NO WASTE WATER

Terence Westgate2016

Animal life is metabolic energy

All energy emanates from the sun in the form of photons

Animals cannot use photon energy directly

Green plants transform photon energy into carbohydrates

Animals burn carbohydrates to produce their energy

PHOTOSYNTHESIS & RESPIRATION

Plants need soil and non-saline or ‘fresh’ water

In a growing proportion of the Earth demand for fresh water is outstripping supply

Most fresh water is wasted

Delivery of water depends on weather.

Sea water evaporates leaving salt behind

Clouds of fresh water particles are formed

Water falls from clouds as rain

Rain that falls into the sea becomes saline

Rain that falls on land tends to find its own level & return to the sea

Water is extracted from rivers

Filtered

Chlorinated

Piped into buildings

Used once

Sent to a sewage plant1890’s processing

Bio-reaction

Sedimentation

Decanting

Discharged to rivers

THE WATER CYCLE

THE WATER CYCLE

Rivers return water to sea

Fresh water becomes salt water again

The sea-to-rain-to-sea cycle starts again

In a growing proportion of the Earth demand for fresh water for crop production is outstripping supply

IRRIGATION

Country Irrigated area (1,000 square kilometers)

Irrigated land as percentage of cropland

Water used in irrigation (cubic kilometers)

Percentage of all water extractions used for Irrigation

World 2,296 19 2,226 69

China 513 52 400 87

India 490 29 363 93

USA 209 11 196 42

Pakistan 163 80 151 97

Mexico 62 25 67 86

Egypt 33 100 47 86

LEADING IRRIGATION COUNTRIES

The Bellagio Framework

“Reuse and decentralization will be essential for meeting human needs for water and sanitation in both developing and developed countries.

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) will be an essential part of advancing such water sustainability, because they encourage water reuse and open up opportunities for decentralised treatment.”

Conclusions of a Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Team Residency held at the Bellagio (Italy) Study and Conference Center on April 23-26, 2003.

WATER RE-USE

Re-using water

Membrane bioreactor raw sewage tank containing 9,600 flat panels at Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Coarse bubble aeration

Crystal clear water extracted from above tank under 1 bar gravity suction

Efficient

Proven

Economical

Available

Modular

Reference sites

MEMBRANE BIO-REACTORS

MBR CHARACTERISTICSLocal systems –no large scale sewer pipes

Scaleable –from single dwelling to a town

Stainless steel –long life

Replaceable components –continuous systems

Small footprint –10% of traditional plants

Low power consumption –energy efficient

Re-usable output –no wasted water

MEMBRANE BIO-REACTORS CAN REDUCE FRESH WATER CONSUMPRION BY UP TO 80%

WASTEFUL IRRIGATION

Up to 90% will be lost to evaporation

EFFICIENT IRRIGATION

EFFICIENT IRRIGATION

EFFICIENT IRRIGATION

DRIP FEED IRRIGATION CAN REDUCE FRESH WATER CONSUMPTION BY UP TO 80%

From $500 per hectare

EFFICIENT IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT

STRATEGY FOR CHANGE –WATER1.Central and local governments to create awareness and encourage adoption of local MBR recycling plants

2.Retro-fit MBR technology to existing wastewater treatment plants

3. Central and local governments to encourage development of waterless compost toilets

4.Central and local governments to raise awareness of water recycling potential in rural areas

5. Central and local governments to encourage Installation of efficient irrigation systems

THE END