Reusing water in times of drought
As the climate and nature crises worsen, drought will continue to play a more regular role in all of our lives. In times like these, we need to make every drop of water count.
In the summer of 2022, the UK and many other European countries entered drought. Many water companies have issued restrictions on the usage of water, like hose-pipe bans. While this might feel new to many people living in the Global North, many of Re-Alliance’s partners in the Majority World have faced similar issues for a long time, living in dry and precarious conditions or in refugee settlements and with limited supply to water. What solutions have our partners developed?
In 2021, Re-Alliance partnered with SOILS Permaculture Association Lebanon, Syrian Academic Expertise, and Malteser International to develop a set of instructional guides for using recycled household water, or ‘grey water’, in vegetable garden settings.
Grey water is water that has been used for activities such as laundry or dishes, where no harsh chemicals have been used. It is not water that has been contaminated with sewage (black water).
There are many benefits to using grey water for small farming, vegetable gardening, and irrigating fruit trees. It can help to reduce water usage in irrigation, saving growers money and other resources.
Grey water can be used for different purposes. For example, it can be used to water plants, clean equipment, or flush toilets.
Learn more in the visual guide created in partnership with SOILS Lebanon here:
Explore more in the publication written in partnership with Syrian Academic Expertise and Malteser International:
Black and white printable format: