Extinction of Water | The Water Library

Water is one of the basic human needs. Clean water and sanitation is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals from the UN that are aimed to be achieved by 2030. As an essential resource and the fact that the number of areas that will be living under high water stress is rising, it is increasingly often referred to as “the most precious item in the world“ or as the “liquid gold“. The water library is a collection of the worlds different bodies of water. The diversity of water is shown by the small samples which are accompanied by information including geographical, geological, historical and additional data. Also, the visitor can learn more about the ingredients, flora and fauna, hydrology and impacts that it is affected by as well as about the effects it might cause. In addition, a scent sample is provided for each sample of water. Similarly to material libraries, which are increasingly evolving, water libraries are open to students, scientists, water specialists but also to the general public. It is an educational, informative but also an emotional space, as it is a collection of matter from various places in the world. The information found there, helps young farmers, scientists and specialists, developing sustainable systems and concepts for agricultural and urban uses as well as other applications including water. The water library will be accessible physically as well as virtually. By 2030 the scent samples will also be available in the virtual space via advanced technologies. In the exhibition, a selection of water will be presented. Seven lakes and seas will represent bodies of water that are going to be “extinct“ in the near future. The “extinction of water“ exhibit will inform about the reasons of their disappearance as well as about the impacts from different perspectives.