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The Rotunda
Friday, July 25, 2025

Water

Sometimes it is used for feeding animals or irrigating crops. Meanwhile, we use it daily for showering, brushing our teeth, doing the laundry, cleaning our rooms and having fun during summer: Water is an essential resource in our life and yet, we do not duly take care of it.

According to the U.S Geological Survey, each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. Surprisingly, the largest use of household water is toilet flushing, followed by showering. 

Even though the government has attempted to raise awareness of the over usage of water with new legislations, people are continuously wasting huge amounts of water. Shawn Hamilton, a 50 year old mechanic, said, “A lot of people my age just do not know the restrictions and just use the water we have.” Hamilton also added that one of his friends was really wasteful when it comes to water use, “He became really aware 5 years ago, when no water could be taken from the Appomattox River and Virginia faced an important drought.” Then, Hamilton concluded, “We Americans don’t mind until it become an issue”.

In 2013, the World Resource Institute conducted a research called  ‘Top Countries Facing Water Stress’ that placed the United States among those countries that faced “low to medium stress,” this is to say that the country was being threatened by droughts that not only affect the society but reduce the economic growth.

In order to avoid water shortage and leave some of this necessaryresource for the following generations to come, the Appomattox River Water Authority provides some important tips to keep in mind:

  1. Do not let the faucet run while washing hands, face or while shaving.
  2. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.
  3. Do not use the toilet as a wastebasket. Each flush of a standard toilet uses 3.5-7 gallons of water.
  4. Take shorter showers.
  5. If washing dishes by hand, rinse them in a half-full basin or pan instead of under running water.
  6. Thaw frozen food in advance in the refrigerator or use the microwave instead of running water.
  7. Take ice cube trays from the freezer a few minutes before they are needed. The ice cubes will loosen at room temperature without the need to run them under tap water.
  8. Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.

It is crucial to raise awareness on water over usage before it is too late. We, as college students, can make the change the world needs to see. We are young enough to take care of an essential resource like water. Help your future children by telling your family and friends not to waste water. Begin today!