Jesus may have turned water into wine, but environmentalists are turning recycled water into beer to raise awareness about recycling water.
Since the Earth is about 70% water, it’s easy to believe that there’s plenty of water for everyone and there always will be. On top of that, the Earth has its own recycling system. As you learned in school, the water we use today is the same water that’s been circling the earth since the beginning of time.
But the reality is that only about 1% of the world’s water supply is available for use by humans. The vast majority of it is tied up in the salty oceans. And while it’s true that the Earth does recycle water, the vast amounts of water that we use is beginning to upset the balance.
Read on to learn a few reasons why recycling water is good for the planet.
1. Stop Overpollution of the Water Supply
Untreated wastewater often ends up in the bodies of water that we use as a source of clean water. Of course, the Earth’s natural water purification process is hard at work on all water.
Wetlands are filtering the water, and microorganisms are breaking down contaminants in the water. Running water is being purified as it passes over rocks and through vegetation, and the cycle of evaporation and falling as rain all helps to purify water in the environment.
However, the system can only handle so much. Too much contaminated water will overwhelm the system, and the fresh water that arrives for us to drink won’t be quite as clean as we would like.
Recycling even just a percentage of our wastewater helps prevent too much contaminated water from entering the ecosystem and gives the Earth a helping hand.
2. Increase the Supply of Clean Water
When clean water is used for irrigation and supplying wetlands, it’s not available for use as clean, drinking water. By recycling wastewater and using it for these types of purposes, it frees up clean drinking water for the future.
A slowly diminishing water supply might not mean much to us today, but future generations will appreciate our efforts to make sure they have enough water for their daily needs.
On top of that, using wastewater for irrigation is actually beneficial. Things that are contaminants for us and aquatic life is actually nutritious food for plants. Wastewater is typically rich in nitrogen, which plants need in generous supply to grow.
3. Cut Down on Transportation-Related Pollution
Some industries produce a huge amount of wastewater that has to be transported off-site. This is not only an added expense for the company, but also the trucks used to transport the water are adding to atmospheric pollution.
Instead, companies can set up onsite treatment facilities. They can also reuse the water themselves for things like toilets and cooling where the water doesn’t need to be 100% clean.
Doing this also cuts down on the new water needs of the company, reducing the draw on the water system as a whole.
Interested in starting a water re-use program at your business? Check out this informative post from Orion Water Solutions about how to avoid drowning in red ink to do it.
Sources of Wastewater
Let’s clarify what kind of wastewater we’re talking about here. You may be envisioning reusing sewer water and cringing at the very idea. While it is possible to purify sewer water enough to be reused, this is a more complex process.
Wastewater for recycling at a company generally isn’t quite so dirty. Great sources include:
- Stormwater runoff
- Agricultural runoff
- Water used for industrial cooling
- Municipal wastewater
This water can be minimally treated and reused with little effort. The water produced won’t be suitable for human consumption but is a great way to cut down on the quantity of clean water a company uses.
Uses for Recycled Water
As we’ve mentioned, unless the water is fully processed it won’t be drinkable and you probably wouldn’t even want to bathe in it. But there are a number of other great uses for it. These include:
- Irrigation for agriculture, golf courses, parks, etc.
- Toilet water
- Dust control or road cleaning
- Mixing concrete and other uses in construction
- Process water for refineries, power plants, factories, mills, etc.
There are many other creative uses that companies can find for recycled water. The more everyone does their part, the better off we, and our planet, will be!
Ready to Get Started Recycling Water?
If you don’t yet have a process for recycling water at your company, now would be a good time to look into it. It will cost a little to get started, but there’s a good chance you’ll save money in the long run.
Not to mention you’ll be doing your part for the environment. Planet Earth is our home, and for now, it’s the only one we’ve got. The Earth can sustain the human life on it, but we must do our part to make sure that it can keep sustaining us for years to come.
Plus, helping the environment is such a hot topic that you can use it to your advantage. Many of your customers will appreciate your efforts to do your part. Be sure to talk about what you’re doing on your social media channels so people see that by supporting your company, they’re supporting good water usage practices.
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