water: a precious resource · water scarcity. moreover, water tariff in taiwan is cheaper than that...

It's O'right Quarterly

2015.Q3

Water: A Precious ResourceA Good Rain Knows Its Season…But What If It Stops Coming?

Earth Day: Plant Seeds of Sustainability with Creativity

O’right Puts Concept into Practice - Showing Plant Vitality Through Creativity

Quench Your Thirst…AND Your Hair This Summer

Replenish Your Hair for a Hot Summer Look

A Water-efficient Lifestyle Amid the Desert!

Taiwan Hit by Water Crisis? Let’s Look at How Countries Facing Worse

Drought Save Water

A Chair That Promotes Green Power

O’right x Flexible Love = O’Love: Launching a Green Revolution in the Hair Care IndustryWater Footprint – Making Water

Use VisibleThe Hidden Cost of Water

A Thirsty Planet: The Unstoppable Water CrisisDid You Know Only 0.025% of Water on Earth Is Available for Human Use?

Operation “Save Water” – Make Conserving Water a Daily Part of Your LifeThe Secret to Saving Water

Enhance scalp protection to keep scalp healthy and moisturized Lock moisture into hair for long-lasting hydration

Bamboo extract is a deep hydrating ingredient for hair and skin care products. O’right’s bamboo hair care collection is uniquely formulated with bamboo extract to give you an intensive moisturizing treatment.

Bamboo Anti-grease Scalp Serum (240 ml) ｜ Bamboo Scalp Nourishing Gel (240 ml) ｜ Bamboo Moisturizing Hair Treatment (70 ml)

NATURALLY SOOTHING BAMBOO EXTRACT

Steven KoCEO of O right

After suffering 9 months of water

shortage, the worst drought Taiwan

has faced in 67 years, 5 days of

heavy rainfall bring some relief

to the drought-stricken Taiwan.

As thankful as we are for rain,

we should consider this a lesson

learned and contemplate the

importance of water to humans

and the environment.

We all know that we can live without

food for a few days, but we will not

survive a single day without water.

However, many people donʼt take

it seriously. Perhaps it is because

we are used to the convenience

life gives us and take it for granted.

When drenched in sweat, we take

a shower. When hungry, we turn on

the tap for water to clean and cook

food. When thirsty, we just turn on

the faucet and instantly have water

to drink. Perhaps it is because water

has become so easily accessible

for us that we rarely experience

water scarcity. Moreover, water

tariff in Taiwan is cheaper than that

in neighboring countries, making

it easy to let thoughts of water

conservation slip our minds.

The human body needs food and

water to survive. About 71% of the

Earthʼs surface is covered by water,

but only 0.025% is accessible as

fresh water to be used by us. Isnʼt that shocking? Now, letʼs look at

Taiwan. Although Taiwan is rich in

natural resources and is blessed with

plenty of rain per year, precipitation

is not evenly distributed throughout

the year, which may result in either

flooding or water shortage.

Taiwan is endowed with steep

mountain ranges; therefore,

great altitude differences occur

throughout the island, making it

difficult to retain rainwater. As such,

it is not surprising that Taiwan can

be found among the worldʼs most

water-stressed countries. It is natural

that water conservation is a major

area of concern and raising public

awareness to conserve water

should become a top priority in

Taiwan.

However, compared to other

energy depletion discussions,

issues on water resources are rare.

Statistics show that by 2025, due

to environmental factors, rapid

climate change, and increasing

population in certain regions,

poverty-stricken countries will be

undergoing serious water scarcity.

That doesnʼt mean urban areas can

remain oblivious. Water facilities

need to be renewed to maintain

safety of drinking water. As such,

the aforementioned water resource

problems could result in a tug-of-

war over water resources between

urban residents and farmers,

subsequently affecting food

production and supply.

That being said, in this edition of Itʼs Oʼright Quarterly, we specifically

raised the issue of “water” to

acquaint everyone with the amount

of water we consume in our daily

life (i.e., water footprint), as well

as encourage readers to save or

recycle water at all times. Letʼs all gather our power to achieve

greater sustainability. Let us reuse

and recycle to sustain natural

resources.

From the Publisher

Operation “Save Water” – Make Conserving Water a Daily Part of Your Life

A Thirsty Planet: The Unstoppable Water Crisis

A Water- efficient Lifestyle Amid the Desert!



14Event

06Cover Story

16Modern Salon

19Green Lifestyle

Publisher

Editor

Text

Graphic Design

Photography

Published by

Subscription

Steven Ko

Jessica Wang

Asha Tseng/ Samuel Ku/ Julie KuoKeira Hsieh/ Crystal Chen

Shu-chun Chang

Wen-Hua Liang

Hair O ̓ right International Corporation

[email protected]

It's O'right Quarterly

2015 Q3— Vol. 08

Water Footprint – Making Water Use Visible

Quench Your Thirst… AND Your Hair This Summer

SmartHairCare

Water: A Precious ResourceA Good Rain Knows Its Season...

But What If It Stops Coming?

Contents

What is Water Footprint?Water footprint is similar to carbon

footprint. It is a measurement of

the total amount of water we

use, including the water used for

producing and shipping products,

and for other purposes. Water

footprint can visualize the hidden

water use behind products. For

example, behind that morning

cup of coffee that is probably just

200 ml is 140 liters of water used to

grow, produce, package, and ship

the beans. Letʼs look at another

example. To produce 1 kg of beef,

6.5 kg of grain, 36 kg of roughages,

and 144 liters of water (only for

drinking and servicing) are required.

Adding to that is another 15,300

liters of water for producing the

volume of feed. In other words, the

water footprint of 1 kg of beef adds

up to 15,500 liters of water.

Simply put, water footprint is an

effective tool for analyzing water

resources. Basically it is an indicator

that clarifies how human activities

and product manufacturing affects

water and proposes solutions to

ensure a sustainable future for

water.

Youʼll Never Guess the Water Footprints of These Everyday ProductsWhat we donʼt see behind the

products we use and the food we

eat every day is how much all of it

costs. Thus it is easy for us to forget

how much water is actually used

during production and shipping.

Let us look at the shocking facts

about the water footprints of these

products and food.

Water FootprintIn 1993, Professor John Anthony

Allan from Kingʼs College

London coined the term “virtual

water” and introduced the

concept which calculates

the amount of water that is

embedded in food or other

products needed for its

production and shipping. It

was only later in 2002 when

the water footprint concept

was introduced to the world by

Professor Arjen Y. Hoekstra from

the Netherlands. Due to the

growing concerns over water

scarcity in recent years, water

footprint gradually caught

the attention of governments,

corporations, and people

around the globe.

As the sizzling summer approaches, every convenient store around the corner

is stocked with bottled water. But did you know that for every 600 cc bottled

water that is produced, 10.5 liters of water is consumed, which is 17.5 times the

amount of water contained in each bottle? And do you know what price is paid

to produce a cup of coffee? That’s 140 liters of water! As the water footprint

awareness of the public increases, the hidden, jaw-dropping cost of water we

consume every day is gradually coming to light.

Water Footprint – Making Water Use Visible

6

Cover Story

2,700A t-shirt

liters of water3,4001 kg of rice

liters of water

150,000A car

liters of water3,9001 kg of chicken

liters of water

8,000

A pair of leather shoes

liters of water40

A slice of bread

liters of water

10

A sheet of A4 paper

liters of water2,400A hamburger

liters of water

7

Cover Story

How Your Lifestyle Affects Water FootprintsEvery day a person uses an

average of up to 270 liters of water

in Taiwan, far beyond the daily

per capita water use of 250 liters

worldwide. This is a sign that there

is still a lot of room for improvement

for Taiwanese people in terms of

water usage. Do you know how

much water is consumed through

the choices you make in supporting

your lifestyle, including food,

clothing, housing, transportation,

and recreation? The online Water

Calculator developed by the

Environmental Quality Protection

Foundation can help you quench

your curiosity! Simply just key

in information and your water

footprint will pop up right in front of

you. Maybe after you see the digits

you will begin to think of ways to

conserve water in your daily life.

