Sustainable Living Guide Contributions Part 3

Sustainable Living Guide Contributions Part 3 Of

Prior to beginning work on this assignment, please review Chapter 5: Water, in Turk and Bensel’s Contemporary Environmental Issues textbook (2014). The purpose of this assignment is twofold: first, to enable you to explore a term (concept, technique, place, etc.) related to this week’s theme of sustaining our water resources; second, to provide your third contribution to a collective project, the Class Sustainable Living Guide. Your work this week, and in the weeks that follow, will be gathered (along with that of your peers) into a master document you will receive a few days after the end of the course.

The document will provide everyone with a variety of ideas for how we can all live more sustainably in our homes and communities. To complete this assignment, you will first need to select a term from the list of choices in the Week 3 - Term Selection Forum. Reply to the forum with the term that you would like to research. Do not select a term that a classmate has already chosen. No two students will be researching the same topic.

Next, download the Week 3 Assignment Template and replace the guiding text with your own words based upon your online research. Please do not include a cover page. All references, however, should be cited in your work and listed at the end, following APA format expectations. In the template, you will define the term thoroughly, clearly relate the term to the week’s theme, explain how the term affects living things and the physical world, relate the term to the challenge of achieving environmental sustainability, justify whether the term is an obstacle or a technique/technology that promotes sustainability, and suggest two specific actions we can take related to the term, including detailed examples.

The assignment must be three paragraphs in length (excluding title, quoted material, and references) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center’s APA Style resource. You must cite a minimum of three sources: the class textbook or a URL formatted according to APA standards if your term was not in the text, a scholarly source, and a credible source. Utilize academic voice throughout your writing. Documentation of sources must follow APA style, and a separate references list must be included at the end, also formatted in APA style. Carefully review the grading rubric for criteria to evaluate your work.

Paper For Above instruction

Water resources are vital components of the Earth's ecological and human systems, encompassing freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, aquifers, and glaciers. The term "water conservation" refers to practices and techniques aimed at efficiently managing water resources to ensure their sustainability in the face of increasing demand and diminishing supplies. Water conservation is directly related to the week’s theme by highlighting measures that reduce water wastage, promote responsible usage, and maintain water quality, thereby supporting environmental sustainability. By conserving water, we can mitigate the depletion of aquifers, reduce energy consumption associated with water treatment and distribution, and preserve aquatic ecosystems. For instance, utilizing low-flow fixtures and rainwater harvesting systems exemplifies techniques that promote sustainable water use, reflecting the significance of conservation in addressing water scarcity challenges.

Water conservation influences living organisms and the physical environment profoundly. Reduced water wastage preserves ecosystems dependent on freshwater availability, such as wetlands and fisheries, fostering biodiversity. Conversely, excessive water consumption can lead to lowered water tables and deterioration of water quality, adversely affecting both aquatic and terrestrial life. From an environmental sustainability perspective, water conservation techniques serve as vital tools to confront issues like droughts, climate change, and population growth, which threaten to outpace water supplies. Conservation practices are often viewed as techniques that promote sustainability; however, the lack of widespread adoption can be an obstacle. The integration of innovative technologies, such as smart irrigation systems and real-time water monitoring sensors, demonstrates how technological advancements can address these challenges effectively and help achieve a more sustainable water future.

To promote water sustainability, several actions can be implemented at individual and community levels. First, educating households and businesses about water-saving practices, such as fixing leaks promptly and installing water-efficient appliances, can significantly reduce water waste. Second, promoting policy initiatives that incentivize rainwater harvesting and the use of reclaimed wastewater can augment water supply sources responsibly. These actions, supported by technological solutions like smart meters and community-based water management programs, can contribute to a more sustainable water future by reducing demand and enhancing water reuse. Implementing these measures can safeguard water resources, ensuring their availability for future generations and maintaining ecological balance amid environmental challenges.

References

• Turk, J. K., & Bensel, T. G. (2014). Contemporary environmental issues (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
• Gleick, P. H. (2014). Water use and sustainability. Water Resources Research, 50(3), 3880-3903. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR015304
• United Nations Water. (2020). Water and climate change. Retrieved from https://www.unwater.org/publications/water-and-climate-change/
• DeOreo, W. B., et al. (2018). The future of smart water meters and their role in conservation. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(19), 11055–11058. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02254
• EPA. (2021). WaterSense: Water efficiency solutions. United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/watersense