Man's quest for additional water supplies in the wake of a growing global scarcity could very well stop within. At least that's what one of the experts expects in the time to come.
Dr James Barnard, recipient of this year's Lee Kuan Yew Water prize, feels at some stage in the near future, urine recovery could turn out to be an additional source of water.
To some the idea may seem repulsive, but Barnard, who is hailed as the 'Father of Biological Nutrient Removal' and recognised for using micro-organisms to treat used water for the protection of lakes and rivers, is serious about the potential of the idea.
And, he ought to know what works best.
Barnard was given the Lee Kuan Yew Water prize for his groundbreaking invention of the Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) technology, an environmentally sustainable, biological method to treat used water.
The technology has revolutionised used water treatment processes by using naturally occurring micro-organisms instead of conventional chemicals to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from water. It helps to protect water quality in lakes and rivers, while minimising negative impact on the environment. It also promotes the recycling of water.
According to a news report in Singapore, where Barnard received the prize during the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), some parts of the world are already quite advanced in what he calls "urine recovery".
Barnard was quoted as saying, "It's already happening, a lot of people just don't know it and accept it therefore".
The scientist thinks it would be better to facilitate the process of urine collection before it gets diluted in wastewater. For this he suggets dual flushing toilets where urine flows through separate pipes, directly to wastewater treatment plants.
Barnard gives the example of a suburb in Stockholm, Sweden, where such a facility already exists.
"I'm thinking in new developments like perhaps golf courses. Most of these developments have housing around them. Why should we not separate the urine in that and re-use it on the fairways? I think that's where we can make a start in the developed world. We cannot go into the buildings and change those toilets."
Urine, when treated could be a resource for drinking and agricultural use. Its by-products could also be used as a source of energy and fertilisers, Barnard was quoted as saying in the news report.
By the way, people in a Latam country were encouraged to urinate while taking a bath. The idea was to save water in flushing.
Showing posts with label wastewater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wastewater. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Committee says India needs Rs 800,000 crore to provide water, waste management services
A committee set up by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the country would require investments to the tune of Rs 8,00,000 crore over the next 20 years to provide basic infrastructure services like water, wastewater and solid waste management.
To those who think the investment as huge, it would come as a surprise that this amount is about 20 per cent of the overall Rs 39.2 lakh crore (trillion) that the committee has said would be required to improve all basic urban infrastructure services during the next two decades.
Along with the investment, the government would need to undertake "major administrative reforms" to cope with the current rate of urbanization, said the high-powered expert committee (HPEC) on urban infrastructure led by one of India's leading economists Isher Judge Ahluwalia.
The body was formed by the Prime Minister in 2008 to estimate investment requirement for urban infrastructure services in the country. The committee submitted its report to Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath on March 7.
The committee recommended a regulatory regime for urban services at state levels to address challenges of not only pricing services correctly but also ensuring delivery of services and protection of the environment besides encouraging public private participation in service delivery.
In India, just about 64 per cent of urban population in India is covered by individual water connections compared with 91 per cent in China, 86 per cent in South Africa and 80 per cent in Brazil.
India's urban population is expected to increase from existing 350 million to 600 million by 2031. This population increase is expected to further put pressure in the country's dwindling water resources and the per capita water availability is expected to come down further from about 1730 cubic metre now to about 1240 by 2030.
The rapid growth of urbanization has compounded the problem of water scarcity in several Indian cities, where current demand is much higher than the supply. This has prompted several state governments to undertake water projects that seek to enhance supply for the growing population.
Indian companies in the water industry and even those with exposure to it should find this huge investment requirement an opportunity. The Government alone cannot come up with such huge amounts on its own.
This should clear the way for further participation from the private sector in the water industry, fast eing considered a sunrise industry by many. Public-private partnerships (PPP) should become the order of the day.
To those who think the investment as huge, it would come as a surprise that this amount is about 20 per cent of the overall Rs 39.2 lakh crore (trillion) that the committee has said would be required to improve all basic urban infrastructure services during the next two decades.
Along with the investment, the government would need to undertake "major administrative reforms" to cope with the current rate of urbanization, said the high-powered expert committee (HPEC) on urban infrastructure led by one of India's leading economists Isher Judge Ahluwalia.
The body was formed by the Prime Minister in 2008 to estimate investment requirement for urban infrastructure services in the country. The committee submitted its report to Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath on March 7.
The committee recommended a regulatory regime for urban services at state levels to address challenges of not only pricing services correctly but also ensuring delivery of services and protection of the environment besides encouraging public private participation in service delivery.
In India, just about 64 per cent of urban population in India is covered by individual water connections compared with 91 per cent in China, 86 per cent in South Africa and 80 per cent in Brazil.
India's urban population is expected to increase from existing 350 million to 600 million by 2031. This population increase is expected to further put pressure in the country's dwindling water resources and the per capita water availability is expected to come down further from about 1730 cubic metre now to about 1240 by 2030.
The rapid growth of urbanization has compounded the problem of water scarcity in several Indian cities, where current demand is much higher than the supply. This has prompted several state governments to undertake water projects that seek to enhance supply for the growing population.
Indian companies in the water industry and even those with exposure to it should find this huge investment requirement an opportunity. The Government alone cannot come up with such huge amounts on its own.
This should clear the way for further participation from the private sector in the water industry, fast eing considered a sunrise industry by many. Public-private partnerships (PPP) should become the order of the day.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Amnesty International accuses India’s Vedanta of water pollution
Global human rights group Amnesty International has accused London-based metals and mining group Vedanta for alleged poor waste management practices at its aluminium refinery in India's eastern state of Orissa, which has hit the supply of water locally.
Amnesty has said the refinery is causing water and air pollution that is threatening health of thousands of locals in the state. However, Vedanta has refuted the claim and said they were based on an "outdated document".
