A: We all know that water conservation is a good thing, but is it an ethical responsibility?

Consider that ethics is the study of how we should treat other people, species and natural systems or the environment.  Water conservation has an impact in all three areas.

When people use water thoughtfully, they are doing their part for natural systems and other species. People need to conserve water, along with other resources, so that animals can live and thrive in an environment that is healthy and supportive of all species.  Humans exist on this planet best when they are working to balance their needs with what nature can provide.

Treating the environment and other species with respect are both ethical considerations.  Providing for future generations is another.  Conserving water serves the needs of other people now and in the future. It is easy to forget that water is an increasingly scarce resource. It is ethical to use the water that we each need, but it is unethical for any of us to use more than we each need. Even if it seems that the small amount of water that a single person can waste is meaningless, the amount that we all waste collectively is huge.

Doing just a little bit that contributes to a big harm is still doing wrong, but doing just a little that helps conserve water makes the world a little better than before. Isn't that the legacy we want to leave for posterity?