Innovation can solve water crisis: Expert

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Innovation can solve water crisis: Expert


Urban water utilities have an opportunity to reverse a legacy of over 100 years if they start to implement innovative ideas, according to an expert on sustainable water use. Speaking today at the University of Queensland's 'Our Water - Our Future' Public Lecture to mark World Environment Day and the International Year of Freshwater, Professor Stuart White of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney said that many of the problems facing urban water systems had their roots in history, and the solutions required a fresh approach. "A fresh approach to urban water systems firstly means utilities investing seriously in improving water efficiency of their customers and supply system," said Professor White. "There are huge cost and environmental advantages associated with reducing water demand through efficient appliances, low water using landscapes and reduced leakage. "Secondly, designing our sewer systems differently, to reduce the capital and maintenance costs and to improve the performance is an imperative. "The basic structure and principles of our sewer systems have not changed since the nineteenth century. While they have achieved their original goal of protecting public health, the economic and environmental costs are ballooning. This is a problem for cities like Brisbane, as it is for cities like Bangkok. "New twenty-first century approaches will involve investing more in treatment, rather than transport of waste. Smaller pipes, distributed treatment and reuse systems, absolute maximum efficiency of water use, both here and in developing countries." Professor White said that many Australian utilities are now leading the world in application of the principles of 'least cost planning' in which utilities invest in reducing the demand of their customers by, for example, providing free water efficient showerheads and taps and rebates on front loading washing machines, as well as support for businesses to improve water efficiency. "There have also been many studies which show the benefits of innovative ways of servicing new developments, but we need utilities to bite the bullet and invest in a full-scale pilot of smart sewers and distributed reuse," he said. Wednesday 4 June 2003