How often do we think about water? Viewed from space, most of our home, Earth, is covered with this precious fluid. Despite this, only 2.5% of water is fresh water, i.e. water that we can use. One might think that this amount is completely sufficient for a peaceful life. What if it turns out that we suddenly have too much water due to heavy rainfall? Or too little when the rain clouds refuse to appear in the sky for far too long, and when they do, the flowing rivers are unusable due to pollution?
We experience the effects of water deficit or excess every day in rising food prices, bans on using water for watering plants, or in the form of natural disasters – floods and flooding. How can each of us help the planet and sometimes our wallets even a little bit in this water crisis?
If you have your own garden or allotment, you probably know how much work it takes to look after your little patch of green. Plants, just like us, need water to live and often the only way to provide it is to water them regularly. Instead of using water from the water supply, I suggest putting up barrels to capture water from the gutters. When rainfall is high, the excess water, which would have drained into the municipal sewer system anyway, remains in such a tank. When we want to water the plants instead of taking water from the water supply or well, we can use the free water waiting for us in the barrel.
Putting the brushcutters and secateurs aside is another idea for home gardeners to retain water in their gardens. Lush vegetation retains water much better than low-cut vegetation. Leaving a piece of the plot with tall grass or other field vegetation in a less frequently used area, such as next to the compost heap, will improve the situation. This will not only benefit our plants, but also the animals living in the garden, so that we will be able to admire them and enjoy, for example, the sight of beautiful butterflies on summer days.
Creating a pond in the garden, in a meadow or even in an agricultural field is also a good idea. The water will be used by nearby plants and animals, and it will also lower the air temperature on hot days. If we plant the right plants and take care of oxygenating the tank, we will be able to use clean water with a minimum amount of work on our part.
Not only people with access to a piece of land can save water. Let's not forget about saving water during everyday activities. When using detergents, use only as much as needed or use natural or less harmful substitutes. You don't have to take a big bath in the bathtub every day, you can just as well take a shower. And let's not forget that a shower cabin is not a stage. We take a quick bath in it, and only after turning off the taps we can practice our vocal skills.
Text: Rafał Witczak, Student Science Club for Ecohydrology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz
Edit: Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz