Page 6 - AHATA

Saturday 13 april 2024 locAl
A10

Students from The University Of Utrecht conduct a study on

rainwater harvesting for Aruba

On April 8th, a group of stu-
dents from the University of
Utrecht, namely Ilse Coel-
man, Sara Ståhlberg, Mar-
tha Ramos Monzón, Yoshi
Montoya Rodriguez, Gemma
Negrini, and Yanina Diaz-
Maroto Knöfler, presented
the results of their preliminary
study conducted in collabo-
ration with Santa Rosa and
the University of Aruba.

The presentation was at-
tended by Minister Mr. Ursell
Arends as well as a signifi-
cant number of guests from
various private and govern-
mental sectors. The theme
centered on the possibility
of rainwater harvesting in
Aruba and the potential it
holds for the island's Agricul-
tural sector as a commercial
endeavor. This study was part
of the Erasmus exchange
program stationed at the
University of Aruba.

The Department of Agricul-
ture, Livestock, and Fisheries the practice of rainwater col- on the implementation of able for other uses.
(Santa Rosa) acted as their lection via dams, gutters, rain rainwater collection, while From the collected data,
client, with Mrs. Nathalie barrels, plastic tanks with a the other concentrated on they selected the most ac- The students' conclusion
Maduro, Director of DLVV- capacity of over 3000L, or community readiness to col- cessible options and con- highlighted that, unlike other
Santa Rosa, coordinating 1000L white tanks. lect, reuse, and contribute cluded that using aluminum Caribbean islands, Aruba re-
the project alongside Mr. to the sustainability of homes gutters connected to 1000L lies less on rainwater harvest-
Eric Mijts from the University of The students collected data or businesses. As part of their plastic tanks would be the ing due to its access to desal-
Aruba. Mr. Facundo Franken, and analyzed the different study, they reviewed litera- most cost-effective method inated water from the Water
responsible for the local plant results from two perspectives: ture on rainwater collection for individuals interested in and Energy Company NV
section, oversaw the supply evaluating opportunities for in Aruba and conducted rainwater collection at their (WEB). Historically, the island
of past reports that served the Agricultural Sector and structured interviews with homes. On the other hand, has invested in natural water
as comparative information facilitating the use of water various stakeholders and a they suggested that agro- sources, intensifying their use
to the current situation. He for other purposes within the public survey. They recorded forestry might be the most through deeper wells and
also coordinated visits to community. They divided and evaluated the sugges- beneficial practice for rain- more extensive cisterns. In
various plantation localities their study and evaluation tions and practices provided water collection, directly into 1933, a seawater distillation
and farms. The objective of work into two groups of by the community regarding the soil, enhancing its fertility company was established in
these visits was to illustrate three. One group focused rainwater collection. and moisture retention. Agro- Balashi. The students noted
forestry combines agriculture that in the past, many farm-
and forestry, where trees of ers found stable employment
various products are culti- in the island's two refineries,
vated alongside the main shifting the focus away from
crop for additional benefits. agriculture for survival.

Many farmers prefer to use One of the recommenda-
all water and light resources tions made by the students
solely for cultivation. How- was to improve communi-
ever, the soil's fertility and its cation within the commu-
ability to retain moisture may nity regarding responsible
decrease over time without and practical rainwater
diversifying crops, affecting harvesting. During the Q&A
future cycles. Kravchencko session, an audience mem-
et al. in 2019 demonstrated ber asked for examples of
that root diversity creates effective rainwater collec-
a diversity of soil pores that tion, to which the students
stabilize carbon levels and referred to the Santa Cruz
increase soil moisture. This Craft School, where intercon-
method of rainwater collec- nected tanks of various sizes
tion offers water directly to were used for collection.q
crops but may not be avail-