Water is undeniably, obviously critical to the survival of living things. Although this precious resource covers over 70% of the globe, only 3% of that is freshwater—mostly in solid ice form as glaciers or icecaps—and a staggering estimated 1 in 5 people on the earth don't have access to a safe source of drinking water. The results are disastrous. Diseases spread through unclean water claim thousands of lives every day in underdeveloped nations, especially affecting children. Regional conflicts erupt over the availability and distribution of fresh water.

More industrialized nations don’t have to directly deal with the shortage of freshwater now, but these communities still must take action or the crisis will grow worse and will spread to affect more and more people. Here are some of the easiest and most basic water-saving tips as a reminder. If these are well familiar by now, then we're on the right track.

#1: Remember the basics!

Don’t let water run unnecessarily in the sink when brushing teeth, shaving, etc. Run a full load in the dishwasher and laundry. Surprisingly, washing a full load of dishes in the dishwasher uses less water than washing the same number of dishes by hand. Saves time too! When buying new appliances or renovating your home, don’t forget to explore water-saving options, such as water-efficient dishwashers, properly insulated water pipes, or drip irrigation systems, to name a few.

#2: Check for leaks!

Add food coloring to the tank water in the toilet—if there is color in the bowl after half an hour, there's a leak. Another quick test for homeowners: check your water meter, then stop using any water for a few hours. Check the meter again—if there is a change in the reading, you might have a leak. Also, repair leaky faucets by replacing washers.

#3: Landscape with care!

Don’t overwater the lawn and especially don't water plants in the middle of the day when the water is more likely to evaporate. Plant greenery appropriate to the area that you live. If you live in the desert, a high-maintenance lawn that needs plenty of water might be pretty, but isn't the most appropriate plan for your yard.

All it takes is a single drop in a still pond to send out a cascade of ripples through the water. Although much work needs to be done to alleviate the global freshwater crisis, the first step is education and awareness. This information will equip industrialized communities with the knowledge needed to begin to help less privileged nations.When combined with responsible water usage in our daily lives, we as a global community can collectively start saving for the days without rain.

For more information, view the following sources: www.h2ouse.org and http://www.worldwatercouncil.org