MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A drop in the ocean
In an age of technological wonders, it's easy to forget that millions of people lack access to the most basic of resources - clean and plentiful water.
According to UN figures, two thirds of the world's population currently live in an area that experiences water scarcity for at least one month a year. Nearly 2 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with human waste – putting them at risk of contracting typhoid, cholera, dysentery or polio.
But there are ways in which you can help, like monitoring your own water use, making a few simple lifestyle changes or using apps to report leaks before they become major problems.
Track your usage
The first step in helping cut down on water wastage is at home. You can use Meter Readings to see exactly how much water you are using and identify patterns of behaviour that you can change. When you see your usage in graph form you can quickly see how a few lifestyle changes can make an immediate impact.
Change your habits
You can use JouleBug to help being ecologically-minded more rewarding. Can you run the washing machine one fewer days a week? Do you turn off your tap when you're brushing your teeth? By gamifying your choices – and letting you compete against your friends – Joulebug adds a little fun to helping the planet.
Fix up your home
Fixing a few things at home is another brilliant way to make an immediate impact. WikiHow is an app with great crowd-sourced advice and tips on everything from fixing that leaky tap, to installing a collector for rainwater.
Join in
The power of the community in helping with water crises shouldn't be underestimated. Connect with your neighbours through apps and you can report water-related accidents, find out if you can build a shared water supply and get alerts if anything goes wrong.