system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is it important to conserve water?

I understand that, in a drought, the supply can't keep up with the demand. I get why we need to conserve then. But in normal conditions, why is it important to not waste water? What's the ecological and economical impact of using too much?
gpt
It takes a lot of energy/effort to clean water well enough before it can be introduced to the natural water cycle again.

In addition it also takes energy/effort to clean and prepare water until it's clean enough for us to use.