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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2: Recycling Water

Conserving water is an important way to help reduce the stress that humans put on the earth. A company in England, along with several universities, has created a system that lets water be used two times before it is sent back to the water treatment plant.

The system uses plants to clean water from dishwashers, baths and showers. This water is pumped into horizontal troughs planted on roof-tops. The plants take in the water, as well as the soap and other pollutants in the water, through their roots. The water is then dyed to indicate that it should not be used to drink. This recycled water can be used for washing the car, watering the lawn, or flushing toilets.

According to researchers, only about half of the water used in a home needs to be drinkable. However, our current system provides drinkable water to our entire home. A system such as this would allow a lot of water to be used twice before it is treated at the water plant. This would greatly reduce the amount of water homes and offices use, and would be especially useful in areas that are prone to drought or have a limited water supply for other reasons.

--Written by Jodey Byers

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