Water consumption in Italy

1. Water consumption in Italy EVOLUTION OF WATER CONSUMPTION AWARENESS IN THE LAST CENTURY

2. Economical use of water in the families. Let’s discover how!

3. Our grandparents weren’t aware of the problems caused by water overconsumption. Some of them didn’t use to save water at all. Others, who lived far from wells, used to save water in order to avoid long walks to the well. But everyone in those times had a tank for rainwater and used it regularly. Our parents started to save water because it was getting more and more expensive, so they needed to save money above all. Some of them kept the tradition of water tanks, others were getting used to small daily steps that greatly reduce water consumption. Nowadays there aren’t water tanks anymore, but modern technology helps us to reduce water consumption with appliances such as flow regulators, dishwashers and dual flush toilets. Problems linked with water overconsumption are more discussed nowadays. 98% of the students think water is a very important factor of our everyday life and are aware of the problems caused by water overconsumption. Water-saving economy is now part of civil education: families and insitutions consider it as an important element of civic awareness.

4. Houses equipped with devices or household appliances reducing water consumption. Which ones?

5. Nowadays there aren’t water tanks anymore, but water saving devices such as washing machines, dishwashers and taps are much more widespread than before. Is it a good thing? Modern technologies have replaced natural ways to save water! This implies a greater capillarity of water-saving actions, but the industrial production and the electrical supply of these machines can increase pollution on a large scale!

6. Actions related to the dissemination of water-saving economy taken in towns or schools.

7. Just few of our grandparents had the opportunity to attend conferences and awareness campaigns about water consumption. When our parents were young some rules such as schedules for watering plots and gardens began to spread, thanks to the initiative of some municipalities. Nowadays actions related to the dissemination of water saving economy are diffused not only at municipal level, but also in the school. Gardauno, the company that takes care of the purification and the distribution of water in our region, also promotes a campaign of information and education in primary schools. In spite of this, 53% students think that the actions related to the economical water management conducted in their school, town or region are not sufficient. Awareness raising activities towards environmental issues are a little neglected in high schools, where lectures on affectivity, relationships and communication are felt as more immediately needed.

8. Sewage treatment plants in the towns.

9. INFORMATION! In the past…. …nowadays… … for the future!

10. Nowadays both families and students are much more informed about problems caused by water consumption and ways to reduce water waste at home. Among the problems caused by water overconsumption, these are the most known by the students. Only 10% students know how much water their family is consuming within twenty-four hours

11. This shows that even if we made progress over the past, we can still do a lot to draw the attention of the local community and school students to the problem of rational use of water. Here’s what grandparents, parents and students suggest for this purpose. • Grandparents’ suggestions: • educate young people, promote small daily steps • establish a maximum limit of water consumption per family • make sure that the elderly, grown up in a time when water wasting was not considered a problem, are made aware of new environmental directives • Parents’ suggestions: • reduce water bill for those who consume below the regional average • educate young people • open blogs on the internet • build new treatment plants • distribute equipment to reduce water consumption • events, advertisments Students’ suggestions: