It is not news to anyone that water is a resource that, despite being renewable, is finite. This means that one day, our precious liquid may run out, which is why preservation is so important.

In this sense, the use of alternative sources of water for consumption appears as a good practice to preserve this natural resource and allow new generations to continue enjoying it. However, you need to be careful when using them.
In this post, we have gathered the main doubts related to the topic, and we intend to clarify them. We will explain how it is possible to obtain alternative sources of water , what is the regulation of this process, why this practice is important and what means can be used. Interested? So, just keep reading!
How is it possible to obtain alternative sources of water?
To obtain alternative sources of water it is necessary to make specific investments. Several condominiums already have private systems to store and reuse rainwater, for example. There are also already existing seawater desalination plants and advanced treatment plants to create reuse water from treated sewage.
For this, it is important that, in addition to the population, the government and the private sector act together, making these projects viable and investing in alternative ways of producing drinking water. With this, it is possible to increase water availability, especially in regions of scarcity, as is the case in the Northeast.
What is the regulation of this process?
The use of alternative water sources was regulated in 2018, after the approval of the Senate Bill No. 51 of 2015 by the Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development of the Chamber of Deputies.
According to a publication on the Legislative Power website , this bill regulates the reuse of sewage water for various purposes after specific treatments and the collection of rainwater for reuse, provided that the quality parameters defined by the Union are followed.
According to the author of the bill , the idea is to reduce the consumption of drinking water for purposes other than quenching thirst.
Why is this practice important?
The importance of using alternative sources of water is justified precisely by the fact that it is necessary to preserve water resources today, so that we can continue using them in the future. In addition, according to Instituto Trata Brasil, around 35 million Brazilians do not have access to drinking water .
This number is quite high and worrisome. Therefore, good practices should be followed so that, in addition to guaranteeing that we will still have water in the future , more people have access to it today. And, in that sense, the use of alternative sources is very important.
What are the main alternative sources of water that can be used?
There are several options for alternative sources of water that can be used in our cities, both in residential condominiums and for public or industrial use. Next, we explain the main ones. Look!
Rain water
Residences, farms, condominiums, among other properties, can bet on systems to capture rainwater. Generally, the collection is done through gutters or building structures that make the storage.
Here, a warning is in order: the dengue outbreak is a problem throughout the country and one of the causes is the accumulation of water. The mosquito reproduces even in small pools of water, such as depressions in the floor of the slab, flaws in the plaster or clogged gutters. So be very careful !
It is worth remembering that rainwater is not suitable for human consumption, as it has not undergone any type of treatment and may be contaminated with dirt particles. However, it is suitable water treatment company for use in household tasks such as cleaning the house, yard and car and watering plants, for example.
Desalination of sea water
In this process, sea water is desalinated , so that it becomes good for consumption. In Brazil, there is already national technology for this and since 2004 investments have been made in this regard. The result is 575 desalination systems in operation and another 147 stations under construction. .
However, desalination processes require a high consumption of electricity to function, especially in large plants. However, Brazil is a country with a high incidence of sunlight, and it is possible to use this energy from this clean source to move infrastructure.
Another point that deserves attention is that an adequate management plan is needed for the final disposal of waste resulting from the desalination process.
reuse water
We call reuse water when the sewage generated by cities undergoes a specific treatment and the water resulting from this process can be used again for different activities. This alternative source can be used in industrial processes, such as cleaning and cooling boilers, for irrigation of fields and gardens, urban cleaning of roads and facades, etc.
It is also possible that reuse systems are built in buildings, so that the waste water can be reused for non-drinking purposes, for example.
depollution
Depollution is not an alternative source of water, but it contributes a lot to the sustainable use of this resource . In this process, polluted rivers and lakes are recovered , so that they return to their original state and their waters can be used for water collection by sanitation companies.
For this, at first, sources of contamination, such as the improper disposal of sewage , must be eliminated through the expansion of access to basic sanitation and infrastructure services. Effective inspection and environmental education actions in communities also help to considerably reduce impacts on water bodies .
In addition, it is necessary to invest in the application of cleaning and depollution methods that improve the quality of water, allowing it to be used for different purposes, including human consumption, after being properly treated.
These are some of the main alternative sources of water. Of course, not all are simple to apply and need planning and investment. But you can make people in your neighborhood aware so that they can reuse water from the washing machine and reduce bathing time, for example. If everyone does their part, there will be no shortage of water!