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The concept of a circular economy challenges the traditionally linear take-make-use-dispose behaviour on which our society is built, and envisions an economy based on regeneration, reuse and repurposing of the resources we have. The water industry is increasingly adopting an integrated approach that aims to optimise the assets, improve catchment health and deliver better value for customers, but what is next?
One area which is still evolving is potable water — that is, water treated to drinking quality, being used by industry and manufacturing in situations where non-potable water would be suitable. Non-potable water is a massive resource in Australia that is generally underutilised and often literally going to waste, by being diverted to stormwater or sewage treatment plants and ultimately released into the environment.
This water is a vital part of developing a more resilient future and can be sourced from greywater harvesting, rainwater capture, water exported from sewage treatment plants and a range of other sources (such as harvesting humidity). It presents a significant opportunity to protect our drinking water supply whilst also supporting economic growth and the environment.
A collective, multi-pronged approach is required to develop a circular economy for water, to utilise potable water more effectively and efficiently whilst also better utilising existing and new non-potable water sources. There is a need to define the spectrum of water quality requirements for different activities and their likely demands, for example using rainwater to water gardens, topping up swimming pools, suppressing dust on construction sites and washing vehicles. These solutions are achievable, by constructing simple community or district rainwater collection points to enable greater accessibility to this type of water supply.
An action plan for connecting the water sources with the water users is needed. Such a plan would focus on:
The above approach recognises that potable water redundancy would likely be required in the transition period, but the journey towards change would have been started.
A collective, multi-pronged approach is required to develop a circular economy for water, to utilise potable water more effectively and efficiently whilst also better utilising existing and new non-potable water sources.
As with most water infrastructure, this requires a long-term view and commitment. Work has been done on quality requirements for reuse purposes for several decades now, and is increasingly better supported by evidence. This process has, to some extent, reached a milestone with the final documents in the National Water Quality Management Strategy’s “Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling”, but legislation and planning do not always support advanced reuse.
Reuse tends to vary on a state-by-state basis – for instance, Class A reuse requirements in Victoria (which match Queensland’s Class A+) are well developed. Education of authorities and developers is reasonably progressed, but there is less support for onsite reuse options such as composting toilets.
Planning and legislation need to be revised to support a nationally consistent approach coupled with effective communication, training and support of all regulatory officers tasked with assessing applications, as well as educating developers and industry.
In addition, provision must be included for future changes, which may, for instance, allow households to generate electricity, compost, and reuse water of varying quality on-site, without needing to use delivery infrastructure.
The obvious benefit to developing a circular economy for water in Australia is the development of a water network that is more resilient to change. By utilising our existing water supplies more efficiently we are creating a system that, at its core, values the water supplies and assets we already have.
Taking the concepts of a circular economy and applying them to the water industry is an opportunity to approach the required changes in a methodical and logical way. This could include prioritisation of planned investment from linear infrastructure to more resilient circular systems, ranging from small local systems to large-scale water reuse schemes.
This shift in perspective is vital, we need access to safe, secure drinking water – without it, our civilisations would not be able to exist, let alone grow. As populations continue to multiple and water supplies continue to become uncertain and decrease, water security and resilience will continue to generate national and global conversation and focused actions.
SMEC’s Dr Richard Kelly, Chief Technical Principal – Geotechnical Engineering, has contributed to industry-leading research and innovation in the field of soft soil engineering.
"The water and hydropower sectors have changed dramatically since our origins on the iconic Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme 70 years ago in 1949, one of the largest and most complex hydroelectric schemes in the world. While technology has advanced rapidly, water is and will continue to be an essential and ever scarcer global resource."
Bangladesh is a country of rivers. The Karnaphuli River services the city of Chattogram (formerly called Chittagong), the largest sea port of Bangladesh. With the rapid development of southeast Bangladesh, especially in the regions south of Chattogram, the two existing bridges over the Karnaphuli River are inadequate to accommodate the increase in traffic. With a population of over six million, the heavily congested city of Chattogram is closely surrounded on the east by the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the west by the Bay of Bengal, making an additional bridge type crossing of the Karnaphuli River unviable.
The Murray-Darling Basin is an area of vast significance to Australia. It plays a crucial role in Australia’s food supply network, producing over 40% of our agricultural produce, and is home to 35 endangered species and 16 internationally significant wetlands. It supports over 2.2 million Australians, including 40 different First Nations communities.
