Water covers roughly 71% of the Earth’s surface. We often take it for granted as an unchanging and always available certainty. However, periods of drought, floods, or shortages of drinking water bring us back down to earth, forcing us to think about water, its role, and its impact on life.
A brand-new feature this year will be a themed zone dedicated to water, addressing questions of water resource management and conservation. For instance, you will learn the difference between drinking water, greywater, and blackwater. You’ll discover how vegetation helps cities manage water, what role beavers play in nature, what blue-green infrastructure or water dispatching means, how you can save water at home, or you can even try painting with water.
You can find the water-themed zone right next to the Reflex Stage. The same goes for the tapped Radegast Rezist beer, brewed from a special “Odolchmel”, which has been specially bred to withstand drought.
The team behind the Živé řeky project, run by the Arnika organization, is dedicated to protecting rivers in our country and tackling the major threats they face. They strive to explain to the public in plain language why natural rivers are so vital, while also working directly in the field to restore them to a more natural state. At the festival, they will show you what they do and how they do it, explain why they oppose the construction of the Elbe lock, and will be happy to chat with you in person. Plus, you’ll learn how beavers reshape rivers and the surrounding landscape—the benefits they bring as well as what needs to be taken into account—or you can take a picture at the photo booth to show your support for living rivers. The booth will also host a team from the partner organization, JARO Jaroměř Group. They will present their projects focused on restoring wetlands and pools, which help retain water in the landscape and support life around them.
You can find the booth in the zone from Wednesday to Friday.
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
The Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague has long been dedicated to the sustainability of public events and urban climate change adaptation. This year, their festival Eco-booth will focus on presenting blue-green infrastructure as a practical tool for adapting cities to climate change. At the booth, you will be able to use interactive models to observe how green versus traditional roofs behave in the rain, and compare surface temperatures using a thermal imaging camera. You’ll learn what parameters can be monitored in different types of water, how a green roof affects the temperature directly beneath it, and how vegetation can help reduce overheating. Thanks to a fun quiz, you can also test your knowledge of blue-green infrastructure, urban water management, and adaptation measures.
Water is a given—until there isn’t enough of it. At nextdrop, they use technology and data analytics to prevent unnecessary waste and the risk of drinking water shortages. For RfP, in cooperation with Park 360 and the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague (UCT Prague), they designed a sustainable water supply solution for the festival. They created a digital water dispatch center that monitors the entire venue’s infrastructure in real time. This gives us an instant overview of consumption, allowing us to efficiently manage water supplies for you—the tens of thousands of festival-goers. How difficult is it to supply water to a festival city that pops up on a green field for just a few days? What exactly needs to happen so you can take a shower or flush a toilet? And what is the entire festival’s current water consumption? Come find out at the UCT Prague and nextdrop booth inside the zone.
Do you know how much water goes to waste running through your tap? At rewater, they do, and they have a solution that costs less than four coffees and takes just 30 seconds to install. Through the “Zachraň modrou” initiative, they will show you at their booth the easiest thing you can do right now for both the planet and your wallet. No greenwashing, no big words. Just water, facts, and one small device.
You can find the booth in the zone from Saturday to Sunday.
At the UCEEB CTU research center, they develop solutions for the buildings and cities of the future. Their goal is to find ways to build and live healthier, more sustainably, and with a smaller environmental footprint. At their festival booth, you can try out interactive games and challenges that will keep you entertained while teaching you something new about the world around us. This year, among other topics, they will focus on water—showing you how it affects our everyday environment as well as building safety, such as fire protection. Come see for yourself that even complex topics can be understood in a simple and playful way.
The University of Hradec Králové (UHK) booth will offer original experiences combining fun and education. Come try out a monoxylon (dugout canoe) simulator to see how far you could paddle, discover fascinating physical phenomena on the water’s surface, or dive deep into the ocean thanks to virtual reality. For the more creative minds, water painting is ready as well. The UHK booth will bring a refreshing program that will completely immerse you and sweep you away from the festival hustle and bustle for a while.
