Heat and droughts affect the whole of Europe. In many parts of the continent, it is forbidden to pump water from rivers and streams. There are many more ways to save water.
The fruit trees at the agronomic education center in Steinfurt are affected by the drought. The branches are full of apples and pears, but they lack water to ripen. That is why they are abundantly watered with water from wells. But precious water must be handled with care.
"We water in the evening so that the water does not evaporate so quickly. And we water slowly, directly at the roots," says center director Klaus Krome.
The lawns between the fruit trees have turned yellow, but despite this, no one waters them. "To water the grass now would be a complete waste of water. "The lawns are resilient and will fully recover when the heavy rains come again," says Kroe.
Potential for everyday savings
Water can be saved not only in the garden, but also in the household. Each resident of Germany consumes an average of 123 liters of water per day. Of that, a full 27 percent is spent on flushing the toilet, and a further 36 percent on maintaining body hygiene, according to data from the Federal Office for Environmental Protection.
Offices for consumer protection point to the huge potential of saving water in households. If there is a faucet in the house that does not seal well, the first thing that should be done is to change the rubbers.
Savings can also be made by installing special energy-saving showers, and a similar solution is offered for toilets, by installing special, energy-saving kettles.
When doing laundry, it is also advisable to pay attention to economy, i.e. make sure the washing machine is full.
In addition, anyone who showers daily should think about the expediency of the habit. Showering every other day can save huge amounts of water, according to the Office for Consumer Protection.
Saving rainwater
For experts, however, private consumption is the least of the problems. "When you drink a cup of coffee in the morning, statistically speaking, you have already consumed 120 liters of water," says hydrologist Jürgen Jessen. The problem is – industrial water consumption. The production of just one car requires 400.000 liters of water. Jesen sees one of the solutions in cisterns for collecting rainwater.
The potential also exists in the reuse of household waste water, such as water after showering or bathing. This water can be purified with simple filters for reuse, say for watering the garden or flushing the toilet.
Some facilities are already experimenting with their own rainwater tanks. "Even in dry years like this, we have enough rainwater in the tank," says Lisa Hess, manager of a youth center in Dortmund, where they have been experimenting with rainwater tanks for some time. This was partly financed by the state, which wants to achieve that in the upcoming hot and dry periods not even a drop of drinking water is used to water the garden.
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