Many countries across the world are under an increasing threat of drought, with water scarcity becoming more prevalent. Some countries are impacted more than others, but at least 11% of European citizens are affected by water scarcity.[1]
Water reuse can play an integral role in saving water. By its definition, water reuse is reclaiming water from a variety of sources and (if needed) treating it for it be used again. Water reuse is a concept that can be implemented all year round and can help provide resilience against peak summer water demand events.
Could water reuse be part of the solution for helping build a more sustainable future?
Examples of water reuse are grey or rainwater harvesting systems. Many businesses across the UK are enjoying the benefits of such systems, saving money on their water bills and creating environmental benefits. Whilst it is possible to install for grey/rainwater systems domestically, this is less commonplace, and potentially less cost effective. There are variety of ways that we can reuse water at home, and we’ve listed some top tips below:
- Collect rainwater – why not place pots outside to collect rainwater for your plants? Better still, use a water butt to collect a larger amount of rainwater.
- Refillable bottles – do you have water leftover in your bottle at the end of a hard-working day? Collect this to reuse the following day.
- Cooking Water – Reuse water from boiling your vegetables or pasta for your plants.
- Bathing water – love having a relaxing bath? Reuse the water from this to keep you garden in full bloom!
Product innovation can also play its part in helping housing stock become more water efficient. An exciting example is a toilet designed by South Korean Jang Wooseok. which uses greywater from an adjoining sink and is called an ‘Eco Bath’[2]. Could products like this become commonplace in our homes? What are the barriers? Supply capacity? Price point? Customer appetite?
At Artesia, we are passionate about water efficiency. If anything in this article has sparked your interest or you wish to simply know more, please contact us.
[1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-reuse_en
[2] https://www.ecohome.net/guides/1561/greywater-recycling-never-looked-better/
