Cities can optimize their water and wastewater treatment and delivery on several fronts
Effective water management is crucial for municipalities to ensure a reliable and safe water supply, protect public health, and promote sustainability. Improving municipal water and wastewater services can, however, take time, effort, commitment, and a great deal of capital. What steps can municipal agencies take to improve their services?
A good place to start is with a comprehensive water management plan that:
- Identifies current water uses
- Sets water efficiency and conservation targets
- Lays out programs to make necessary improvements
It’s essential to establish priorities and determine the most advantageous allocation of funding, whether for updated technology, infrastructure upgrades, reuse, conservation, or regulatory compliance.
What are some additional strategies that municipalities can implement to improve water management for their residents?
Implement Advanced Treatment Technologies
Municipalities can enhance their water treatment by updating treatment technologies to more efficient and effective alternatives. While newer advanced membrane technologies such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and membrane bioreactors may come with higher costs, they can achieve compliance with today’s tighter regulations effectively, and on a smaller physical footprint. And, advanced oxidation processes address emerging contaminants like persistent organic pollutants such as PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals.”
Upgrade Water and Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure
Upgrading aging water infrastructure is essential for improving water services. Many treatment facilities in the United States have reached the upper limits of their service lives and need repair or replacement. In many municipalities, a large amount of drinking water is lost due to old, leaky pipes.
Smart water grids use today’s digital water technology to take advantage of real-time monitoring and data analytics. Digital water applications help utilities detect and address problems promptly and analyze usage patterns to anticipate demand.
When outdated infrastructure is being replaced, it’s time to consider the use of decentralized water and wastewater treatment plants, which can be a far more efficient alternative to conventional, large-scale plants. By distributing smaller treatment facilities closer to the communities they serve, this approach reduces the need for extensive, costly pipelines and pumping stations. Additionally, decentralized systems enhance water reuse opportunities, improve resilience to extreme weather events, and often result in lower overall costs due to modular design and simplified planning processes.
Adopt Water Reuse
In a world where water scarcity is increasing year by year, it makes little sense to use water once and discharge it as wastewater. Recycling wastewater is a responsible, sustainable way for water managers to make the most of their available water, reducing overuse of the vital natural water resources that communities and surrounding ecosystems depend on.
Several nontraditional water sources are commonly used as feed water for water recycling plants. They include:
- Domestic sewage
- Grey water, that is, water from sinks, showers, and washing machines
- Stormwater recovered from rooftops, parking lots, and gutters
Once treated adequately, these nontraditional water sources can be safely used for nonpotable applications such as industrial processes, landscape and agricultural irrigation, toilet flushing, and street cleaning, reducing the burden on natural freshwater resources.
Enhance Water Conservation Efforts
Savvy water management promotes water conservation among its ratepayers to increase sustainability. Strategies include:
- Tiered water pricing to encourage efficient water use
- Incentives for installing water-efficient fixtures such as low-flow toilets and showerheads
- Public awareness campaigns to educate the community about the importance of water conservation and practical steps to take
Ensure Regulatory Compliance and Sustainability
Monitoring water quality includes implementing robust cleaning protocols, such as Clean-In-Place (CIP) systems, to maintain equipment hygiene and prevent contamination.
Municipalities must comply with environmental regulations and promote sustainability in water management practices. This can be achieved by:
- Regularly monitoring water quality to meet health and safety standards
- Implementing green infrastructure projects such as the installation of permeable pavements and green roofs to manage stormwater naturally
- Engaging in long-term planning to address future water challenges and ensure sustainable resource management.
Utilize Public-Private Partnerships
Many municipalities are reevaluating their roles as water and wastewater service providers. The technical demands of operating and maintaining today’s advanced technologies and compliance demands from regulatory agencies have both grown. Meanwhile, the water workforce has shrunk, making the staffing of water utilities a problem. Access to capital also may be a problem for municipalities.
Municipal water managers have, understandably, begun to investigate the possibility of bringing in a specialized company that is better able to handle the issues.
The public-private partnership (P3) infrastructure delivery mode has evolved into a problem-solving solution in the municipal water sector. P3s can offer solutions by:
- Providing capital for infrastructure upgrades
- Leveraging private sector expertise
- Reducing operational costs
- Improving service reliability
- Transferring risk to private partners
With these strategies, municipalities can improve water and wastewater management, ensuring a reliable supply of clean water, protecting public health, and promoting environmental sustainability for future generations.
Seven Seas delivers transformative water management solutions for municipalities. Our deep industry knowledge, coupled with flexible financing, decentralized infrastructure, and advanced technologies, empowers cities to optimize their water systems and build a sustainable future. Contact our experts to discuss your city’s water or wastewater challenges.
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