MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

AGE 401: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

LECTURER: DR. AANDREW KWONYIKE

Copyright@Machakos University, 2022
All Rights Reserved

May 2022
Name: Dr. ANDREW KWONYIKE
Education: PhD (Environmental Studies),
Mphil (Environmental Planning &Management),
Bed Geo/SE)
Specialization Environmental Planning &Management
Department: Environmental science
Office: Department of Environmental science
Email [email protected]
Phone: 0717568675
LECTURER FIVE
Introduction and definition of terms
1.1 Introduction
This lecture discusses the concept of water conservation, strategies for promoting water
conservation, benefits for improved water conservation, and water conservation problems.
The lecture covers:
1. Lecture objectives 2. Definition of water conservation 3. Strategies for promoting water
conservation 4. Benefits for improved water conservation 5. Water conservation problems 6.
Further activities 7. summary 8. suggestions for further reading.
1.2 Lecture objectives
By the end of this course the learner should be able to:
(i) Explain the benefits of water conservation.
(ii) Water conservation problems.
1.3 e-tivity
water conservation
Numbering, sequencing: 1.3
Title: water conservation practices and benefits
Brief summary of task:
- read the document below at Url
- read the online documents below and open the links provided to watch you tube videos (section
1.13)
Spart or simulator: water conservation
Individual task: using bullet points/paragraphs,
a) discuss the benefits of water conservation
b) Outline the water conservation practices
Interaction begins:
a) post two questions related to water conservation
b) provide feedback to learners views.
E-moderator interventions:
a) ensure learners are focused on discussions.
b) stimulate further learning.
 c) provide feedback on learning progress.
d) Close e-tivity.
Schedule and time: this should take 30 minutes.

1.4 Water Conservation

Water conservation includes all the policies, strategies and activities to sustainably manage the
natural resource of fresh water, to protect the hydrosphere, and to meet the current and future
human demand. Population, household size and growth and affluence all affect how much water
is used. Factors such as climate change have increased pressures on natural water resources
especially in manufacturing and agricultural irrigation. Many countries have already
implemented policies aimed at water conservation, with much success.
The goals of water conservation efforts include:
 Ensuring the availability of water for future generations where the withdrawal of freshwater from
an ecosystem does not exceed its natural replacement rate.
 Energy conservation as 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 where minimizing human water usage helps to preserve freshwater habitats
for local wildlife and migrating waterfowl, but also water quality.

1.5 Strategies for promoting water conservation

The key activities to conserve water are as follows:

 Any beneficial reduction in water loss, use and waste of resources.

 Avoiding any damage to water quality.
 Improving water management practices that reduce the use or enhance the beneficial use
of water.

One of the strategies in water conservation is rain water harvesting. Digging ponds, lakes, canals,
expanding the water reservoir, and installing rain water catching ducts and filtration systems on
homes are different methods of harvesting rain water. Many people in many countries keep clean
containers so they can boil it and drink it, which is useful to supply water to the needy. Harvested
and filtered rain water can be used for toilets, home gardening, lawn irrigation, and small scale
agriculture.

Another strategy in water conservation is protecting groundwater resources. When

precipitation occurs, some infiltrates the soil and goes underground. Water in this saturation zone
is called groundwater. Contamination of groundwater causes the groundwater water supply to
not be able to be used as a resource of fresh drinking water and the natural regeneration of
contaminated groundwater can take years to replenish. Some examples of potential sources of
groundwater contamination include storage tanks, septic systems, uncontrolled hazardous waste,
landfills, atmospheric contaminants, chemicals, and road salts. Contamination of groundwater
decreases the replenishment of available freshwater so taking preventative measures by
protecting groundwater resources from contamination is an important aspect of water
conservation.

