Water - the blue gold of the next century

In many places, water is a scare resource. Today, we present three innovative approaches for a more sustainable use of this precious resource.

The water footprint
Besides the CO2-balance, some enterprises also calculate their water-balance.
Many businesses have a supply-chain water footprint that is much larger than the operational water footprint. This is particularly the case when a company does not have agricultural activity itself but is partly based on the intake of agricultural products (crop products, meat, milk, eggs, leather, cotton, wood/paper). When consumers use the products from a business, there can also be a water footprint in the end-use stage. Think about the water pollution that results from the use of soaps in the household. In this case one can speak about the end-use water footprint of a product. This footprint is not part of a business’s water footprint, but it is part of the consumer’s water footprint. That does not mean that the business can withdraw from some responsibility about what happens in the end-use stage.
:: For more information see www.waterfootprint.org

Avoid water transportation
Many enterprises offer free drinking water for their employees. But in most of the cases, this water is transported hundreds of kilometers. This causes a needless environmental pollution. The Klima-Challenge-Team intends to promote the consumption of tap water. Soda-Fresh produces innovative products with which fresh, sparkling table water can be made.
:: www.soda-fresh.ch

Swallow - Biosand Filters
Student representative from Canada (Kristina Nelson) has formed a grassroots organization, Safe Water and LEED Lighting Operatives Worldwide (SWALLOW) aimed at providing simple, sustainable access to safe drinking water to communities in developing countries. Kenyan student representatives (led by Otieno Nickson) are currently working with SWALLOW to carry out a ‘Biosand Filters’ Project in Western Kenya. The project seeks to provide water treatment or filtrations systems that are simple, cheap yet effective in providing basic sanitation and hygiene especially for the developing rural communities. It also provides education and training (technology transfer) on water filtration use: building, distribution and maintenance. The project is to be implemented in December 2009. Plans are underway to register a regional branch of SWALLOW in Kenya so as to fast track scaling up of the project to other African countries.
:: www.wscsd.org

Recycling heat and water
Last year, Hans Grohe launched a new system for water recycling. In this concept, the houshold waste water is for instance used for the flush or the untilization of washing maschines. The system recycles bathwather and other waste waters without the adoption of any chemicals.
:: For more information on the new AquaCycle-Technology: www.hansgrohe.ch