Water Conserving
Technologies
News: Caroma has spent $1million to develop its new Smartflush system. Smartflush is a new water-saving technology in a long line of developments in the evolution of the toilet over the last 500 years. The Smartflush reduces the full flush to 4.5 litres, with the half flush 3 litres. The system could save the average household approximately 35,000 litres per year.
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As the population of the world continues to grow, water and other natural resources are consumed at an increasing rate. As water resources are depleted, overuse of existing supplies often occurs. Traditionally, water management has involved the manipulation of water supplies through dams, water conveyance structures and location and development of new supplies, rather than focusing on reducing water demand. These traditional methods will continually face economic, ecological and hydrological concerns. There are many advanced techniques and technologies to help conserve water, such as greywater reuse, rainwater collection, water-conserving landscaping and irrigation practices, the installation of low-flow fixtures and appliances, water-efficient appliances, tap aerators, and proper swimming pool maintenance. There are also actions that we can take as individuals to conserve water. Our domestic consumption of water is high. In the US alone 26 billion gallons of water are used every day. Per person, the average person in the US uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water per day. The pie chard below gives us a breakdown of the typical water use in homes in the UK. Other countries would have slightly different use rates eg countries or regions with different climatic conditions would have increased water use for gardens. |
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Traditionally, increased demand for municipal water has been met by adding to the water and wastewater delivery and treatment systems. The cost of expanding water delivery systems is rapidly escalating as more distant and expensive sources must be tapped. At the same time, more stringent standards and regulations, and increased use, have escalated costs of improved water and water treatment. In most municipalities water pricing does not encourage water conservation. The cost to the consumer rarely reflects the true cost of water. This approach is no longer tenable. The quality and quantity of water and wastewater are intertwined with social, economic and environmental concerns.
Did you know: The most famous maker of the cistern toilet was T Crapper Brass and Co,
with the name Crapper becoming synonymous with a toilet. This is the origin of the word 'crap'.
Greywater recycling
Greywater or sullage recycling can be defined as the reuse of water from the sinks, showers, washing machines, and dishwashers in the home. In most Western countries, greywater currently contributes 75 percent of the total wastewater flow to domestic sewers.
Most recycling systems have a process to separate the grey and black wastewater. The greywater is typically sent through a filter, usually a sand filter to remove any organic matter, then it is relocated on site either to be treated by a separate process or for use as-is. Treatment processes can include chlorine or iodine for disinfection. Biological treatment systems are also used. These can include constructed wetlands involving water hyacinths or other plants for disinfection with metal ions. Aquatic plants remove pollutants both by directly absorbing them into their tissue and by providing a suitable environment for bacteria to transform pollutants and reduce their concentrations.
Did you know: In the US the toilet became known as the 'JOHN' because the
John Douglas Company was the largest toilet manufacturer.
One of the major advantages of domestic greywater use is that it replaces potable water use. There are some public health concerns with greywater reuse.
Flush toilet
One of the main technologies that has allowed high-density loving to become possible is the invention of the flush toilet and its associated sewerage system. For example, residents of a 20-storey apartment block could not rely on chamber pots, or rushing out to use a hole in the ground.
One of the earliest inventors who can take much of the credit for the flush toilet is an Englishman Sir John Harrington, who came up with the concept in 1596. Technology was not available to him to realise his vision. It wasn't until a couple of centuries later, when engineers devised a means for storing water inside a cistern that could be used to siphon away human waste, that the vision came to reality.
Landscaping technologies
Garden water use can be quite high. Xeriscaping is a landscaping technology that has reduced water demand. It is commonly being implement in warmer climates where there is a higher moisture demand for gardens and landscaped areas. The term xeriscaping is derived from the Greek word 'xeric', which means dry. It is a landscape method that maximises the conservation of water by using site-appropriate plants and efficient water use techniques. It involves the use of xeric plants. One of the principles of xeriscaping is placing plants together in groups based on their drought tolerance and irrigation needs. In this way, different areas of the yard can be watered when a need for water is indicated.
Studies have shown that xeriscaping can contribute to a 20 percent reduction in water consumption when coupled with a few other conservation methods, such as gravel walkways and mulching.