The international rights group on February 10 released a report, alleging that the 8,000 strong tribal community near the refinery suffered violations of human rights to water and health. The report, which quoted documents from Orissa State Pollution Control Board gave instances where vedanta failed to put in place adequate pollution controls.
This resulted in leakages of alkaline wastewater into the river, the main source of water in the area. People in Niyamgiri Hills, where the company mines alumina, had complained of serious skin ailments, hazards that were not witnessed before the mining began, said Amnesty.
According to Amnesty, these complaints are likely rooted in the periodic contamination of Vansadhara river, the main water source for the people and possible seapage of toxic elements into ground water from a highly alkaline waste known as red mud pond.
The Amnesty-Vadanta stand-off comes soon after an Indian Government report has called for an urgent upgrade of the country's wastewater treatment facilities, stating that most of the Indian cities have been managing to treat their wastewater only partially and the untreated waste is flowing back into rivers that form major sources of drinking water.
The discharge of untreated sewage into water courses is the biggest source of water pollution in India, the report released last month by state-run Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had said.
Vedanta has charted plans to pour more investment in the refinery and expand its capacity six-fold. The expansion is expected to deliver significant economic stimulus to the local community, especially historically underdeveloped areas of Orissa, the company said.
Amnesty has reportedly urged the Indian government not to approve the expansion until pollution laws were enforced, the health impact investigated and the waste management process rectified by the refinery.
Vedanta, on the other hand, said the criticism of the project is misplaced and repeated offers made by the company to Amnesty to enter into a dialogue on the report had been rejected.
Amnesty has said the refinery is causing water and air pollution that is threatening health of thousands of locals in the state. However, Vedanta has refuted the claim and said they were based on an "outdated document".
The international rights group on February 10 released a report, alleging that the 8,000 strong tribal community near the refinery suffered violations of human rights to water and health. The report, which quoted documents from Orissa State Pollution Control Board gave instances where vedanta failed to put in place adequate pollution controls.
This resulted in leakages of alkaline wastewater into the river, the main source of water in the area. People in Niyamgiri Hills, where the company mines alumina, had complained of serious skin ailments, hazards that were not witnessed before the mining began, said Amnesty.
According to Amnesty, these complaints are likely rooted in the periodic contamination of Vansadhara river, the main water source for the people and possible seapage of toxic elements into ground water from a highly alkaline waste known as red mud pond.
The Amnesty-Vadanta stand-off comes soon after an Indian Government report has called for an urgent upgrade of the country's wastewater treatment facilities, stating that most of the Indian cities have been managing to treat their wastewater only partially and the untreated waste is flowing back into rivers that form major sources of drinking water.
The discharge of untreated sewage into water courses is the biggest source of water pollution in India, the report released last month by state-run Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had said.
Vedanta has charted plans to pour more investment in the refinery and expand its capacity six-fold. The expansion is expected to deliver significant economic stimulus to the local community, especially historically underdeveloped areas of Orissa, the company said.
Amnesty has reportedly urged the Indian government not to approve the expansion until pollution laws were enforced, the health impact investigated and the waste management process rectified by the refinery.
Vedanta, on the other hand, said the criticism of the project is misplaced and repeated offers made by the company to Amnesty to enter into a dialogue on the report had been rejected.
Monday, February 1, 2010
India's leading engineering company McNally Bharat Engineering has planned to make a foray into the fast growing water industry in India. The company is eyeing water and wastewater projects in the country.
McNally Bharat Engineering has entered into an exclusive technical partnership agreement with Singapore's leading water technology company Hyflux for this purpose.
The technical partnership will allow McNally Bharat, that undertakes turnkey projects in infrastructure and related manufacturing activities primarily in India, to set up sea water desalination, water and wastewater plants in India. Hyflux has a strong presence in the water desalination industry with projects across the world.
The Indian company is eyeing projects in the industrial, municipal and agricultural sector in India.
"With this tie-up MBE shall be setting strong foot-print in this area in India where there is a strong demand in Sea water desalination project particularly in municipal, agricultural and other industrial usage", a company statement said.
Several Indian companies, engaged in providing engineering services, have turned towards the water industry and remain bullish on the business potential in view of the Indian government's increased spending on infrastructure. The increased focus on water infrastructure and irrigation systems has attracted several companies to make a foray into the sector.
Companies like McNally Bharat expect the renewed focus on water infrastructure sector to culminate in more orders in the irrigation systems, water supply and sewage water treatment space.
The Indian government had raised the allocation for irrigation projects by almost 100per cent to $57 billion USD for the Eleventh Five Year Plan ending 2012.
McNally Bharat Engineering has entered into an exclusive technical partnership agreement with Singapore's leading water technology company Hyflux for this purpose.
The technical partnership will allow McNally Bharat, that undertakes turnkey projects in infrastructure and related manufacturing activities primarily in India, to set up sea water desalination, water and wastewater plants in India. Hyflux has a strong presence in the water desalination industry with projects across the world.
The Indian company is eyeing projects in the industrial, municipal and agricultural sector in India.
"With this tie-up MBE shall be setting strong foot-print in this area in India where there is a strong demand in Sea water desalination project particularly in municipal, agricultural and other industrial usage", a company statement said.
Several Indian companies, engaged in providing engineering services, have turned towards the water industry and remain bullish on the business potential in view of the Indian government's increased spending on infrastructure. The increased focus on water infrastructure and irrigation systems has attracted several companies to make a foray into the sector.
Companies like McNally Bharat expect the renewed focus on water infrastructure sector to culminate in more orders in the irrigation systems, water supply and sewage water treatment space.
The Indian government had raised the allocation for irrigation projects by almost 100per cent to $57 billion USD for the Eleventh Five Year Plan ending 2012.
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