Palermo is not a water scarce city. It receives water from many springs, wells and reservoirs due to the artificial damming of rivers. Historically Palermo can boast of one of the most intricate sophisticated water systems. However today, over 50% of this water is lost before it reaches domestic spaces, and though water in the basin is not scarce, the cities resulting in over consumption inevitably leads to the quickening desertification of the surrounding countryside. The water which reaches the domestic space, once used, much of the time is often not cleaned properly before being discharged into rivers and oceans with devastating effects on these ecosystems.
The way we dirty and dispose of water today is contributing to a global shortage of fresh water and leans us into a future of complex remediation to ensure enough clean water to go around. Contributing to this, we have also disrupted the natural water cycle through activities such as deforestation and pulling groundwater. Cities survive from the resources which surround them, and many are designed for goods to enter and waste to leave. Water is one of the most important substances on the planet today, it is infinite, yet its quality is finite.
WET ZONES suggests a not-so-distant future where localised water recycling presents a short term solution in allowing for the regulated consumption, disposal and reclamation of this finite resource. Mitigating damaging water habits and paving the way towards circular cities. The mobile kitchen unit proactively explores a kitchen water filtration system, using localised production and materials; the used water entering the system will be channelled through a range of filters which remove contaminants, before being purified to safe standards for reuse or discharge. This process invites us to address how we use water, what we put into it, and our day-to-day water habits, however it does not aim to demonise the domestic, but to provide temporary agency over our own water habits, sending a clear message to those in positions of power, our desired water futures.
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The project is part of SCHOOL OF WATER SCARCITY, produced by Studio Rizoma and supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Tunis.
Research and artistic direction: Eliza Collin | Curation: Izabela Anna Moren | Realisation: Marginal Studio | Production: Giorgio Mega