By Writing Team
Posted in April 25, 2023
Since 1992, March 22nd has been celebrated as World Water Day. Established by the United Nations (UN), the date is intended for discussion on the various topics related to the conscious consumption of water.
For 2023, the Organization defined the theme “Accelerating changes – Be the change you want to see in the world”. With the aim of discussing ways to implement changes to solve the global water and climate crisis, the UN started the campaign by inviting people to rethink their attitudes towards water consumption at home, at school, in the community and in their daily lives. .
The aim is to engage people around the world in the Agenda of the International Water Decade – a resolution that defines the years 2018 to 2028 to emphasize that the integrated management of water resources is crucial to achieving social, economic and environmental goals.
The UN initiative for World Water Day 2023 uses the fable of a hummingbird that strives to put out a forest fire carrying water through its beak (read in full, at the end of the text) to exemplify the role of society.
Ambipar and the reuse of rainwater
Located in the municipality of Nova Odessa, in São Paulo, Ambipar’s headquarters have a system that captures, treats and reuses rainwater. Every year, around 75,000 gallons are used, among other purposes, to supply tank trucks and irrigate green areas.
With a storage capacity of 100,000 liters, the system treats and supplies water for both potable and non-potable purposes. All commands are automated and accessed remotely via cell phone.
“Taking into account the rainfall in the region, which measures around 1,317.1 mm/year, our expectation is to reuse 1.5 million liters of water per year, the equivalent of 75,000 large gallons of water”, explains Gabriel Estevam Domingos, Director of Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) at Ambipar.
The “High Performance Collection, Treatment and Reuse System” project is used by the company to supply water trucks used in emergency care, as well as cleaning facilities, sanitizing vehicles, machines and trucks, as well as irrigating gardens. All water storage tanks have been illustrated with water cycle themed drawings, with examples of reuse to engage and give more visibility. The illustrations were created by the NGO Ciclo Social Arte do Martin Ângela, located in greater São Paulo.
Hummingbird Fable: Do What You Can
“Once upon a time there was a forest, where a fire started. All the animals fled for their lives. They stood at the edge of the fire, looking into the flames in terror and sadness.
Above their heads, a hummingbird flew back and forth towards the fire, over and over again. The bigger animals asked what he was doing:
– I’m flying to the lake to get water and use it to fight the fire.
The animals laughed and said:
– You are crazy! You won’t be able to put out the fire!
And the hummingbird replied:
– I’m doing what I can.
Hummingbird is helping to solve the problem, drop by drop. He is being the change he wants to see in the world. You too can be a Hummingbird.”
On the official website of World Water Day (worldwaterday.org), it is possible to access more details about the activities that are being prepared, as well as access to content for the dissemination and promotion of the date in several languages.