Back to water basics

TREATMENT of public water supplies costs around €1bn per year, a huge sum when treatment is not necessary for many of the uses of water.

For instance, could rain water not be used for flushing toilets, washing cars and clothes, showers and other non-drinking purposes? Water is sure to be a hot topic in 2014. With people having to pay for the precious liquid, they will be looking at ways at making savings and cutting out wastage. We’re probably going to hear the term “water harvesting’’ much more in the future. It simply means the collection and storage of water that falls from the sky.

People in authority, nevertheless, are beginning to take the issue seriously and, recently Fine Gael Senator Cáit Keane urged Environment Minister Phil Hogan to introduce rainwater harvesting legislation as a part solution to water shortages in places such as Dublin.