The Palm Bay Utilities Department is committed to promoting water conservation. Practicing good conservation is essential, and we strive to reach out to all residents of Palm Bay and share information on our vital yet fragile resource, water. Palm Bay Utilities has a strong outreach program for all residents, including participating in seminars, speaking at HOA's, and educational outreach at Palm Bay schools.
The world has a minimal amount of fresh water available for consumption. Nearly 70 percent of the world is covered by water, and only 2.5 percent of it is fresh. The rest is salt water and ocean-based. Even then, just 1 percent of our freshwater is easily accessible, with much trapped in glaciers and snowfields. According to the latest U.S. Geological Survey, the United States uses 408 billion gallons a day. In Florida alone, each person uses about 120 to 150 gallons of water per day.
A student entering kindergarten in 2018 will live to see the constraint the world will have for water by the time they have finished college. According to the World Resources Institute, projections for potable water (consumable water) are becoming more strained every year all over the globe. It is exceedingly important to educate our communities on water conservation.
Different terms are used to describe different types of water scarcity:
A water shortage is when there is not enough water to meet demands. Changes in the weather, such as drought, can cause a water shortage.
Water stress is the difficulty of finding sources of fresh water for use.
A water crisis is when the available supply of potable, clean water within an area is less than the demand for it.
If we continue in the "business as usual scenario," we could see water stress quickly. However, we know that every positive action we take to preserve water helps change that picture. Learning about water issues can be a little scary. We can do many things to contribute to saving water, from watering your lawn correctly, installing new water-saving fixtures in your home, ensuring your irrigation system is optimally utilized, and practicing Florida-Friendly Landscaping with the right plant in the right place to reduce waste.
