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	clean water living water rainwater harvesting graywater systems recreational water

water (n) - a chemical substance, that is essential to all known forms of life on planet earth. [wikipedia] energy (n)- the capacity of a thing (person, animal, system) to do work and produce change. [wikipedia]

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Oasis Design

Water: Basis of Life

Sustainable Water Our bodies are composed of and the Earth's surface is covered by almost 80% water. Water is used for our hydration, to irrigate our food crops, and as a means of cleaning our bodies, our clothes, our dishes, our food, and our posessions. Though it seems to be largely taken for granted by most of the Western world - who can access water just by turning on the faucet - anyone who has gone more than a day without water realizes what a necessary component of life water plays in our life.

Clean Water

Several urban water municipals throughout the world have traces of makeup, cigarette ash, and other toxic chemicals and pollutants in trace amounts. Somehow, we live in a world where these dangerous substances are allowed to exist in our water as long as they are below a certain amount. Through such processes as reverse osmosis and distillation, many of these pollutants can be filtered out. The cleanest water we can directly access comes from the sky above - as rain.

Living Water

Rain and spring water bring us water that is alive. Such resources as Oasis Design, who specialize in water testing, harvesting, and the importance of protecting our natural water resources, are recognized throughout the world-wide Permaculture networks as some of the most extensive and comprehensive approaches to natural solutions for water on the planet.

Rainwater Harvesting

Amazingly, harvesting rainwater for drinking is illegal in many places that have large governments to put laws in place to prevent such measures. In states like California, it is currently illegal to bring your roof-caught rainwater into a cistern for catchment; however, as our climate changes and resources become more scarce, it is likely that solutions will evolve that are practical and ethical without regards to whether it fits within current legal codes.

Graywater Systems

Graywater is the drainage water from areas such as bathtubs, showers, sinks, and washers and dryers. By taking the drainage into gravel beds that are full of toxin-stripping plants, such as cattail, as the water goes through the graywater system, it gets clean and is available for irrigation. It is essential that the soaps, washing detergents, and other materials that go down these drains are biodegradable. An amazing collection of products created especially for this purpose can be found online at Oasis Design.

Recreational Water

Whether it is surfing, kayaking, sailing, fishing, or just swimming, recreational bodies of water - be they the ocean, rivers, lakes, or even man-made pools - do best with clean water and a healthy ecosystem. Natural pools are an alternative to chlorinated pools which require no pumps, chemicals, or constant maintenence outside the regular balance created by the integrated wetland system of natural pools.