As climate change intensifies, droughts and freshwater scarcity are becoming more common threats. For cultural institutions with gardens, landscapes, or outdoor sites, designing water efficiency isn’t optional — it’s essential. Reducing water use protects ecosystems, preserves collections, and aligns with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, including SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption).
The Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, has retrofitted its irrigation systems u sing high-efficiency sprinklers, weather-based irrigation controls, and drip irrigation, and added practices like mulching, deep watering, and replacing lawn with drought-tolerant plants. As Seth Baker, Garden Designer at The Huntington told Dot Magazine, “A drought-resistant landscape doesn’t have to be just gravel and a few succulents. It can be lush, leafy, and inviting.”
The institution reports a 13% reduction in water use even while expanding garden acreage and it also cut its groundwater rights by 30% to help restore aquifer levels.
Other measures include installing rainwater retention systems: for their Steven S. Koblik Education & Visitor Center, the facility captures runoff water into underground basins (around 27,000 cubic feet capacity) to recharge groundwater. This system helps buffer the gardens against dry spells.
Also located in Northern California, the Exploratorium sits in the heart of San Francisco Bay at Pier 15. Its bay-water radiant system eliminates cooling towers, saving an estimated 2 million gallons of potable water annually. The museum recaptures roof rainwater for toilet flushing and uses water-efficient plumbing (waterless urinals, dual-flush).
The LEED-certified Museu do Amanhã in Rio de Janeiro collects up to 290,000 liters of rainwater through a gutter system and its entire air conditioning cooling system uses water from Guanabara Bay. These measures, along with greywater treatment for irrigation and toilet flushing, keep restrooms and cleaning off municipal supplies.
Water efficiency is a form of resilience. For gardens, landscape assets, courtyards, and outdoor installations, every drop saved counts. By combining smarter hardware (drip lines, control systems) with ecological design (native plants, mulches, soil conditioning), cultural institutions can lower water demand, reduce stress on local supplies, and demonstrate their role as environmental stewards.
NEXT IN Summit is the event promoted by ACCIONA Cultura that brings together international leaders in the cultural field to share experiences, discuss ideas and analyze the challenges that will shape the future of the cultural industry.