(Archive) WATisER?

Save rain, don’t drain!

Sometimes it hardly rains for months, and then suddenly it comes pouring down from the sky. But when it finally rains, the water disappears again quickly. Instead of sinking naturally into the soil, water flows via roofs, tiles and asphalt into the sewers and is discharged to the sea. We have effectively halved the natural water cycle as a result. In addition, rainwater evaporates due to increasing heat and the fact that we pump up more and more groundwater. As a result, even a water rich country as The Netherlands has a water shortage.

To combat water scarcity, we have to harvest precious rainwater, retain it for as long as possible and ensure that it can infiltrate into the soil.

Commissioned by the Embassy of Water, social designer Rocco Verdult playfully depicts inspiring examples that ensure that the water system can recover (regenerate). The personal stories of residents, builders, entrepreneurs and administrators show us that it ís possible. There are plenty of ideas and techniques to build a water-positive society. Save rain, don’t drain, and contribute to the resilience and health of the entire water ecosystem.