Water: The Elixir of Life

GRAF on World Water Day 2026 – Water is the central element of this planet: it is the resource that makes our world what it is. World Water Day highlights the fact that the way we manage water is vital.

In many parts of the world, water is omnipresent: countless streams and rivers make entire valleys fertile. Rainfall is spread throughout the year. But only in many parts, not in all. There are years when, for example, no rain falls at all in the Atacama Desert in South America or in parts of the Sahara1). This makes water extremely precious, particularly in such regions, and its distribution is often not straightforward. The United Nations also takes up this idea with World Water Day. For water is not only the elixir of life par excellence, but has endless uses and is at work for us every day: we wash our hands with it, our cars in the car wash, our laundry in the washing machine. We cool our faces with water, as well as huge data centres, engines and the drinks at the next garden party. We heat water for steam baths, in steam irons and to power steam engines. We use it to water our gardens and the pot plants in the living room.

The possible uses of water may be endless, but water is a finite resource: it cannot be produced, grown or multiplied, and once it reaches a certain level of pollution, it can only be purified at great energy cost2). Furthermore, more than 95 per cent of the world’s water supply is salt water and therefore unusable for our needs. Conversely, this means that we should use the fresh water that is available sparingly. Even now: for with water, as with many other things, one only realises its importance when it is missing or in short supply. And by then it is too late.

A perfect cycle

You don’t even need to look as far as South America or Africa to be concerned: Germany is affected too. From East Westphalia through Lower Saxony to Mecklenburg, significantly less rain fell than normal in 20253). On top of that, when rain did fall, it was more often heavy downpours. In such cases, the soil cannot absorb all the water, so it runs off the surface. A shame for the water cycle. Because it is actually perfect: when it rains, a small portion ends up in watercourses that flow into the sea, whilst the majority seeps away. This benefits our plants, which thrive on the water and the dissolved nutrients in the soil. As the water seeps through various layers of rock, it forms groundwater; moreover, the water is purified and enriched with minerals on its journey downwards. This cycle does not work during heavy rainfall or where surfaces are sealed. Every house roof, every asphalted road, every warehouse prevents the soil beneath from absorbing water. Instead, the rain is usually channelled into the sewage system via drains.

Small steps for the water balance

Protecting water as a resource is vital, and there are many ways to do so. Waste separation is one: expired medicines, wet wipes and cotton pads belong in the bin just as much as food scraps. On the one hand, it is extremely challenging for sewage treatment plants to filter out medicinal substances; on the other, waste causes pipes to become blocked or pumping systems to fail4). Another sensible step is to save water. One example among many is taking a shower instead of a bath. This is because a full bath usually consumes more than 150 litres of hot water, whereas a shower generally requires only half that amount5). Nor does the water need to run continuously when washing your hands or brushing your teeth. In these instances, water consumption at home can often be reduced by half.

Rainwater is a natural ally for the flora and fauna around the house

It’s also a really good idea to collect rainwater. Whether simply from the gutter into a rain barrel or perhaps even into a large, underground cistern. This allows rainwater to be used for many purposes – be it for watering the plants in the vegetable garden, the flowers on the balcony and terrace, or as a reserve for the garden pond during periods of severe drought. Rainwater is not only a natural ally of the flora and fauna around the house, but its use also helps maintain the regional water balance. That, too, is good for nature. Not just on World Water Day!