Resource Recovery-based Sustainable Water Systems - the City of Tomorrow
Citation:
Ma, Cissy. Resource Recovery-based Sustainable Water Systems - the City of Tomorrow. University of Cincinnati Graduate Seminar, Cincinnati, OH, February 10, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
Share with the young professionals the current research efforts of system-based approaches to address water issues, in which water services (traditionally within wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water) are integrated with options to maximize the recovery of resources (energy, nutrients, materials, and water).
Description:
Urban water systems are an example of complex, dynamic human-environment coupled systems which exhibit emergent behaviors that transcends individual scientific disciplines. To address the complexities associated with municipal water issues there is a need to shift from our traditional “siloed” (drinking water, wastewater, stormwater etc.) management approach. In a water-connected world, sustainable solutions require a system-based approach, in which water services (traditionally within wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water) are integrated with options to maximize the recovery of resources (energy, nutrients, materials, and water). Here we present system-wide evaluations, including water resource, drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management, as well as the distribution and collection systems. Issues with existing centralized water systems are discussed to illustrate the key challenges to address through alternative approaches. System-based accounting tools for such system-wide evaluations are discussed. A design for urban water system is presented, not as the recommended solution for all environments, but to emphasize the need to visualize water services as an organic whole.