Water scarcity is an increasingly worrying problem, and reused water can be a great solution to this issue. Did you know that rainwater and all the water used in your home, work or school can be reused? That's right. With proper treatment, the water can return to nature for later use again.
Water scarcity is an increasingly worrying problem, and reused water can be a great solution to this issue. Did you know that rainwater and all the water used in your home, work or school can be reused? That's right. With proper treatment, the water can return to nature for later use again.
Two processes come into play when it comes to collecting water.
The sewage network collects all the water used in homes and businesses. This includes the water from the flush, from our bath and that used in the kitchen and laundry. Through the pipeline, this water is transported to a treatment plant, where the sewage is treated and only then is it returned to nature.
The rainwater drainage network collects rainwater – which does not need to undergo any treatment – and takes it back to the rivers. This water must be properly drained through the rainwater collection network so that it does not mix with the sewage and can be reused.
Rainwater and sewage collection networks should not mix. When this happens, whether through clandestine networks or bad connections, various problems can arise. When the pipes are overloaded, the sewage has nowhere to go and ends up returning to the residences or breaking the plumbing. In addition, when mixed with rainwater, sewage arrives very diluted at treatment plants and this can compromise the efficiency of the process. When sewage is not properly treated, it pollutes rivers and soil, in addition to causing various diseases such as hepatitis, diarrhea, diphtheria and cholera.
Reuse water can come from different sources. In homes, it's basically all the water that goes down the drain. In the industry, it is the water that remains after the production processes – did you know that an average of 10,000 liters of water is used to make a pair of jeans? In agriculture, it can come from the remnants of irrigation of plantations.
Regardless of the source, these waters have one thing in common: they end up in the sewer. Although it may seem a little disgusting to recycle dirty water, once it has been properly treated, it can be reused.
The problem of water scarcity needs the attention of governments and responsible bodies so that its treatment is done in the best possible way. Moreover, if everyone does their part to reduce waste, together we can make a difference to protect this valuable resource. The first step is to be aware of the importance of water and to know that this is not an infinite resource. The second is to save.
For that, check out our tips:
1. Reuse bath water for cleaning the yard, house and cars;
2. Reuse the water drained from the washing machine to soak floor cloths or for general cleaning;
3. Make sure your home's plumbing is in good condition to prevent leaks;
4. Use buckets and gutters to collect rainwater and use it for domestic services. Want to learn more about the water cycle? How about having fun with our jigsaw puzzle?
