Conservation and reuse technology can reduce problems and increase supply
Water scarcity is a growing concern in many regions of the world. While it’s historically associated with drought-stricken areas, it is increasingly affecting heavily populated urban centers. Cities such as Cape Town, South Africa; Mexico City; São Paulo; and Chennai, India, all have recently faced Day Zero, a critical point where the water supply reaches extremely low levels, leaving residents without water.
Many factors contribute to water stress in urban areas, including higher demand, water loss from aging infrastructure, and climate change impacts, such as higher temperatures and more frequent and prolonged droughts. To avoid Day Zero, water resources must be carefully managed, and alternative water sources identified to fill the void.
An increase in water consumption also leads to an increase in wastewater, which must be treated and disposed of appropriately to avoid contaminating fresh water and to protect environmental and public health. Besides coping with water shortages, many cities also face challenges in managing and maintaining sewer networks and wastewater treatment facilities for adequate sanitation.
A Holistic Approach to Urban Water Management
Managing water effectively and sustainably requires an integrated approach that looks at the bigger picture, taking into account the entire journey of water through the urban network. Urban water management involves overseeing the resource from its source through treatment, storage, and distribution to consumers, as well as the collection, treatment, and disposal of generated wastewater.
A holistic approach to water management can pinpoint areas for water conservation and wastewater recycling, thereby reducing demand and increasing supply for a more favorable balance between the two. Urban water management consists of five key features as outlined below. Opportunity exists within each to implement strategies and technologies to meet challenges, build resilience, and use water more sustainably.
Key features of urban water management include:
Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis systems provide an efficient and sustainable solution for transforming brackish water into potable water, addressing water scarcity in urban areas.
Identifying and preserving alternative water sources: Alternative sources of water can provide a lifeline when water is scarce. Options can include desalinating brackish water or seawater or treating and recycling wastewater for reuse. Desalinating seawater, in particular, offers a vast and virtually unlimited resource, transforming saltwater into potable water through advanced technologies like reverse osmosis. Water reuse offers a sustainable supply that can be used for toilet flushing, irrigation of landscaping, sports fields and golf courses, and dust control on construction sites, as well as industrial applications such as cooling. Reuse programs can be implemented wherever water is used, making it one of the most readily available and sustainable options.
Recognizing the quality of water resources: Since the quality of water sources can vary in characteristics and contaminant levels, wastewater treatment technology must target the contaminants found in that water. Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs), which use a combination of biological treatment and membrane filtration, can remove a wide range of contaminants, including organic pollutants and suspended solids, producing high-quality effluent that meets stringent regulatory standards and is suitable for reuse.
Managing storage, distribution, treatment, recycling, and disposal of water and wastewater: In many cities, these components of urban water management are handled by different agencies, often leading to coordination challenges. However, many municipalities are recognizing the advantages of alternative funding and maintenance agreements.
Seven Seas Water Group’s Lease Plant Program is ideal for phased installation, allowing for seamless expansion to accommodate population growth. Alternatively, a Water-as-a-Service® (WaaS®) partnership effectively outsources water and wastewater treatment to a team of professionals who manage the entire water cycle—from source to discharge—including storage, treatment, distribution, and recycling. With Seven Seas WaaS® partnerships, customers receive a guaranteed water supply with no upfront costs or ongoing maintenance expenses. The system is built, owned, operated, and maintained by experts, enabling municipalities to focus on their core responsibilities.
Aging centralized infrastructure can be replaced with efficient, decentralized water treatment systems to enhance urban sustainability.
Recognizing the interconnection of water resources, energy consumption, and land use: While conventional, centralized water infrastructure tends to be energy intensive and requires vast tracts of land, decentralized systems have a much smaller footprint and are energy efficient, thanks to innovative technologies such as MBR. As water and wastewater treatment occur near the point of use, there is no need for extensive pipe networks and pumps to distribute water to consumers, or sewer lines to return wastewater to a centrally located plant for treatment. Recycling water for reuse reduces the carbon and water footprint further, enhancing sustainability.
Aligning formal and informal practices that govern water management in cities: This is critical to creating a cohesive and effective water governance framework in urban settings. It requires a multifaceted approach that acknowledges the strengths and limitations of both systems. By fostering collaboration, developing inclusive policies, and ensuring continuous stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, cities can create a more resilient and equitable water management framework.
This approach enhances efficiency and coverage and ensures sustainable water use and management in the long term. Public-private partnerships such as Seven Seas’ WaaS® infrastructure delivery model can make a meaningful contribution by bringing in outside expertise to manage public infrastructure more efficiently.
Using smart water management systems with sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of water infrastructure can identify leaks and streamline urban water management. Geographic information systems can be used to map both formal and informal water infrastructure and resources, while digital platforms can serve as a bridge of communication between the informal and formal sectors; for example, apps can be used for reporting water issues and issuing water advisories.
Ensuring Sustainable Urban Growth
Urban water management not only requires balancing water supply with demand but also treating the wastewater generated to ensure environmental and public health. This responsibility rests with cities and municipalities, which are often overwhelmed by the challenges. Advanced technologies such as MBR systems, water reuse, and smart water grids, along with strategies such as public-private partnerships to tap into outside expertise, help water managers overcome common challenges and build a resilient water system that can accommodate urban growth, ensuring a sustainable future.
Contact Seven Seas to learn more about our Water-as-a-Service® partnerships and water reuse technologies, and how these solutions can streamline water management in your city.
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