belgium: pennies from heaven
marie
denayer, foe belgium
Friends of the Earth Belgium has a
vision for water management, one that goes
against the current of regional and
European policy. Our vision involves a more
decentralized, equitable and sustainable
use of water with greater participation of
local users. We are encouraging Europeans
to stop over-exploiting limited groundwater
resources in two ways: by drinking
rainwater, and by using compost
toilets.
drinking the rain
In Europe, we attempt to reduce water
consumption either by changing our
water-use habits (for example taking
shorter showers) or by using new
technologies (such as water-efficient
washing machines). But we should not forget
that our rainy climate is also a
potentially important source of household
water. Even if rain has been polluted in
the atmosphere, it can be filtered at home.
Naturally fresh, rainwater enables us to
reduce the use of cleaning products and
other softeners, thus cutting down on
environmental pollution. And as an added
bonus, the widespread use of rainwater
would eliminate the need for expensive,
wasteful bottled drinking water.
Rainwater is not the solution for
everyone, particularly those living in
sunny and dry climates. It makes more sense
for decentralized use, for example in
remote rural regions, than for densely
populated cities.
poop for compost
Flush toilets use up to one-third of the
water consumed each day in Europe. And the
water that is flushed away is drinking
water quality, which is unnecessary and
wasteful. Friends of the Earth Belgium is
promoting a toilet that uses dry wood
shavings, rich in carbonated matter, in
place of water. This compost can then be
spread on vegetable gardens and fields. In
Belgian Wallonia, some 200 families
currently use this kind of integrated
toilet and composting system.
For Friends of the Earth Belgium, the
use of rainwater and compost toilets are
part of the resistance against economic
globalization and water privatization. We
believe that showering and using the toilet
can be highly political activities!
