Saving Water with Compost: How Organic Waste Management Supports Taiwan’s Water Resources

Compost plays a crucial role in water conservation by improving soil health and enhancing its water retention capacity. When added to soil, compost increases the soil’s organic matter content, which acts like a sponge, absorbing and holding moisture. This reduces the frequency and amount of irrigation needed for farms and urban gardens, conserving water resources and promoting sustainable practices.

Compost not only improves water retention but also reduces runoff and soil erosion . By enhancing soil structure and increasing its water infiltration capacity, compost helps prevent soil erosion and minimizes the loss of valuable topsoil . This, in turn, protects water quality by reducing sediment and nutrient runoff into rivers and lakes 

Many cities in Taiwan are incorporating compost into their landscaping practices to conserve water and promote sustainable urban green spaces. Compost helps maintain healthy soil in public parks and gardens, reducing the need for irrigation and minimizing water waste.

Despite the benefits, challenges remain in scaling up the adoption of compost for water conservation. Some farmers and landscapers may be hesitant to adopt compost-based practices due to perceived costs or lack of familiarity with composting techniques. Policy support and educational initiatives are crucial to overcome these barriers and promote wider adoption.

Integrating composting with Taiwan’s existing water conservation programs can further enhance its impact. This includes promoting compost use in reforestation efforts, where compost can help restore degraded soils and improve water retention in forested areas. Additionally, compost can play a vital role in climate resilience efforts by enhancing soil health and improving water management in areas vulnerable to drought or flooding.

Ankeny Iowa. (n.d.). Reduce your water use with compost. https://www.ankenyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1035/Reduce-Your-Water-Use-with-Compost-PDF University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (2015, June 11). Compost can help conserve water. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=16800 Let’s Go Compost. (n.d.). Reducing water runoff with compost. https://www.letsgocompost.org/post/reducing-water-runoff-with-compost Water Environment Federation. (2021, October 26). How compost-based BMPs can create more resilient watersheds. https://stormwater.wef.org/2021/10/how-compost-based-bmps-can-create-more-resilient-watersheds/ Sustainability. (2022). Characterizing compost rate effects on stormwater runoff and vegetation establishment. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/5/696