Reflecting on water scarcity this World Water Week

What comes to mind when we think of drought and water scarcity? We may think of the thousands of women and children who have to walk miles to collect water. We envisage the deserts growing and rivers and lakes drying up. We picture the farmers who see their crops die without irrigation and the people facing famine.?

Historically, the impacts of the water scarcity crisis have been mainly associated with Africa, Asia, and the Middle East – three areas which face some of the highest risks of drought and the devastating consequences. However, while it’s clear that people in these countries and other high-risk areas are being hit hardest by the effects of climate change on water scarcity, there’s no doubt that the crisis is impacting lives across the globe.?

According to Mekonnen and Hoekstra (2016), 4 billion people, representing nearly two-thirds of the global population, experience severe water scarcity for at least one month.?

If drought impacts life in the UK, what is life like for those in high-risk countries??

I am very fortunate to have lived in countries with a lower risk of drought and water scarcity, and yet this summer has seen the driest July in England since 1935, and the effects are visible across the country. Green spaces are now yellow and brown, lakes and rivers have dried up, and many areas of the country face a hosepipe ban. What’s more, farmers who are usually able to rely mainly on rainfall have seen their crops wither, and their grazing land destroyed, resulting in increasing costs of staples such as bread, dairy and meat.?

Having seen the impacts on daily life and livelihoods here and the disruption, danger and cost that have come with it, I can only imagine what life must be like for those people bearing the brunt of the water crisis. Here in the UK, we realise that it will take time for our fields to be replenished and our rivers to flow again. But, to think that for the 1.42 billion people who live in areas of high or extremely-high water vulnerability (UNICEF, 2021), these impacts are far more severe and relentless – there is no question that we all need to take action now.?

What can hotels do to manage water sustainably??

A hotel can use an average of 1,500 litres per room per day, vastly exceeding that of local populations in water-scarce destinations. Climate change also drastically increases the prevalence of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and droughts, driving water scarcity.?

The hospitality industry can play a vital role in reducing its carbon emissions and managing water consumption whilst contributing to sustainable water sources in its local communities. We’re already seeing some great examples across the industry - from desalinisation of salt water and recycling of greywater to adapting menus and chasing suppliers to avoid water-intensive resources.?

Discover ways to enact change this #WorldWaterWeek, within the new guest blog from WaterAid - https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/water-stewardship-partnerships/??

Understand your hotel’s relationship with water and how to manage this using the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance ’s #waterstewardship resources - https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/resources/resources-guide-water-stewardship/??

World Water Week SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute ?

#ResponsibleHospitalityforaBetterWorld #NetPositiveHospitality?