Water, A Source Of Life

Comenius Multilateral Project

Water, a source of life

How much water do we use every day? We have calculated that one of our average families composed by 4 people uses about 1 m3 of water per day

How much water do we use every day? In our school (a little less

than

500

students) we use about 30,5 m3 of water per day

How much water do we use every day? In Assemini, a town not far from Cagliari with 30.000 inhabitants, they use 1.500 m3 of water every day

How much water do we use every year? According to a national survey, in Cagliari (about 165.000 people) we use 97.3 m3 of water per person per year (that is 1.605.000 m3 for the whole town)

Where can we find water? Sardinia is characterized by lack of rains and small and short rivers more similar to mountain streams. This scarcity can create problems to agriculture , cattle breeding and even to the household

Where can we find water? The three main economic fields (household, industry, agriculture) employ water collected in 50 artificial basins

Composition of water in nature

We have collected a sample of water in a pond near our town and we have analyzed it. The sample contains: ammonia, nitrous acid and sulphates.

Purification of water In nature, water may contain materials, chemical elements and micro organisms dangerous for the people’s health and needs to be depurated using different methodologies

Purification of water

After these processing, water can be distributed through the public waterpipe

How do we use water? According to some general surveys the world average use of water is divided as follows:  Agriculture 69%  Industry 21%  Tourism and leisure activities 10%

How do we use water?

Italy is the European Country where people use the highest quantity of water: 213 litres per day per family (Europe 165 litres per day per family).

How do we use water? 

39% bath - shower



20% toilet



12% washing



10% dishwashing

How do we use water? 

6% kitchen



6% gardening and car wash



1% drinking



6% other

How do we waste water? 

ABBANOA, the local authority that manages the distribution of water in Sardinia, has calculated that 40 to 60% of the water is wasted because the water pipes are old or does not work properly

Lack or surplus of water? Sardinia is characterized by long periods of drought: it does not rain for many months and the countryside becomes a sort of desert, with great problems for the cultivations

Is it possible to save water? In our everyday life we can do little things to save water. We can collect rain water to irrigate our gardens. We can prefer having a shower rather than a bath We can avoid using washing machines and dishwashers when they are not completely full

Protection of the natural habitat In Sardinia we have some ponds and lagoons where water fowls of many kinds live permanently: pink flamingos, sultans, stilt – bird, wild ducks, kingfishers. Biodiversity in these areas is assured by the presence of reptiles (tortoises, water and grass snakes), amphibians (toads, tree frogs, newt), mammals and fish.

Protection of the natural habitat Projects have been presented to protect the so called ‘zone umide’ and are waiting for a final ratification. These project are meant to:  control the quality of water ;  create the conditions for a sustainable fruition;  support activities of bird watching;  survey of all the typical species;  control the fishing activities.