Every drop matters

Water droplets as a metaphor for water scarcity

All substances look different at the macro scale, but water in particular takes on playful three-dimensional forms, resembling marbles more than water, that hang off flowers and other surfaces ephemerally. In most of these shots, the drop was gone a split second after the picture was taken. This ephemeral nature of a water drop is a valid metaphor for freshwater in general.

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Only about 2.5% of the total volume of water on our planet is freshwater, and of that only 1% is accessible - it is this latter fraction that most land organisms rely on for their survival. It is captured by the ecosystem from precipitation via a complex system of weather phenomena, geological formations, and, importantly, plants. This delicate balance has been disrupted by climate change, deforestation and overconsumption, which have drastically disrupted water systems around the world. Dry places such as California and the Middle East have experienced in recent years the longest and most extreme droughts on record, and following each such water crisis the ecosystem takes years to recover. Meanwhile, rapidly changing weather phenomena in other parts of the globe carry different risks: extreme rainfall and flooding fills water reservoirs with sediment and pollutants compromising water quality, while the ability of the ecosystem to absorb and retain extreme volumes of water in short amounts of time is limited. Deforestation also contributes to net loss of freshwater, since trees are very efficient at capturing rainwater and preventing ground erosion. They transfer back great volumes of water into the atmosphere via transpiration, maintaining the cycle of water and acting as a moderator between dry and wet spells. Given this complex crisis, it becomes evident that every drop of water matters, and, in this sense, individuals can do a lot to minimise waste, such as: closing the tap when washing their hands or teeth; fixing those leaky toilets or faucets; using the dishwater only when there is a full load; investing in water-efficient washing machines; and filling the kettle only up to the amount they need. Even minimal changes in the every day life of each and every one of us can have a big impact on the vitality of the water systems around the world and the health of the planet as a whole.