Can you complete the 20 Litre Challenge?
To mark World Water Day on 22 March, Thirsty Planet is setting people the challenge of surviving on 20 litres of water for a 24 hour period – like the African villagers we support in partnership with Pump Aid.
20 litres of water – it’s just two flushes of the toilet for most Westerners, but that same amount would serve a villager in rural Africa for an entire day.
It’s easy to forget that water remains an incredibly precious resource for millions of people across the globe, yet one we largely take for granted on these shores.
Which is why Thirsty Planet is setting the challenge of seeing if you too can manage with just 20 litres of water for a 24 hour period.
That’s 20 litres of water for all your refreshment, hygiene and domestic needs – and not a drop more.
The challenge is being set to mark World Water Day on 22 March, a global UN initiative to highlight water-related issues such as supply and sanitation.
“We guarantee that taking the 20 Litre Challenge will open your eyes to the stresses and strains of living on a limited supply, and make you appreciate more than ever just how fortunate we are to have ready access to clean water in the first place,” said Paul Martin, managing director of Thirsty Planet.
“It sounds straightforward and fairly easy to complete, but you may be in for a surprise when you see how much water you normally use, and just how much you need to conserve if you’re to succeed.”
Paul added: “If you really want to make a difference and show your support, then why not invite your family, friends and colleagues to take the challenge with you? We’re trying to raise awareness, so the more people that take part the better.”
Over to you:
Only you can determine if you’re up to the Challenge, but visit the ‘tips and advice’ section for a few pointers to help you on your way.
Please keep us posted on how you get on. We’d really appreciate your comments about how tough you found the Challenge, whether you managed to succeed, and other ways you managed to conserve water. Photographs of you giving the Challenge a go are also welcome.
You can email your comments and photographs to paul.butler@nexnet.co.uk
We look forward to hearing from you.