Unlocking the Potential of Wastewater: A Path to Water Sustainability
12 Jun 2024 9:56 PM IST
Discover how wastewater recycling can revolutionize urban water management, reduce freshwater dependence, and ensure a sustainable future
Singapore meets 40% of its water needs through recycled wastewater. (Image: DC)
Did you know that a 5-minute shower uses 75 to 90 litres of water? Imagine if we could fully recycle this water for non-potable purposes? Apartment complexes generate anywhere between 30,000 to 300,000 litres of wastewater every day. However, only 20% of this water is recycled for flushing and gardening. The remaining 80% flows into drains and eventually into lakes and water bodies. What if this 80% was recycled and converted into clean water? This would reduce our dependence on freshwater and improve the overall water infrastructure in our city.
Singapore’s Water Recycling Model
Singapore meets 40% of its water needs through recycled wastewater. The National Water Agency, PUB (Public Utilities Board), collects and treats all sewage, transforming it into clean, high-quality water.
In India, urban water management relies on the quantity of incoming water from rainfall. We measure dam water levels and plan distribution accordingly. However, with erratic rainfall, depending entirely on rainwater is challenging. Many advanced countries, including Singapore, have adopted a model based on the volume of outgoing water.
For example, a city in India with a population of 20 million uses around 4 billion litres of water daily. Of this, at least 3 billion litres could be recycled. This high-quality recycled wastewater can be used for household purposes, central air conditioning in commercial buildings, and even drinking. Currently, only 0.4 billion litres of water is reused, with the rest contaminating our lakes and rivers.
Singapore’s Water Recycling Model
Singapore meets 40% of its water needs through recycled wastewater. The National Water Agency, PUB (Public Utilities Board), collects and treats all sewage, transforming it into clean, high-quality water.
In India, urban water management relies on the quantity of incoming water from rainfall. We measure dam water levels and plan distribution accordingly. However, with erratic rainfall, depending entirely on rainwater is challenging. Many advanced countries, including Singapore, have adopted a model based on the volume of outgoing water.
For example, a city in India with a population of 20 million uses around 4 billion litres of water daily. Of this, at least 3 billion litres could be recycled. This high-quality recycled wastewater can be used for household purposes, central air conditioning in commercial buildings, and even drinking. Currently, only 0.4 billion litres of water is reused, with the rest contaminating our lakes and rivers.
Wastewater Treatment: Challenges and Solutions
One of the key challenges faced by apartment communities is finding a viable solution to efficiently convert their STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) water into clean water. Traditional water treatment plants are bulky, difficult to maintain, and not suitable for urban apartment setups. Additionally, apartments often struggle with excess STP water that cannot be used for any internal purpose. Many apartments fail to comply with the National Green Tribunal’s ‘Zero Discharge Policy’ because they have limited options for discharging excess treated water. While they manage to treat their wastewater in STPs, they can only utilize about 20% of it. With effective recycling, the unused 80% could be converted into high-quality potable water for industrial use.
Industries face similar challenges. Although the 'Zero Liquid Discharge' technique, which allows liquids to be treated and reused within an industry, has been introduced, it is yet to see widespread adoption.
One of the key challenges faced by apartment communities is finding a viable solution to efficiently convert their STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) water into clean water. Traditional water treatment plants are bulky, difficult to maintain, and not suitable for urban apartment setups. Additionally, apartments often struggle with excess STP water that cannot be used for any internal purpose. Many apartments fail to comply with the National Green Tribunal’s ‘Zero Discharge Policy’ because they have limited options for discharging excess treated water. While they manage to treat their wastewater in STPs, they can only utilize about 20% of it. With effective recycling, the unused 80% could be converted into high-quality potable water for industrial use.
Industries face similar challenges. Although the 'Zero Liquid Discharge' technique, which allows liquids to be treated and reused within an industry, has been introduced, it is yet to see widespread adoption.
Treated Water as a Game Changer
We need a solution where excess water from apartment communities can be supplied to industries. This would reduce their dependence on freshwater. Wastewater is the only feasible game-changer for Indian cities. The alternative, desalination, is complex and could create additional problems.
We need a solution where excess water from apartment communities can be supplied to industries. This would reduce their dependence on freshwater. Wastewater is the only feasible game-changer for Indian cities. The alternative, desalination, is complex and could create additional problems.
A Shift in Infrastructure
Efficiently managing and reusing wastewater within a city can lead to sustainable water infrastructure in our cities. Our primary strategy should shift from supplying water from dams to focusing on the wastewater generated by the city. This way, we move from relying on unpredictable rain to a predictable source—wastewater. The amount of wastewater generated is constant throughout the year, providing a reliable source of water. This predictability ensures a reliable volume of water throughout the year, making cities more sustainable in terms of water infrastructure.
By converting wastewater into high-quality water, cities can at least meet industrial water requirements. As cities grow and water demand increases, the only way forward for achieving water sustainability in Indian cities is by recovering potable-quality water from wastewater.
Technology has advanced to a point where any water can be converted into high-quality water for various uses. At Boson Whitewater, for example, we use an 11-step filtration system that transforms STP water into potable, high-quality water. It is crucial for all stakeholders to actively promote and adopt these innovative technologies, making them accessible and beneficial for the general public.
Efficiently managing and reusing wastewater within a city can lead to sustainable water infrastructure in our cities. Our primary strategy should shift from supplying water from dams to focusing on the wastewater generated by the city. This way, we move from relying on unpredictable rain to a predictable source—wastewater. The amount of wastewater generated is constant throughout the year, providing a reliable source of water. This predictability ensures a reliable volume of water throughout the year, making cities more sustainable in terms of water infrastructure.
By converting wastewater into high-quality water, cities can at least meet industrial water requirements. As cities grow and water demand increases, the only way forward for achieving water sustainability in Indian cities is by recovering potable-quality water from wastewater.
Technology has advanced to a point where any water can be converted into high-quality water for various uses. At Boson Whitewater, for example, we use an 11-step filtration system that transforms STP water into potable, high-quality water. It is crucial for all stakeholders to actively promote and adopt these innovative technologies, making them accessible and beneficial for the general public.
The article is authored by Vikas Brahmavar, CEO and Co-Founder, Boson Whitewater
( Source : Guest Post )
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