An additional strategy to water conservation is practicing sustainable methods of utilizing

groundwater resources. Groundwater flows due to gravity and eventually discharges into
streams. Excess pumping of groundwater leads to a decrease in groundwater levels and if
continued it can exhaust the resource. Ground and surface waters are connected and overuse of
groundwater can reduce and, in extreme examples, diminish the water supply of lakes, rivers,
and streams. In coastal regions, over pumping groundwater can increase saltwater intrusion
which results in the contamination of groundwater water supply. Sustainable use of groundwater
is essential in water conservation.

A fundamental component to water conservation strategy is communication and

education outreach of different water programs. Developing communication that educates
science to land managers, policy makers, farmers, and the general public is another important
strategy utilized in water conservation. Communication of the science of how water systems
work is an important aspect when creating a management plan to conserve that system and is
often used for ensuring the right management plan to be put into action.

Water conservation programs involved in social solutions are typically initiated at the
local level, by either municipal water utilities or regional governments. Common strategies
include public outreach campaigns, tiered water rates (charging progressively higher prices as
water use increases), or restrictions on outdoor water use such as lawn watering and car washing.
Cities in dry climates often require or encourage the installation of xeriscaping or natural
landscaping in new homes to reduce outdoor water usage. Most urban outdoor water use in
California is residential, illustrating a reason for outreach to households as well as businesses.

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. Although individual water meters have often
been considered impractical in homes with private wells or in multifamily buildings, the US
Environmental Protection Agency estimates that metering alone can reduce consumption by 20
to 40 percent. 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. One would be unable to
waste water unless they are willing to pay the extra charges, this way the water department
would be able to monitor water usage by the public, domestic and manufacturing services.

Some researchers have suggested that water conservation efforts should be primarily
directed at farmers, in light of the fact that crop irrigation accounts for 70% of the world's fresh
water use. The agricultural sector of most countries is important both economically and
politically, and water subsidies are common. Conservation advocates have urged removal of all
subsidies to force farmers to grow more water-efficient crops and adopt less wasteful irrigation
techniques.

New technology poses a few new options for consumers, features such as full flush and
half flush when using a toilet are trying to make a difference in water consumption and waste. It
is also possible to use/"pollute" the water in stages (keeping use in flush toilets for last), hereby
allowing more use of the water for various tasks within a same cycle (before it needs to be
purified again, which can also be done in-situ). Earthships often use such a setup.
 Also available are modern shower heads that help reduce wasting water: Old shower
heads are said to use 5-10 gallons per minute, while new fixtures available use 2.5 gallons per
minute and offer equal water coverage. Another method is to recycle the water of the shower
directly, by means a semi-closed system which features a pump and filter. Other methods of
water conservation include Waterless urinals (also can be installed in schools), Waterless car
washes, Infrared or foot-operated taps, which can save water by using short bursts of water for
rinsing in a kitchen or bathroom, Pressurized waterbrooms, which can be used instead of a hose
to clean sidewalks, X-ray film processor re-circulation systems, Cooling tower conductivity
controllers, Water-saving steam sterilizers, for use in hospitals and health care facilities, Rain
water harvesting,Water to Water heat exchangers.

Install a low-flow showerhead. With a low-flow showerhead, you can save 15 gallons of
water during a 10-minute shower,Manage outdoor water use. Don’t forget about water
conservation outside as well. Equip all hoses with shut-off nozzles, which can prevent hose
leaks,Turn off the water. Teach your whole household to turn off the faucet while brushing teeth
or shaving,Use a dishwasher. Dishwashing accounts for less than 2 percent of indoor water use,
but using a machine is actually more water efficient than hand washing, especially if you run full
loads,Check for and repair leaks. An average of 10,000 gallons of water is wasted every year due
to household leaks. One of the most effective ways to cut your water footprint is to repair leaky
faucets and toilets.

