resource into a worthless trickle, creating high costs for subsequent users and
society at large. Since the linear model is economically and environmentally
unsustainable, we must instead view water as part of a circular economy, where it
retains full value after each use and eventually returns to the system. And rather
than focus solely on purification, we should attempt to prevent contamination or
create a system in which water circulates in closed loops, allowing repeated use.
These shifts will require radical solutions grounded in a complete mind-set change,
but they must happen immediately, given the urgency of the situation.
Water is a renewable resource, but it is very unequally distributed and
increasingly scarce as a result of urbanization and climate change. Based on the
recommendations and best case examples, a comprehensive suite of solutions exists
to respond to these challenges, ranging from integrated water resource management
to wastewater reuse. Only less than 5% of all water is reused globally, but recycled
wastewater is the only resource that grows with the needs. Reusing wastewater
increases the productivity of the abstracted water, typically in agriculture, enabling
to grow “more crops per drop”. Reusing water may also mean mining waste and
turning it into a new source of materials or energy as is the case with the methanization of waste and wastewater streams from the food and beverage industry, or
the material recovery out of mining industry. Innovators, responsible operators and
committed system developers are spearheading the creation of new technological
solutions, pilot cases and initiatives to improve water management. Many of the
technologies are already generating profits or will soon be. Equally important,
leaders should also rethink their institutional approach to water management. Many
of their solutions are only being applied at small scale, however, and this must
change over the next ten years to meet the water resource challenge.
Finally, the following five ideas are recommended for a smooth transition to a
circular economy model:
Product-design partnerships: Even in 2020, there is minimum dialogue between
producers and wastewater operators. As the cost of treatment mounts, pressure will
increase on producers to reduce contamination, especially as new technologies
make it easier to identify their source.
Resource-positive utilities: Wastewater utilities are ubiquitous, visible and largely
similar. They could soon become energy positive due to technical advances related
to sludge methanization, waste-heat recovery, potassium hydroxide reduction or
on-site distributed power generation.
Management for yield: Water is a powerful driver of yield in almost any industrial
process and the extraction of raw materials. Improved site-level water management
can increase beverage yields by 5% and oil-well productivity by 20%, largely
benefitting the bottom line (Ellen MacArthur Foundation Report 2015). It can also
convey many other advantages, such as reduced heat or nutrient loss during processing. Taken together, these advantages can turn water into a major value driver.
Basin management: Floodplain protection is a viable method for reducing the risk
of flooding and preventing freshwater contamination. But attempts to improve basin
42
K. Singh and S. Mahanta
society at large. Since the linear model is economically and environmentally
unsustainable, we must instead view water as part of a circular economy, where it
retains full value after each use and eventually returns to the system. And rather
than focus solely on purification, we should attempt to prevent contamination or
create a system in which water circulates in closed loops, allowing repeated use.
These shifts will require radical solutions grounded in a complete mind-set change,
but they must happen immediately, given the urgency of the situation.
Water is a renewable resource, but it is very unequally distributed and
increasingly scarce as a result of urbanization and climate change. Based on the
recommendations and best case examples, a comprehensive suite of solutions exists
to respond to these challenges, ranging from integrated water resource management
to wastewater reuse. Only less than 5% of all water is reused globally, but recycled
wastewater is the only resource that grows with the needs. Reusing wastewater
increases the productivity of the abstracted water, typically in agriculture, enabling
to grow “more crops per drop”. Reusing water may also mean mining waste and
turning it into a new source of materials or energy as is the case with the methanization of waste and wastewater streams from the food and beverage industry, or
the material recovery out of mining industry. Innovators, responsible operators and
committed system developers are spearheading the creation of new technological
solutions, pilot cases and initiatives to improve water management. Many of the
technologies are already generating profits or will soon be. Equally important,
leaders should also rethink their institutional approach to water management. Many
of their solutions are only being applied at small scale, however, and this must
change over the next ten years to meet the water resource challenge.
Finally, the following five ideas are recommended for a smooth transition to a
circular economy model:
Product-design partnerships: Even in 2020, there is minimum dialogue between
producers and wastewater operators. As the cost of treatment mounts, pressure will
increase on producers to reduce contamination, especially as new technologies
make it easier to identify their source.
Resource-positive utilities: Wastewater utilities are ubiquitous, visible and largely
similar. They could soon become energy positive due to technical advances related
to sludge methanization, waste-heat recovery, potassium hydroxide reduction or
on-site distributed power generation.
Management for yield: Water is a powerful driver of yield in almost any industrial
process and the extraction of raw materials. Improved site-level water management
can increase beverage yields by 5% and oil-well productivity by 20%, largely
benefitting the bottom line (Ellen MacArthur Foundation Report 2015). It can also
convey many other advantages, such as reduced heat or nutrient loss during processing. Taken together, these advantages can turn water into a major value driver.
Basin management: Floodplain protection is a viable method for reducing the risk
of flooding and preventing freshwater contamination. But attempts to improve basin
42
K. Singh and S. Mahanta