Increasing Water Productivity for a Increasing Water Productivity for a Sustainable FutureSustainable Future

Johnathan Marks and Blake MorellJohnathan Marks and Blake Morell

SummarySummary

Importance of Water Productivity

Basic Principles

Methods

Opportunities

Effectiveness

Challenges

http://www.unwater.org/downloads/Water_facts_and_trends.pdf

IntroductionIntroduction

Human Water Security

Ecosystem Sustainability

Water Uses and Wastewater

http://www.unwater.org/downloads/Water_facts_and_trends.pdf

MotivationMotivation

Aral Sea

• Located in Central Asia

• In 1960, the fourth largest lake in the world

• Amu Dar'ya and Syr Dar'ya rivers diverted to irrigate rice and cotton crops

• The rise in salinity caused the lakes initial 32 species of fish to dwindle to 6 species.

http://orexca.com/aral_sea.shtml http://orexca.com/aral_sea.shtml

Basic PrinciplesBasic Principles

• Filtration

• Flocculation

• Anaerobic/Aerobic Digestion

• UV Disinfection

http://www.flowsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Wastewater-Treatment-Process-2.jpg

MethodsMethods

• Water Productivityo The value of goods and services

produced per unit of water used

• Substitutiono Using lower-quality water in place

of higher-quality water

• Regenerationo Increasing wastewater treatment

capacity

• Reductiono Improving water efficiency in

producing goods and services

[1]

SubstitutionSubstitution

• Large Scaleo Hong Kong International Airport's triple water system

Supplies freshwater for food services, sinks, and airplane washing

Pumps in seawater for centralized air-conditioning and toilet water

Reuses treated grey water for irrigation

o Stormwater collecting

• Residential Scaleo Rainwater gathering

Uses rainwater for laundry, dishwashing, toilets, and watering gardens

o Grey water reclamation Utilizes water from laundry, dishwashing, and bathing toilet water for irrigation

purposes

Hong Kong International Airport's TWSHong Kong International Airport's TWS

[2]

RegenerationRegeneration

• Conventionalo Primary and

Secondary Sewage Treatment

• Advancedo Microfiltration,

Reverse Osmosis, UV Disinfection

http://www.americanairandwater.com/uv-facts/germicidal-uv.htm

Groundwater Replenishment SystemGroundwater Replenishment System

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/water-312384-becomes-drinking.html

ReductionReduction

• Residenceo High-efficiency

showerheads, toilets, and washers

• Agricultureo Drip Irrigation,

Microsprinklers

• Infrastructureo Non-revenue Water

Physical Losses Apparent Losses

[3]

ResultsResults

[1]

ConclusionsConclusions

Combination of strategies needed to reach sustainability

[1]

AssessmentAssessment

• Infrastructureo Underpricing of

water

• Political regulations

• Public acceptance

[4]

What You Can Do!What You Can Do!

• At Homeo Take shorter showerso Turn the water off when brushing your teetho Consolidate loads of laundry

• Locallyo Spread the word

• Nationallyo Contact your state representative

Further ResearchFurther Research

• Effects of grey water reuse on crops

• Ease of implementation

• More efficient desalination processes

• Methods for reducing NRW in developing countries

ReferencesReferences

[1] S. B. Grant et al., "Taking the 'Waste' Out of 'Wastewater' for Human Water Security and Ecosystem Sustainability," Science 337, 681 (2012).

[2] R. W. K. Leung et al., "Integration of seawater and grey water reuse to maximize alternative water resource for coastal areas: the case of the Hong Kong International Airport," Water Science & Technology 65, 410 (2012).

[3] B. Kingdom, R. Liemberger, P. Marin, The Challenge of Reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in Developing Countries (Paper No. 8, Water Supply and Sanitation Board Discussion Paper Series, The World Bank, Washington, DC, 2006).

[4] S. M. Olmstead, “Water Supply and Poor Communities: What's Price Got to Do with It?," Enviroronment 45 Issue 10, 22 (2003).

Questions?Questions?