LIFE4ZOO – water in circulation, nature in balance
Water is the foundation of life – for animals, for nature, and for us. With the LIFE4ZOO project, we at Zoo Liberec are taking a major step toward using water in a smarter, more considerate, and sustainable way.
Thanks to modern technologies, a nature-based constructed wetland, and specialized filters, we can treat water from the animal enclosures and reuse it. This saves drinking water while creating a more beautiful environment for both the animals and our visitors.
Want to see how water circulation works? You can watch it live here with us!
Why water is so important
Water is essential to the operation of a zoo – animals rely on it for bathing and drinking, it keeps enclosures clean, and it helps create a pleasant environment throughout the entire site.
But water is not an unlimited resource. That’s why we’re looking for ways to avoid wasting it unnecessarily.
LIFE4ZOO helps us to:
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save drinking water
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reduce the load on the sewage system
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cope better with periods of drought
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protect nature right in the heart of the city
How LIFE4ZOO works
Put simply: we don’t throw water away — we bring it back into circulation.
Water from the enclosures is directed into a wetland.
A constructed wetland with a root system partially cleans it, just like nature does.
Technology then finishes the treatment “tailor-made” for its next use.
Modern filters remove even tiny impurities. We adjust the water depending on where it will be used again.
The water then returns back to the zoo.
It can be used for drinking, bathing, cleaning enclosures, or irrigating greenery.
The result? Water keeps circulating, nothing is wasted, and the zoo operates in a much more environmentally friendly way.
For the animals:
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cleaner and more stable water in ponds
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more space for bathing and natural behaviour
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a safe environment thanks to regular monitoring
For visitors:
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more beautiful exhibits with water features
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a more comfortable microclimate during hot days
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interesting information about how water moves through the zoo grounds
For nature:
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saving drinking water
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less wastewater entering the sewage system
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a lower carbon footprint
Get involved too
Water is life — and each of us can help protect it. As part of the project, we have prepared for our visitors:
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educational panels about water and wetlands
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interactive stops along the route
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school programmes focused on water, climate, and nature
When you visit the zoo, take a look at how water circulates here — it might inspire you at home as well.
Podívejte se při návštěvě zoo, jak vypadá voda v oběhu – možná vás inspiruje i doma.
“Funded by the European Union and with the support of the Ministry of the Environment. The views and opinions expressed, however, are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the Ministry of the Environment. The grant providers cannot be held responsible for them.”
Project partners
