From Reuse to Recovery - Wastewater

As much as 32 billion gallons of municipal wastewater are produced every day, which can be used to irrigate fields, sustain industrial activity and even create drinking water.

As much as 60% of the population may confront water scarcity in the next decade. A big part of the problem is climate change.

However, for most of the world, the triggers are more complex than weather – a combination of water resource management, population influx, aging infrastructure and more.

But why it’s happening doesn’t change the fact that, by 2050, the world will demand 55% more water and 70% more energy. We need solutions.

Game-changing innovations are already in the works – and in practice. The technology exists and it’s evolving quickly.

Industry innovators, and business and government leaders are prioritizing water issues and coming together to chart a path forward. I recently joined such leaders at two influential global conferences – IFAT in Munich, Germany back in May and SIWW (Singapore International Water Week) in July – where the discussions were solutions-focused.

Wastewater – specifically, reuse and energy neutrality – is key to progress. Companies and communities alike are rethinking the notion that wastewater is a byproduct and, instead, embracing it as a valuable resource to help secure a more sustainable future.

Reuse

In the U.S. alone, approximately 32 billion gallons of municipal wastewater are produced every day. This wastewater, when recycled, can be used to irrigate fields, sustain industrial activity and even create drinking water.

Reuse can reduce the amount of freshwater required for these applications and decrease diversion of water from sensitive ecosystems. However, it’s estimated that less than 10% of treated water in the US is intentionally reused. Globally, the number is even less; today, only 3-4% of the world’s wastewater is being reused.

We can – and must – do better.  Technology innovators are working every day with municipalities, oil and gas producers, food and beverage companies and electronics manufacturers to develop and deploy wastewater treatment technologies that enable efficient and affordable water reuse.

There are several countries that are models of effective water reuse. Singapore is one of them. With no significant fresh water resources of its own, the island nation sought to become a leader in water reuse to drive economic and societal growth.

Today, the country reuses about 30% of all of its wastewater and has targets to increase this to up to 80% before 2060. It’s also one of the few countries championing direct potable reuse.

Singapore – alongside Australia, Israel, Spain, Namibia and others, as well as states such as California, Virginia and New Mexico – drink recycled water, demonstrating that treated, purified wastewater can be safe, clean, and help ease water shortages. Today, around 5% of tap water in Singapore comes from direct potable reuse, or what it calls NEWater.

Public perception for wastewater reuse is growing and we see the global population increasingly ready and willing to adopt reuse strategies to help combat scarcity and drive economic competitiveness.

According to a GE report, 83% of Americans are concerned about the availability of clean water for the future and a similar percentage (80%) are in favor of using recycled water for activities such as power generation, industrial processing and manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.

Recovery

Water reuse is only beginning to gain momentum, but resource recovery goes beyond just water reuse. It also means we can capture other valuable byproducts from wastewater. Energy is one of them.

The consumption of energy in wastewater treatment is substantial – and energy demand will continue to grow globally as developing countries improve infrastructure and developed countries require higher levels of treatment for reuse and discharge to the environment.

Yet, municipal wastewater contains 2-4 times more energy within it than it takes to treat it. It’s an unexploited resource that energy-efficient treatment technologies, like membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABR) and advanced anaerobic digesters, are helping to capitalize on.

Partnership

The transformation from wastewater treatment plants to resource recovery plants – and from energy consumers to energy producers – is the future, but it will take vision, courage and partnerships to get there.

Singapore, for example, is bridging the gap between R&D and industry adoption and commercialization through partnerships with a pool of startups, investors, incubators and important ecosystem players.

As the country looks to reduce the energy requirements for desalination and wastewater treatment, its National Water Agency (PUB) has joined forces with GE to explore ways to collaborate over the next five years. Together, our organizations will create new research opportunities, and develop water treatment technologies and local R&D projects.

Written by  Heiner Markhoff 

Source: LinkedIn