Others remind us that it's not really a shortage, because the ecosystem of planet Earth keeps water circulating – through evaporation, condensation and precipitation – but more specifically a problem getting freshwater to where it's desperately needed and keeping the small portion of freshwater on the planet safe from pollution and other contamination.

While 75% of the earth's surface is in fact water – only a small percentage of that, 2.5%, is freshwater suitable for drinking. Girlawhirl's recently jumped on the water-management bandwagon after hearing that up to 50% of water in cities and 60% of water used in agriculture is actually wasted. In some cases, like leaving the faucet on while brushing teeth, that water's recaptured, but it stresses the system by having to go through the process all over again – causing more of an “energy drain” than a leak.

Girlawhirl's keeping her water consumption down by taking shorter showers (she flips an egg timer when she turns on the water and tries to get out by the time it's finished), turning off the water when she brushes her teeth or lathers up her face, not rinsing dishes before they go into the dishwasher and making sure to only run the dishwasher when it's full.

Girlawhirl's an apartment dweller, so she's only in control of the water within her apartment. For more ways a household can save water there's a website that has a list of 100 ways to save water.