internet today. You could check out some at google by clicking the following link:

http://www.google.co.in/search?q=online+reminder+service+free&rls=com.microsoft:*&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

For existing appliances, it would be wise to hunt the invoice and enter it online on one of the websites which you feel is suitable enough. Any new purchase done moving forward can become a standard task (cultivated habit). Once you purchase it and are satisfied with the installation (as in no returns), log on to your website and enter the detail of the newly purchased item.

Remember, every appliance needs to be recycled every “N” number of years to assure best of services. This list will also give you a fair idea on how old your gadgets are moving forward – unless you have an awesome memory in place already