Ireland’s relationship with water use is in a well-documented transitional period, as water meters are rolled out across the country and charges for use loom on the horizon. Despite a largely negative reaction to this scheme, the potential for conservation is promising and important – leak detection works and water saving products are a boon for homeowners and the environment alike. While we may never see droughts as severe as those currently ravaging the west coast of North America, a wasteful infrastructure poses a huge threat to natural resources and people.
Reservoirs are drained of water in California, scuppering the chance of any pleasant boat rides.
Municipalities in California are scrambling for water as we speak, with mandatory cutbacks and fines being implemented in the face of a historic drought – a 25% reduction in water use is the target for the state. The fight for resources has, in some quarters, become bitter – the practice of drought shaming has taken social media by storm, with residents of areas hit by water scarcity publicly condemning over-watered gardens and driveway car-washing. “According to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California, 66% of Californians believe that their neighbours are not doing enough to save water” (BBC News). Environmental patterns make it abundantly clear that California’s drought problems will be a fixture for the coming decades, yet the serious revision of water policy is only beginning.
That water is now a precious commodity will be no surprise to many people in the world, particularly in countries typically regarded as economically poorer. Now that much wealthier jurisdictions like California are experiencing widely-publicised difficulty, it is important we consider our own attitudes to water on a personal and governmental scale. The idea of shaming people for using wasting water may be a little extreme in countries such as Ireland where rainfall is predictable (sometimes too predictable), but a clean, constant supply drinking water is no longer a commodity. The financial incentive to reduce waste will hopefully see more responsible, environmentally friendly usage.
