Creating a Water-Smart Home: Best Practices for Every Climate

Water security affects every one of us. Thankfully, we also live in a time of peak innovation, from water monitoring to water harvesting.

Here are some solutions for creating a water-smart home, regardless of your country’s climate. 

Water monitors come in all sizes, from industrial to personal. They can help keep track of water use, down to the smallest, most tenacious drips!

Here’s what to look for in a water monitor for your home, whatever the size or location.

“Leapfrogging” is a term used to describe using relatively advanced technologies where more established ones aren’t available. A community using solar energy as their first electricity source is a classic example, as they leapfrog over more established infrastructure like fossil fuels.

Solar powered water pumps are another example, as some communities and even households and farms in hot climates are bypassing traditional water sources to use this new technology. While they were first introduced in the 1960s, solar powered pumps are proliferating now in Africa, India and the Middle East, because of rising fuel costs and plummeting solar panel costs.

In theory, it has enormous potential, using the one resource they have in abundance (solar power) to extract the water from the ground. However, caution is urged, as these pumps can over-extract water. So, for communities or individuals, joined up thinking and research is required before investing in this potentially game-changing technology.

Reusing water, especially wastewater, is another relatively untapped resource. Indeed, in developing countries, many of which are closer to the equator, wastewater is not treated as much as it could be. The World Bank reports that one “trend centers on wastewater, 82% of which is not being recycled in the region, compared to just 30% in high-income countries”. 

Water-reuse is a broad subject, which we discussed in our blogs about Sustainable Water Practices for Expats and 10 Ways to Save Water in Your Daily Life . It can range from re-using bathwater to wash your car, to harvesting rainwater. 

In fact, harvesting dew is both a traditional and cutting edge practice that’s taking place everywhere from the Middle East to Peru. While it’s mostly done by nonprofit organisations, smaller dew collectors are available for personal use. As you might expect, you can pay as much or as little as you want for dew and fog harvesting technology. The simplest ones look like upside down umbrellas pointed into a container! 

As part of our ongoing water project, we’re offering a range of advice on water management. This includes blogs about Educating Kids on Water Management , Sustainable Water Practices for Expats and How to Set Up a Home Water Filtration System. 

We have years of expertise in providing peace of mind for people around the world, so get in touch if you’d like to find out more about  international health insurance.