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(CNN Spanish) -
You must have heard him say to someone you know: "I don't take a shower every day to take care of the environment." And some may use it as an argument because they are lazy to go underwater, but there are also those who believe it. That's why we asked experts: is it necessary to skip the shower? Where is the key to domestic savings?
"Not bathing some days of the week in more extreme situations of scarcity may be necessary but not desirable. In normal situations, however, it is expected that people can bathe as many times as they consider necessary to maintain their hygiene, but regulating the water consumption at the right amount, "Miguel Doria, regional hydrologist of the International Hydrological Program of the Unesco Office of Sciences for Latin America and the Caribbean, explained to CNN.
Danilo Ríos, Master in Environmental Engineering and professor at the University of the Republic of Uruguay, agrees that it is not advisable to eliminate the bathroom.
"There are many things before," he says, and explains that this measure alone could be considered "irrelevant" compared to other areas in which you can save.
"There are less drastic and much more forceful actions," says Ferney Díaz, coordinator of Strategic Communications for WWF Colombia.
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It is not that domestic savings do not matter, in fact it is essential according to experts.
"Individual actions add up and are important, particularly in situations of water scarcity," says Doria.
Díaz agrees that "in homes there is definitely an epicenter of gigantic change."
But where?
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Before answering this question, a note: As we talk about how much we should shower, it is important to remember that actually being able to shower is itself a privilege.
Water is considered a right and yet 2.2 billion people do not have access to drinking water services, according to the UN.
"One of the focuses (in the work on water), without a doubt, should be on ensuring that everyone has access and achieving a fair distribution of the resource," explains Doria, adding that even those who do have access "do not always have access. a continuous supply, of quality and quantity ".
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To save water at home, the key may be in the place you least imagine
The decisive contribution that we can make as individuals, according to Díaz of WWF Colombia, is far from the shower: it is to reduce food waste.
What is the link?
About 70% of the fresh water used goes for food production.
And about 40% of the food is wasted in the different parts of the process.
This means that, in addition, the water used in its production is wasted.
Farms waste 1 billion tons of food per year.
And that's disastrous for the weather
Therefore, food purchase, cooking and consumption decisions are key.
In this sense, Díaz suggests that a varied diet that favors the consumption of fruits and vegetables, which represent about 60% of wasted food, is ideal.
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He also recommends choosing products that are close to their expiration date and not ruling out fruits and vegetables based on their appearance.
In the shower vs.
food consumption, the figures are the strongest argument.
An example: Díaz explains that, on average, "to produce a large banana, about 160 liters of water are used, the equivalent of showering for 17 minutes. This is what is lost when we throw away a banana."
For Díaz it is key to adapt our habits to the fact that resources are limited.
"We cannot continue to act as if we live in a world where resources are infinite," he explains.
What things should I take into account when showering?
If you need that shower, go ahead.
But keep some recommendations in mind.
"Instead of not bathing, you can adopt habits such as turning off the tap while soaping yourself, avoiding immersion baths, or limiting the use of the shower to five minutes. For example, in some communities where the bath water is heated with On a wood fire, people are able to bathe with about five liters of water ", explains Doria from Unesco.
Another tip is to use aerators or dispersers, say Doria and Ríos, since these save water.
In the bathroom another element to optimize is the toilets: it is desirable to use low-flow and dual-flush, says Doria.
Water scarcity is not a future threat, it is a present problem
Three figures released by the UN show the extent to which scarcity is a problem of the present: nearly 4 billion people experience severe water shortages for at least one month of the year, about 2 billion live in countries with water shortage problems, and By 2030, some 700 million could be displaced by severe shortages.
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According to a study published in August in the journal Nature Communications, 933 million urban residents lived in water-scarce regions in 2016, approximately 30% of the total urban population.
India, China, the United States and Mexico topped the list.
Panorama 2050
According to projections, the problem of water scarcity will worsen considerably.
Among urban populations, the Nature Communications study estimates that just over 2.065 million people will face water shortages by 2050.
Behind this problem there are several factors, according to the study: population growth, urbanization, socioeconomic development that increases demand and climate change, which will impact the spatial distribution and availability of water.
"The situation of water resources is worrying in various parts of the world and in the region: we have retreating glaciers, increasingly intense droughts and floods. The population increase also implies the reduction of the amount of water available per capita and the Urbanization can generate a higher population density in the watersheds. All this makes the management of water resources much more complex, "explains Doria.
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What Health Experts Say About The Need To Shower Every Day
Is it necessary to shower every day for health?
For adults, the answer depends on daily activities, Elaine Larson, a resident professor at the New York Academy of Medicine and emeritus professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, recently told CNN.
The expert says that, for example, the daily shower is not necessary if you spend most of the day inside your house and do not come in contact with unknown germs.
And he says this is especially true for older adults, whose skin dries out with frequent washing and can end up being counterproductive.
The same recommendations are not maintained for all ages. Babies, children and teens have different needs, according to Dr. Andrew Doyle, a pediatrician at Wellstar Health System in Marietta, Georgia. Here you can check the recommendations.