Imagine a day without water...

On Wednesday, the US Water Alliance (www.uswateralliance.org) will be holding its annual 'Imagine A Day Without Water' campaign, designed to get people thinking: "What would it be like to go even a day without water?" Those involved believe that as well as reminding we adults of just how precious this commodity is, it can prove a valuable lesson for children, helping them learn, observe, and realise just how important water is in their lives.

Today, about 900 million people around the world don't have access to safe water. Further, for a large percentage of these people, there's no certainty that they will have any water - safe or unsafe - on any given day. Just imagine how that must feel... When the 'Imagine A Day Without Water' campaign began in 2015, a total of 185 organisations in the US signed up to participate. Most of these were involved in water-related sectors of some sort. Last year, more than 300 participated - many of them US manufacturers, real estate associations, coffee manufacturers and retailers, city councils, engineering firms, hotels and restaurants - even the health sector got involved. It's anticipated that the 2018 events will involve more than 750 organisations.

"This reflects the growing concerns we have about water availability in the US," Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co, the manufacturer of no-water urinals, told me. "Each year, more and more people realise that water is not in unlimited supply, and this is reflected in the fact that water bills keep rising every year around the country." In the past, some organisations have participated in the campaign by encouraging mayors, city councils and governors to issue proclamations, encouraging businesses and citizens to grasp just what it might be like to have to go without water for a day. Additionally, some local and nationwide coffee shops have created coffee sleeves, reminding people that every cup of coffee starts with fresh water.

As this industry is so switched on when it comes to raising awareness of the need to conserve water, as well as in designing products that use less water whilst fooling us into thinking we're actually using a lot more than we are, I'm wondering whether we should consider joining our friends across the pond and extending its campaign to these shores. What do you think?

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Yours,

Jan Hobbs