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Water conservation
Water conservation can be defined as: 1.Any beneficial reduction in water loss, use or waste as well as the preservation of water quality. 2.A reduction in water use accomplished by implementation of water conservation or water efficiency measures; or, 3.Improved water management practices that reduce or enhance the beneficial use of water.[1][2] A water conservation measure is an action, behavioral change, device, technology, or improved design or process implemented to reduce water loss, waste, or use. Water efficiency is a tool of water conservation that results in more efficient water use and thus reduces water demand. The value and cost-effectiveness of a water efficiency measure must be evaluated in relation to its effects on the use and cost of other natural resources (e.g. energy or chemicals).[1]
[edit] Goals
The goals of water conservation efforts include as follows:

Sustainability. To ensure availability for future generations, the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate. Energy conservation. Water pumping, delivery, and wastewater treatment facilities consume a significant amount of energy. In some regions of the world over 15% of total electricity consumption is devoted to water management. Habitat conservation. Minimizing human water use helps to preserve fresh water habitats for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, as well as reducing the need to build new dams and other water diversion infrastructures. Reduce water consumption per capita. --Koko1088 (talk) 18:08, 14 March 2012 (UTC)
Social solutions
Drip irrigation system in New Mexico Water conservation programs are typically initiated at the local level, by either municipal water utilities or regional governments. Common strategies include public outreach campaigns,[3] tiered water rates (charging progressively higher prices as water use increases), or restrictions on outdoor water use such as lawn watering and car washing.[4] Cities in dry climates often require or encourage the installation of xeriscaping or natural landscaping in new homes to reduce outdoor water usage.[5] One fundamental conservation goal is universal metering. The prevalence of residential water metering varies significantly worldwide. Recent studies have estimated that water
supplies are metered in less than 30% of UK households,[6] and about 61% of urban Canadian homes (as of 2001).[7] Although individual water meters have often been considered impractical in homes with private wells or in multifamily buildings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that metering alone can reduce consumption by 20 to 40 percent.[8] In addition to raising consumer awareness of their water use, metering is also an important way to identify and localize water leakage. Water metering would benefit society in the long run it is proven that water metering increases the efficiency of the entire water system, as well as help unnecessary expenses for individuals for years to come. WHY TO CONSERVE WATER: PERSONAL, TERRITORY AND GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE Human beings cannot survive more than 3 days without any source of water. Neither can other animals or plants. Water is life. Water is needed to move, eat, reproduce, work and think, in other words, to survive and to live. Water resources are challenged in our world today due to pollution and overuse of the local resources. There are also fights for water between different users: farmers, people in cities and industries. There also rivers that cross frontiers, and thus there some problems in the sharing and use of the water between different countries. We are using much more water than what is really needed and available in many locations around the world. This is due sometimes because of lack of water, but more often it is due to a bad management of the water resources available, bad or non existent urban planning and bad or non existent population planning. We are also wasting our water resources when we are discharging our wastes and sewage into it, making the receiving waters unsuitable for life and in many cases even unsuitable for industrial or agricultural use. These are the main reasons to preserve our water resources. There are many ways to do so. Water conservation needs to be addressed through the three environmental Rs: Reduce Reuse Recycle
Maintaining Water Quality

Water quality is affected by the type and amount of impurities: Physical contamination are particles in the water, like silt due to erosion Chemical impurities are substances dissolved in the water, like salt, fertilizers, oils, pesticides and other chemical residues
Biological impurities are living organisms such as algae and some micro-organisms. Bacteriological contamination is biological and it is extremely important to human and animal health. Rain or creek water is unlikely to have serious physical or chemical impurities, like high levels of fertilizers, pesticides or oils, but may develop algal problems, particularly if exposed to light and if nutrient levels (normally due to chemical contamination with fertilizers in the creek basin) are high. Bacterial impurities may develop if this water is stored improperly or contaminated with grazing animals droppings and urine.

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Water conservation

Maintaining Water Quality

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