The demand for water grows together with the global population, and according to unwater.org, water availability is becoming less predictable in many places around the world due to climate change. At the same time, increased incidences of flooding threaten to destroy water points and sanitation facilities while also contaminating water sources. The solution lies in our hands: we must protect oceans and wetlands, adopt climate-smart agricultural techniques, and increase the safe reuse of wastewater. It is also important to balance all of society’s water needs with special attention to third world countries.

What happens if you don’t drink enough?

While the health benefits of water consumption are unquestionable, too many of us do not drink enough water on a daily basis. Research shows that as little as 1% dehydration affects your mood, attention, memory, and motor coordination negatively. Blood becomes more concentrated, and the thicker it gets, the harder it will be for your cardiovascular system to compensate, while your heart rate will increase to maintain blood pressure. There is a list of other consequences: dry skin, dry eyes, joint pain, headache, and premature aging which will eventually give way to grumpiness, and mental and physical decline.

Increase your daily water intake

The amount you need to drink depends on several factors: how active you are, where you live, your overall health, metabolism, diet, and so on. In case you are uncertain, the colour of your pee can tell whether you are drinking enough or not. If it is clear or pale yellow, it means you are all set, but darker means you need to drink more. The recommended water intake defined by the Institute of Medicine is somewhere around 2.7 litres for adult women and 3.7 for men.

How to stay hydrated?

Look for ways to build drinking water into your day, for instance by making water your go-to drink. Try to drink a glass of water between each meal, set an hourly reminder on your phone, carry a water bottle, download an application, or leave post-it notes for yourself in the places where you spend most of your time. Don’t forget: sometimes the body confuses thirst for hunger, so if you are hankering for a snack, have water instead.

Did you know?

By the time you feel thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. The recommended amount of water one should drink every day covers fluids from water, other beverages and food. About 20% of your daily fluid intake comes from food.

Margitsziget Water Tower

The recently refurbished ferro-concrete water tower of the picturesque Margaret Island is one of the city’s most eye-catching Art Nouveau structures, as well as its most spectacular industrial monument. Situated in the northern section of the water-surrounded public park, the 57-meters high tower (that doubled as a water tank and a lookout tower since the beginning) was built in 1911 by the plans of architect Rezső Vilmos Ray (who we can also thank for the mausoleum and factory complex of the Törley family) and engineer Dr. Szilárd Zielenski. It is the tallest water tower in Hungary, while its attractiveness as a famous tourist landmark is further increased by its balconied observation deck, giving visitors a breath-taking view of the landmarks and hills of Budapest. Nowadays, the romantic tower doesn’t hold any water, and instead hosts various art exhibits throughout the year in its chamber dome. The Margitsziget Open Air Theater has been operating at the foot of the tower since 1938.

Újpest Water Tower

Having started operating just a year after the opening of the Margitsziget Water Tower, the Újpest neighbourhood’s towering symbol is another Art Nouveau ferro-concrete gem. It was built at a time when Újpest was not yet incorporated into Budapest (that happened only in 1950), however, its 55,000 people strong population was in dire need of a proper, 20th century plumbing network and a modern water supply system. Financed by Belgian money and designed by Ödön Dümmerling and Győző Michailich, this now-closed water tower is only 40 meters tall, however its humble height (compared to the aforementioned structure) is balanced out by its imposing shape, reminiscent of a Medieval donjon, and harmonious simplicity. Until 2003, many of the neighbourhood’s factories were supplied with water by the Újpest Water Tower. Unfortunately (and understandably), it was then closed down, and ever since then has been silently eroding away, awaiting rescue in the shape of a possible repurposing.

Svábhegy Water Tower

Located alongside the bus route to Normafa, the number one hiking spot of Budapesters, the historic Svábhegy Water Tower is still in operation after more than a century in service, and is responsible for the water supply of thousands of families living in the mountainous Hegyvidék neighbourhood. Opened in 1913 and built according to the plans of Dr. Szilárd Zielenski, the 33 meters high water tower boasts an octagonal-shaped upper structure, which gives place to a 620 cm in diameter ferro-concrete pool. Although bearing the marks of Art Nouveau architecture, the water tower’s motifs are more similar to the rural-folk architecture of Transylvania.

MÁVAG Colony Water Tower

Surrounded by the 110-years old residential building block of the Hungarian State Iron Foundry and Machine Factory, the 56 meters high water tower is built into the centrally located community house. The “Colony” was a miniature city: it had a population of about 2,000 MÁVAG employees, and came with its own cinema, library, restaurant, medical office, bowling alley and kindergarten. What’s more, since in 1909 private bathrooms were not in style yet, the community house also featured a public bath house, complete with saunas, steam rooms and bath tubs, built in the name of corporate social responsibility. Now, most of the buildings are in a decrepit and sorry state, but it you’re interested in industrial curiosities, it’s well worth a visit.

Óbuda Gas Factory Water Tower

The establishment of the Óbuda Gast Factory at the beginning of the 20th century didn’t just bring with itself one of the most fairytale-like housing estates of the country, but also one of (if not the) most impressive water towers of the city. Constructions on the factory complex started in 1910 and ended in 1914, just a few weeks before the outbreak of WWI. Together with its two pudgier companions (designed to store one of the by-products of gas production, tar), the striped water tower of the Óbuda Gas Factory make up a towering triumvirate of industrial architecture, fusing form and function in a marvelous fashion. The factory stopped operating in 1984, now the surrounding office park gives place to some of the biggest players of the IT sector, as well as the campus of the International Business School.

Márton J. Vizy

Lago di Como

Where? Northern Italy

Fun fact With its 400m depth Lake Como is one of the deepest lakes in Europe.

Plitvice Lakes

Where? Croatia

Fun fact The picturesque landscape of the Plitvice Lakes National Park is enriched with 18 lakes and 92 waterfalls. Needless to say, the Croatian natural treasure is part of the UNESCO legacy.

Lake Tahoe

Where? On the border of California and Nevada, USA

Fun fact Lake Tahoe was formed 2 million years ago, during the ice ages.

Lake Lucerne

Where? Lucerne, Switzerland

Fun fact Lake Lucerne is surrounded by four cantons, and its German name is Vierwaldstättersee which, it comes as no surprise, means „Lake of the Four Cantons”.

Maligne Lake

Where? Alberta, Canada

Fun fact Maligne Lake is famous for its turquoise blue water, the surrounding mountain peaks, and its abundant wildlife including Grizzly bears, black bears, moose, wolves, etc.

Derwent Water

Where? England

Fun fact The Lake District’s Derwent Water is a moody beauty: the calm water surface of the warmer months transforms into wild waves by autumn.

Lake Atitlán

Where? Guatemala

Fun fact This natural treasure of Guatemala is surrounded by a trio of volcanoes, while its riverside serves as the home of many Maya communities.

Lake Wakatipu

Where? New Zealand

Fun fact The fact that the mountain range surrounding the lake is called The Remarkables speaks for itself.

Crater Lake

Where? Oregon, USA

Fun fact Crater Lake is “protected” by the old man log, a log that have stood in the middle of the lake for almost 100 years.

Lake Kawaguchi

Where? Japan

Fun fact The perfect reflection of Mount Fuji on the water surface of Lake Kawaguchi is priceless.