According to the Water Resources

Agency of the Ministry of Economic

Affairs, large amounts of water are

used in our daily lives. Take a look

at the top 10 ways people waste

water and you will understand why

Oʼright encourages you to protect

our planet and preserve our water.

World Water Day 2015 http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday

Environmental Quality Protection Foundation http://www.eqpf.org/en/Site/index.html

Water Calculator http://www.eqpf.org/WaterCalculator.aspx

Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs http://eng.wra.gov.tw/lp.asp?ctNode=6299&CtUnit=1177&BaseDSD=43

References

150❶ Bathing

liters of wateris used every 5 minutes 18

❻ Washing your faceliters of wateris used per day

6❾ Washing rice

liters of wateris used per person

1❿ Drinking water

liters of wateris used per day

10❽ Flowering plants


12❼ Washing the dishes


liters of wateris used per day54

❷ Flushing the toilet


❹ Laundry


❺ Brushing your teeth

liters of wateris used every 5 minutes45

❸ Cleaning the floor (outdoors)

8

Cover Story

The earth is a water wealthy planet, but only a tiny portion of it can be used.

As a quote by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge says, “Water, water

everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” 97.5% of all water on earth is salt water,

leaving only 2.5% as fresh water. However, nearly 70% of that fresh water

is frozen in the icecaps of Antarctica and Greenland; the remaining 30% is

groundwater which is not accessible to human use. Generally speaking, only

0.025% of all water on earth can be used by humans.

A Thirsty Planet: The Unstoppable Water Crisis

9

Cover Story

World Could Face 40% Water Shortfall by 2030In wealthy countries, all you need

to do is turn on the tap whenever

you want and out comes a finite

amount of water. To those of us

living in developed countries, water

shortage is something that remote,

poor, famine-stricken countries

face. To this day, there are still 750

billion people around the world

who lack access to clean, safe

water. Yet, people living in water

rich nations take water for granted.

In fact, due to the rapid growth of

the worldʼs population and global

climate change in recent years,

many countries around the world

including China, Chile, and Spain

have been suffering from severe

drought. Brazilʼs São Paulo recently

experienced the greatest drought

with one of the cityʼs reservoirs

down to just 11% of capacity, while

California government was forced

to take actions by mandating

limitations on the stateʼs water use

in midst of its worst drought ever

recorded. A report released by the

United Nations (UN) warns of serious

global water shortage if significant

changes are not made. The UN also

predicts that water supply in two-

thirds of the world will fall short in

10 years, and in 15 years, the world

might only have 60% of the water it

needs, a shortfall that could affect

2.9 billion people.

Taiwan Ranks 18th in the World for Water ScarcityTaiwanʼs water mainly comes

from rainfall. The annual average

precipitation in Taiwan is 2,500 mm

and the country receives over

90 billion metric tons of rainfall a

year, which is 2.6 times that of the

worldʼs average. Taiwan, a rainfall-

abundant country, shouldnʼt have

to worry about water shortage...or

should they? Despite its abundant

rainfall, Taiwan ranks 18th on the list

of the most water-starved nations in

the world. The annual average per

capita water consumption in Taiwan

World Water Day 2015 http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday


Taiwan Water Corporation http://www.water.gov.tw/eng/index.asp

Taipei Water Department http://english.water.gov.taipei/

References

Virtual Water: Tackling the Threat to Our Planet's Most Precious Resource

China Times Publishing Co.

10

Cover Story

is about 3,950 metric tons, far less

than the worldʼs average of 32,000

metric tons. Due to the islandʼs unique geographical features and

high population density, it is difficult

to harvest water. Also, all Taiwanʼs rivers originate in the mountains

and have short, rapid courses, thus

most rainwater goes directly to the

ocean. In addition, Taiwan s̓ existing

reservoirs donʼt have enough

capacity to store water. This is the

reason why there is such a huge

difference between the islandʼs ranking on the global list for water-

stressed countries and annual

average precipitation.

So Stop Wasting WaterIn the past, it seems as though

Taiwanese people werenʼt deeply

affected by the fact that there

was no water to use. Blessed with

low water tariff, we rarely think

about how much water we have

consumed and are unaware of the

value of water. If Taiwanʼs water

consumption report is placed right

in front of your eyes, you will find

that from 2008 to 2014 the daily

average water use is often higher

than the water use standards set

by the Water Resources Agency,

Ministry of Economic Affairs of 250

liters. This means that we are using

more water than we are supposed

to. To be frank, water shortage is

no longer an issue we can ignore.

More and more newspaper articles

and magazines have addressed

water shortage issues and are

urging people to conserve water.

So as a Taiwanese citizen we

cannot and should not ignore the

future implications of water scarcity

any longer!

Operation “Save Water” － Taiwan Launches Water Conservation Reward ProgramAs Taiwan battles the worst drought

in years, the government adopted

drastic water restriction measures

and began rationing water supplies

to water-scarce areas effective

April, 2015. The Ministry of Economic

Affairs further introduced a new

policy to reward water conservation

which began from April 1 as part

of its efforts to deal with ongoing

drought in order to encourage the

public to save water and fight this

drought together.

The Taipei Water Department

of Taiwan Water Corporation

announced that from April to the

end of July, people who used less

than 10% or more water compared

to last year will be rewarded. It will

take time to prove whether this

reward scheme benefits Taiwanese

citizens despite the already low

water tariff. Perhaps the most

effective way to truly sustain water

is to promote water conservation

and cultivate water saving habits

as early as possible in friends and

families as well as corporations.

11

Cover Story

How Precious Is Water in Taiwan?Taiwan has been hit by its worst

drought in 67 years. Perhaps some

people are curious about why

Taiwan is suffering from water

shortages when it rains so often. The

culprit behind this is us, because

where humans exist, water is

wasted. According to the Water

Resources Agency, the amount of

water the average Taiwanese uses

per day is 270 liters, most of which is

attributed to bathrooms. When we

shower, we use 15-25 liters of water

per minute. So in other words it

takes just a 20-minute shower to use

up the total amount of water we

should be using a day! Therefore,

to fight water shortage, the first

thing we should do is to make water

conservation a priority and a daily

part of our lives.

What Can YOU Do to Save Water?You can start by saving water in

your daily life. First, calculate the

current water use in your home

based on your monthly water bills

and list the water consumption

and frequency of usage of water-

consuming appliances at home.

Secondly, set a water-use reduction

goal for next month and establish

your own water conservation plan

to achieve it. Then, put your plan

into action. For example, you can

install low-flow faucet aerators

and showerheads or replace your

traditional toilet with a close-

coupled toilet. You can install a

rainwater tank for collecting and

storing rainwater to reduce the use

of faucets at home. Lastly, you can

recycle and reuse water. Use water

wisely because every drop counts.

Operation “Save Water” – Make Conserving Water a Daily Part of Your Life

12

Cover Story


Taiwan Water Corporation http://www.water.gov.tw/eng/index.asp

References

• Replace traditional flush toilets with low-flush toilets or close-coupled toilets.

• Put a glass canister or brick in your full-flush toilet tank to decrease the amount of water that flushes out.

• Do not put cleaners and air fresheners in the toilet tank to prevent shut-off valve corrosion.

• Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators.

• Always turn off faucets tightly to avoid dripping and install a spring-loadedshutoff valve for faucets.

• Turn off faucets properly when brushing your teeth or applying soap; only turn it back on when needed.

• Shorten showers to 5 minutes and use a low-flow showerhead to keep the water use below 30 liters.

Kitchen• Wash dishes, food, and clothes in sinks

filled with water instead of leaving the tap running.

• Use the water you washed rice or cooked noodles with to wash your dishes.

• Use the water you washed food, clothes, dishes, and bathed with to water flowers, wash your car, and clean the floor.

Laundry

• Prevent from washing too many or too little clothes or dishes in the washing machine or dishwasher.

• Reduce the amount of time spent washing different types of garments; for example, spend 5-10 minutes for knitwear, cotton and linen clothing and 12 minutes for dirtier clothes.

• Use a semi or fully automatic washing machine to reduce water use and time.

Garden• Water plants and flowers in the morning

or evening when the sun is not so strong to reduce the amount of water evaporating.

• Cover gardens with grass stubble, bark, sawdust, or gravel to prevent soil water evaporation and soil erosion.

• In winter, only water plants when there has been consecutive days of high temperature or during drought; in spring and autumn, most plants only need half of the water needed in summer.

Water Saving Tips: In the BathroomWhat can we do to save water at

home? Surveys show that most of

the water consumed in the average

home is used in the bathroom.

Toilet flushing and showering each

account for about a third of all

household water usage. In other

words, two-thirds of all water used

at home goes down the bathroom

drain! So, to save water at home,

start from the bathroom.

Water Saving Tips at HomeAside from the bathroom, kitchen,

laundry, and garden water use

should also be conserved. Here, we

will share a few other ways to save

water at home.

Saving Water in the Bathroom

Water Saving Tips

13

Cover Story

Sow Seeds and Put Sustainability Promises into PracticeRemember when you were young

you used a Petri dish to grow mung

beans? You waited in anticipation

every day for the little beans

to start sprouting. That feeling

of excitement and fulfillment is

how Oʼright and team felt after

celebrating Earth Day on April 22.

Oʼright holds creative planting

contests so that employees can

have the chance to grow plants

and have fun. Employees learn that

seeds donʼt just need soil, sun, and

water to grow, they also require

great care to be healthy and strong.

As climate change intensifies and

environmental awareness increases,

energy conservation and carbon

reduction is not enough; we should

also live a green life and fight for a

sustainable future for this beautiful

planet.

Recycle Plastic Bottles and Paint EggshellsNot everyone lives in a house with a

garden or a balcony. Indoor house

plants not only add a decorative

touch to your home but also possess

therapeutic properties that bring

relaxation and comfort.

What are some of the creative

things you least expect to find in a

kitchen that could be of good use?

After making an egg-based dish,

donʼt throw away the empty shells.

Instead, leave them to plant seeds.

You can also paint the eggshells as

a decoration. In summer, everyone

loves a cool drink to quench their

thirst or have showers to cool off.

Seed-Starting Tips● Seed PaperWater the seed paper and keep it wet. Wait until the seedling has grown more than 5 cm before transferring it to a seedbed.

●Acacia SeedsAcacia seeds have a hard exterior. You can put the seeds in hot water for 1 minute and then immerse them in cold water. Once the seeds have swollen up, you can begin to plant them.

On April 22, 2015, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Earth Day,

O’right Green Headquarters and fellow colleagues nationwide

took action to protect the planet by planting hundreds of seeds.

We made good use of resources and our creativity to enhance

the vitality of nature.


14

Event

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day is an environmental

protection movement that

was first celebrated on

campuses around the United

States in 1970. In 1990, Earth

Day became internationally

recognized. The theme of

Earth Day 2015 was “It ʼs Our

Turn to Lead!”

As a result, empty bottles and cans

pile up in homes. Donʼt throw them

away. Make use of them! Cut off the

opening and use it to grow plants.

You can also be creative and

show your artistic side by cutting

the plastic bottles into different

shapes and style. You will find that

under the sunlight it will become an

unexpected extraordinary scenery.

