As a result of the extraordinary downspout of the Paraná River, a team of researchers from the UNR produced a report on the responsible consumption of water in homes to raise awareness about the uses and care of this resource and, in turn, make visible the unequal access that there is in the city
From the Sanitary Engineering Center of the Faculty of Exact Sciences, Engineering and Surveying, Lucía Pairetti and Delfina Soljan, under the direction of Virginia Pacini, analyzed the flows, times and volumes of drinking water use in Rosario and Greater Rosario.
The report is based on the fact that not all people have the same opportunities, living conditions and level of basic services. From the survey, it emerged that the center is the territory where water is used the most, reaching double what is recommended, while in the southwestern and western neighborhoods of the city, the amount consumed is half.
"The greater the consumption, losses and waste of water in the most central areas of the city and consolidated neighborhoods, which are also the ones with the highest population density, the worse the pressure and flow conditions will be in the peripheral neighborhoods," they affirm. .
Taking into account that approximately 50 liters of water per person per day are needed to ensure that basic needs are covered, keeping public health risks at a low level, as recommended by the WHO, the researchers consider that "it is essential to modify habits and regulations to minimize waste of drinking water”.
Responsible consumption
From the study it can be deduced that the greatest home uses occur through showering and flushing the toilet, followed by washing clothes and general water consumption through the sink. Therefore, some alternatives and tips for water care are proposed, focusing on these points.
According to the research, the shower consumes an approximate flow rate of 10 liters per minute. In other words, a 20-minute shower implies a water expense of 200 liters. If it is done in half the time (10 minutes), 100 liters could be saved. This amount could serve to hydrate 50 people, if you think about the 2 liters each one needs per day.
In addition, a large amount of water is wasted waiting for the required bath temperature to be achieved. For every minute that the water is left running without use, 10 liters of water are lost, which is equivalent to the volume of a bucket. "This water could be collected and then used, for example, to water plants or to avoid a toilet flush," they recommend.
The report also refers to the water flow from a toilet that is more than 10 liters per flush in the old ones and/or with a valve and from 3 to 6 liters in the new ones. “Some home interventions can be carried out to generate savings by placing a bottle with water and sand inside the toilet backpack that reduces the volume of water. Likewise, it is important not to use the toilet as a garbage can, since in this way, in addition to saving water, unwanted obstructions in the installation are avoided”, they suggest.
As for the washing machine, it consumes up to 100 liters per load., depending on the model. “The number of washes per week should be minimized using a full washing machine or with the maximum amount of clothes depending on the load mode. It is also convenient to use short washing cycles”, say the UNR engineers.
Regarding the sink faucet eliminates an approximate flow rate of 6 liters per minute For every minute that the tap water is left running, 6 liters of water are wasted and with this amount 3 people could be adequately hydrated in one day. "It is important to turn off the tap when brushing teeth, shaving, soaping hands, dishes, washing fruits and vegetables, etc," they say.
Another use is the hose that consumes an approximate flow rate of 10 liters per minute either when the water is used for irrigation, washing the sidewalk, car or other activities. Every 6 seconds the water is left running, 1 liter of drinking water is wasted. . If a sidewalk is washed for a period of 10 minutes, an average of 100 liters of drinking water would be consumed. For this reason, it is recommended to place devices in the hoses that allow the water to be cut off when it is not being used. Failing that, it is recommended to use buckets for greater control.
a royal change
The researchers state that it is important to control the proper functioning of the water installations in homes to avoid possible waste of water due to leaks. Some very common in home installations are the dripping faucet whose cost is 0,03 liters per minute. According to Aguas y Saneamientos Argentinos (AYSA), a tap leak can cause a loss of around 46 liters of water per day. Another case is the leaking toilet whose water consumption is 0,8 liters per minute, which can cause a loss of around 1200 liters of water per day.
From the data analyzed, it could be concluded that the savings per 1.000.000 inhabitants through responsible consumption would be equivalent to approximately 70% of what is produced by the Baigorria Water Treatment Plant (6000 m3/h).
The report warns that although this initiative arises in the context of the water crisis that our region is going through, the problem of water scarcity has been present worldwide, for many years and with the prospect of continuing over time.
“If we manage to transform this crisis into an opportunity, to achieve a real and forceful change in our actions as a society, we will be closer to becoming the equitable, inclusive, sustainable and environmentally friendly society that we aspire to”, they affirm. Sustainability is understood as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the capacity of future generations, guaranteeing a balance between economic growth, care for the environment, and social well-being.
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal