Presentation on rainwater harvesting.
ORANJESTAD - On April 9, 2024, six students from Utrecht University, in collaboration with Santa Rosa and the University of Aruba, presented their project, "Rainwater Harvesting."
The students focused on a sustainable solution to water scarcity. War=ter scarcity is one of the pressing challenges facing the agricultural sector.
The Minister of Transport, Integrity, Nature, and Elderly Affairs, Ursell Arends, attended the presentation.
Water scarcity is an ongoing challenge for local farmers, and rainwater harvesting offers an opportunity to obtain water efficiently and without additional costs. During their presentation, the students explored various methods and strategies to optimize the use of rainwater. They emphasized the importance of sustainable practices in water management, offering solutions that can alleviate water scarcity and promote environmental conservation.
Currently, Aruba has groundwater for only four thousand people, which is just 0.04% of our population, without considering the significant demand for water in the tourism sector. Therefore, research on rainwater harvesting underscores the vital importance of water for our country's sustainable development, particularly in the agricultural field.
"Aruba can transform itself from a desert landscape into an oasis. The initiative for rainwater harvesting is a significant step in that direction, in an environmentally friendly manner," said Minister of Nature Ursell Arends.