Creating an Eco-system in Your Own Garden: AquaponicsAquaponics is the practice of

combining aquaculture (raising

aquatic animals) and hydroponics

(cultivating plants in water) in a

symbiotic environment to create a

mutualistic ecosystem. It is a hybrid

food growing technology that

has become common in recent

years. In an aquaponics system,

the fish waste feeds the growing

plants using organic hydroponic

techniques, and the plants, in turn,

clean and filter the water that

returns to the fish environment, thus

creating a natural balanced cycle.

Aquaponics effectively reduces

the use of chemical fertilizers and

pesticides and also maintains the

natural cycle between animals and

plants.

This technology, as simple as

it seems, requires attentive

consideration of the characteristics

of animals and plants. Businesses

have caught onto this innovative

technology and have begun to

introduce experimental programs

and products for busy citizens to

build their own “Happy Farm,” thus

creating green space and purifying

the soul.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day

http://www.earthday.org.tw/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_confusa

References

15

Event

Launching a Green Revolution in the Hair Care IndustryOn February 2, 2015, Oʼrightʼs Marketing Department began

discussing what should be done

to create a significant impact

beyond commercial interests and

cultivate a green ambassador.

After numerous days of frustration,

the marketing team had an

epiphany: good design comes

from the harmony among heaven,

earth, and man and provides

people with more wonderful things

and inspirations. Thus began the

wonderful journey towards the birth

of the OʼLove Paper Bench, made

from recycled cartons. Hence,

OʼLove Paper Bench embarked on

the green revolution of the hair care

industry. Like every other mysterious

journey, we were both filled with

anticipation and a little afraid.

The Power of Believing: One Step at a TimeFrom March 4, 2015, for 3 months

and 2 days, 28 green salons around

Taiwan began displaying the

chair, demonstrating the power

of the hair care industry and also

showing feelings of optimism and

anticipation towards the seed of

hope. When Yiwen, the 35-year-

old owner of a salon in Chiayi,

received an invitation for the

OʼLove Paper Bench campaign,

he excitedly claimed, “Iʼve always

believed that companies should

stand up and take action to protect

the environment. Our generation

has caused so much damage

already, so we should fix it for

future generations!” From being an

18th to 19th Century Europe – Salons are private living rooms for art gatherings

In salons, women gain knowledge, exchange opinions, and give assessments, thus salons are viewed as continuing education these women give themselves.

21st Century Taiwan – The sanctuary for O’right salons, hair care, and green issues

We launched the green revolution “a chair that can change the world” of the hair care industry to advocate “healthy people, a healthy environment, and a healthy society.”

21st Century – The blossoming of global hair salons and green movement

The power of transforming ordinary into extraordinary allows us to spread hope and grow green seeds


16

Modern Salon

assistant to a salon owner, Yiwen

finally has the chance to choose

products he identifies with. “Natural

and environmentally friendly” is a

mutual understanding. He thinks of

all his customers as friends. “Can

you really sit on that chair?” and

“does Oʼright sell chairs?” are just

two of the many questions Yiwen

helps answer for customers. He

answers their questions and spreads

the good word of Oʼright because

thatʼs what he would do to a friend.

Yiwen jokingly said, “If a salon

doesnʼt help introduce Oʼright

products, then that salon must be

on bad terms with the companyʼs service representatives!”

Donʼt be fooled by the age of Aki,

the 15-year-old manager of Ashkyi

Hair located in Banqiao. Sheʼs had 13 years of experience in this

industry! The reason she chose

Oʼright products was because of

the dermatitis caused by repeated

contact with water and detergents

from spending too much time at

the basin washing customersʼ hair.

“Oʼrightʼs products are like water; its

natural scent aroused my curiosity.

