Water is a precious resource.  It is vital for human well‐being, economic development, and a healthy environment but we often take it for granted.  Although it seems like it rains a lot in the United Kingdom, London actually has a lower annual average rainfall than Istanbul or Rome.

Here are five suggestions from the SSL Green Team on how we can appreciate water more:

Save Water  A running tap wastes over six litres of water a minute.  Approximately ten litres of water is needed to produce one sheet of paper!

• Top Tip: Turn off taps, and report any leaking taps or toilets.
• Top Tip: Reduce your printing and re-use scrap paper.

Drink Water  It takes up to five litres of water to produce one litre of bottled water.

• Top Tip: fill a reusable bottle from the water fountain in the Locker room behind the building Reception Desk.

Read Water  Choose from the Library’s booklist:

• Barlow, M. (2008). Blue covenant : The global water crisis and the coming battle for the right to water. New York: New Press : Distributed by W.W. Norton.  HD1691.BAR 2007
• Chellaney, B. (2013). Water, peace, and war : Confronting the global water crisis.  Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield.  HD1691.CHE 2013
• Salman, S. (2009). The World Bank policy for projects on international waterways : An historical and legal analysis (Law, justice, and development). Washington, DC: World Bank.  HE385.SAL 2009
• Brown, P., & Schmidt, J. (2010). Water ethics : Foundational readings for students and professionals. Washington, DC: Island Press.  TD345.BRO 2010
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development. (2013). Water security for better lives (OECD studies on water). Paris : OECD.   TC345.WAT 2013
• DeSombre, E., & Barkin, J. (2011). Fish. Cambridge: Polity.  SH328.DES 2011

Enjoy Water  The River Cherwell flows alongside the Library – join the path in University Parks and stroll through ancient water meadows.

• See the Daily Info guide to Oxford Riverside Walks.

Campaign Water  Get involved and find out more about water conservation.

• WaterAid is a charity whose mission is “to transform the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.“
• Waterwise promotes water efficiency and provides water-saving tips and fun facts.
• The Oxford Water Network is a multi-disciplinary research community connecting 15 different departments at the University of Oxford.  Sign up to their monthly e-newsletter or check their list of events.