Pressure Reduction. Homeowners can reduce the water pressure in a home by installing
pressure reducing valves. A reduction in water pressure can save water in other ways: it can
reduce the likelihood of leaking water pipes, leaking water heaters, and dripping faucets. Faucet
Aerators. Faucet aerators, which break the flowing water into fine droplets and entrain air while
maintaining wetting effectiveness, are inexpensive devices that can be installed in sinks to reduce
the volume of water used. Aerators are easily installed and can reduce the volume of water use at
a faucet by as much as 60% while still maintaining a strong flow. More efficient kitchen and
bathroom faucets that use only 7.5 l/min, in contrast to standard faucets, which use 12 to 20
l/min, are also available.
 Toilet Displacement Devices. Non-toxic bricks or plastic containers (e.g., milk jugs filled
with water or pebbles) can be placed in a toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush.
By placing between one and three such containers in the tank, more than 41 of water can be
saved per flush. A toilet dam, which holds back a reservoir of water when the toilet is flushed,
can also be used instead of the displacement device to save water.

Drought-Tolerant Plants. Water conservation in landscaping can be accomplished

through the use of plants that need little water, thereby saving not only water but labor and
fertilizer as well. Careful landscape design can significantly reduce water use; it can also take
advantage of native plants which have evolved water-saving or water-tolerant characteristics
ideally suited for the local climatic conditions. Use of native plants can also help to minimize the
spread of exotic plant species that disrupt local ecosystems.

1.6 Advantages of water conservation

It minimizes the effects of drought and water shortages. Even though our need for fresh water
sources is always increasing because of population and industry growth, the supply we have
stays constant. Even though water eventually returns to Earth through the water cycle, it's not
always returned to the same spot, or in the same quantity and quality. By reducing the amount of
water we use, we can better protect against future drought years.

It guards against rising costs and political conflict. Failing to conserve water can eventually
lead to a lack of an adequate water supply, which can have drastic consequences. These include
rising costs, reduced food supplies, health hazards, and political conflict.

It helps to preserve our environment. Reducing our water usages reduces the energy required
to process and deliver it to homes, businesses, farms, and communities, which, in turn, helps to
reduce pollution and conserve fuel resources.

It makes water available for recreational purposes. It's not just swimming pools, spas, and
golf courses that we have to think about. Much of our freshwater resources are also used for
beautifying our surroundings—watering lawns, trees, flowers, and vegetable gardens, as well as
washing cars and filling public fountains at parks. Failing to conserve water now can mean
losing out on such uses later on.

It builds safe and beautiful communities: Firefighters, hospitals, gas stations, street cleaners,
health clubs, gyms, and restaurants all require large amounts of water to provide services to the
community. Reducing our usage of water now means that these services can continue to be
provided.

1.7 What are the Water-Related Problems?

The main problems with water are water shortage, shortages of clean water and waterborne
diseases. A lack of access to safe water caused 80% of all deaths around the developing world.
More than 5 million people die each year from water-related diseases such as hepatitis A,
dysentery and severe diarrhea.

An approximated 900 million to 1.1 billion people worldwide lack clean drinking water and
2.4 billion lack basic sanitation. Demand for water is increasing at a rate faster than population
growth. Over the past 70 years, while the world's population has tripled, demand for water has
increased sixfold. The United Nations estimates that in 2025 that 5 billion of the world's 8 billion
people will live in areas where water is scarce. Many of these people will have difficulty to
access enough water to meet their basic needs.

Increasing populations, growing agriculture, industrialization and high living standards

have boosted demand for water. All this while drought, overuse and pollution have decreased
the supplies. To make up for the shortfall, water is often taken from lakes, rivers and wetlands,
causing serious environmental damage. According to a 2003 United Nations report, “Across the
globe, groundwater is being depleted by the demands of megacities and agriculture, while
fertilizer runoff and pollution are threatening water quality and public health."

It seems there are alarming predictions every week related to water such as disease, crop
disasters, starvation, famines and war. Safe drinking water and sanitation is one of the major
challenges in many developing countries, from shanty towns and areas to urban poor cities. At
least in rural areas, the poor can dig wells and take care of the sanitation in their fields.