Their products are nothing like the

ones Iʼve used before!” The OʼLove

Paper Bench sitting in the lobby is

there to welcome customers. Aki

said, “One time a muscular boy

came to our salon and looked at

the chair in fear. He was afraid of

breaking it! When he finally brought

up the courage to sit on the chair,

the look of joy on his face was

priceless!” Aki is looking forward

to another journey for the OʼLove

Paper Bench to embark on.

Promise of a Better TomorrowOʼLove Paper Bench brings

people together. During the

journey, Oʼrightʼs green concept,

partnership with salons, as well as

the good relationship between

salons and consumers made a

beautiful scenery. No matter

how the world changes, Oʼright

believes that “healthy people,

a healthy environment, and a

healthy society” will become the

power that transforms ordinary

into extraordinary. Letʼs wait in

anticipation as green seedlings

continue to grow with “a chair that

promotes green power”!

To be continued...

17

Modern Salon

Start from Your Scalp!Dry scalp is associated with facial

aging. As the soil from which

hair grows, the scalp provides

most of the moisture. First is the

ultimate scalp hydration boost.

Use professional scalp treatment

products, with the help of a little

massaging, to keep scalp hydrated,

prevent scalp from aging and,

indirectly, improve skin elasticity

and firm facial muscles.

Donʼt Forget! Your Hair Needs Hydration TooHealthy hair contains about 12

to 13% of water. The percentage

may seem low, but is in fact the

key to determining if your hair is

dry or not! Hair is more likely to

lose water than skin, but it is easier

for hair to be hydrated. First, use

intensive moisturizing hair lotion for

a deep, penetrating treatment and

nourishing. Then, use cream-based

products to lock in moisture and

refrain from water loss for healthy

and tangle-free hair.

With your scalp and hair hydrated, you are now ready for summer!

As summer approaches, constant exposure to ultraviolet

rays and air conditioning could lead to dry, dehydrated

skin. But did you know that your hair is also prone to the

same kind of damage?

Quench Your Thirst… AND Your Hair This Summer

SmartHairCare

18

Modern Salon

Two-thirds of Israel is covered in

deserts. With only 30 days of rainfall

per year, Israel still manages to

grow plants and vegetables; in

fact, they grow so well that even

other countries want to import

from them. This is all thanks to

this unique water-saving method

known as drip irrigation. Israelis

use this technique to deliver water

drip-by-drip to the roots of plants.

By replacing traditional irrigation

methods with drip irrigation, even

dry, desert areas can also grow

fresh fruit and vegetables. Only

plants need water, soil doesnʼt; but most irrigation methods waste

water on soil which doesnʼt help

plants at all. Igal Aisenberg, CEO of

worldwide leader in drip irrigation,

Netafirm, explains the essence of

drip irrigation. This technique was

discovered when a farmer, in need

of water to irrigate crops, found

that the plants by a broken water

pipe grew particularly well.

As technology advances,

many water-saving techniques

have emerged. For example,

seawater desalination devices

turn wastewater into pure water,

allowing drought-stricken countries

that border oceans to use seawater

and solve water shortage problems.

Another example is the atmospheric

water generator developed by

local governments in Africa, a

miraculous device that extracts

water vapor from air and transforms

it into drinking water.

Nations around the world are

constantly trying to find different

solutions to tackle water shortages,

and some of those methods

are even used by other water-

stressed regions. For residents

living in those regions, life without

water has become a part of their

lives. However, because of the

environment they are forced to

live in, astonishing water-saving

techniques have emerged. So, when

we are worrying about the lack or

water, we can also look at how other

countries suffering worse conditions

than us deal with the challenges the

environment bring them.

If it’s your first visit to Israel or other

desert areas in the Middle East, you

will definitely find a long black water

pipe under trees or bushes next to

the road. Those water pipes are not

something the worker forgot to take;

in fact they’re the secret behind

Israel’s annual GDP of 18 billion!

A Water- efficient Lifestyle Amid the Desert!

19

Green Lifestyle

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water: a precious resource · water scarcity. moreover, water tariff in taiwan is cheaper than that...

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