Water recycling

Water is a limited natural resouce without which human body can only survive during 3 days. Climate change and the bad management of our resources decreases our rivers flow and the availability of drinking water. Besides, some states are studying the possibility of increasing water prices. It is a need, therefore, to get the maximal profit of drinking water. Soliclima offers with this aim several methods of water treatment.

The water in the planet Earth

As valuable as our forests are our water resources, essential for the proper working of the whole system and the survival of the planet.

Our planet has a water volum of 1,4 millions of km3. But only a 2,5 of it is sweetwater, and most of it is frozen on the glacials. Of this 2,5%, only a 0,4% is on the earth surface. That means that of total water on the Earth, only a 0,007% can be considered drinking water.

Climate change and its effect over drinking water

Climate change is already altering the climate in many places, with the result of less rain and the consequent drought. In states as California the effects will be more remarkable than in nothern states. California or Arizona will live more acute impact than Montana, for example. We have to start to be ready for it and water recycling is a possible solution for an eventual water shortage.

Allthough this is a widespread problem. Australia's southwest is living a drought that lasts already several years and has drived into the ruin to many local farmers. According to stydy of the scientific magazine Journal of Climate, some of the biggest rivers in the world, such as the Yellow one, Ganges and Colorado have been continously decreasing its flow for the last 50 years.

Allthough it goes unoticed, water is so important for the economical activity of a country as energy is. Some financial studies have already be done, and the result is that the economical sectors more affected by an eventual water shortage will be: that ones connected to high technology -because they need big water quantyties for thir manufacturing processes-,; power plants -need big quantities of water for refrigeration- and farming. Otherwise, some other industries affected are drinks sector, biotechnogy, metallurgy and mining. The CEO of Nestlé has said: "Water will be exhausted before oil does."

Some countries have already given an alert. Sudafrica, that depends exclusively on the rainwater for their drinking water supply, is studying the possibility of recycling used water and create desalination plants to warranty the drinking water supply. Australia is also regarding this posibility, due to the drought they are already living.

Some solutions to the water shortage

As consumers, we cannot open our own desalation plant, but we can take some measures to save water:

• To save energy saves water as well, then big quantities of water are needed in order to produce power.
• We can use a water economizer . It is a small pipe than fit into the tap and injects an air jet into the water flow. The result is that the flow volumen is kept, but the real water volumen used is much lower, saving water, energy and costs.
• If we consum bottled water due to the bad taste of drinking water at home, we have to remember that manufacturing and transport of that bottle needs energy, and emits CO2. We can avoid this problem by installing a water filter at home. Reverse osmosis is a good option.
• We also have water recycling and treatment and rainwater harversting. They are not drinking water, but we will be able to use that water for other purposes, such as cleaning or irrigation.