Clean Water: It Looks Plentiful, but It’s Rare

As an axolotl, I know exactly how dirty water feels: my gills get uncomfortable right away! My family’s native home in Xochimilco is threatened by water pollution too. Clean water matters for every living thing, including you.

Earth is full of water, but…

• About 97% of Earth’s water is salty seawater.
• Only about 3% is fresh water, and most of it is frozen in polar ice and glaciers or stored deep underground.
• The fresh water we can easily reach in rivers, lakes, and near the surface is only a tiny fraction of all the water on Earth.

If all of Earth’s water fit in one big bucket, the water we could use right away might be just a few spoonfuls.

Not everyone has access

According to WHO and UNICEF, more than 2 billion people worldwide still lack safely managed drinking water. Many children walk long distances every day just to fetch water, time that could be spent at school or play.

Small habits to save water

1. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or soaping your hands.
2. Take shorter showers. A few minutes less saves a lot of water.
3. Fix leaky taps. A constant small drip can waste dozens of liters a day.
4. Reuse water from washing rice or vegetables to water your plants.
5. Run the washing machine only when it’s full.

Small habits to keep water clean

• Don’t pour used cooking oil down the sink. Collect it in a bottle and dispose of it with trash, or take it to a waste bank that accepts it.
• Never throw trash into rivers or drains. Plastic can travel all the way to the sea.
• Cut down on single-use plastic. Bring your own water bottle and shopping bag.
• Use just enough soap and detergent, not too much.

A date to remember

Every 22 March is World Water Day. But of course, protecting water is something we can do every day. 💧

Every drop we save today is a drop that’s still here tomorrow. From Pumi’s little pond, thank you for caring for water! 🫧