Applying the circular economy to water

Australia, and the world, is increasingly seeing the effect of climate change on our water supply and security. Scarcity and drought are becoming more prevalent, placing pressure on the current water supply network, and communities are expecting better solutions. As we prepare for summer, it is timely to discuss how we can best utilise our existing water supplies and create a more resilient future.

The concept of a circular economy challenges the traditionally linear take-make-use-dispose behaviour on which our society is built, and envisions an economy based on regeneration, re-use and repurposing the resources we have. The water industry is increasingly adopting an integrated approach that aims to optimise the assets, improve catchment health and deliver better value for customers, but what is next?

One area which is still evolving is potable water (ie, water treated to drinking quality) being used by industry and manufacturing in situations where non-potable water would be suitable. Non-potable water is a massive resource in Australia which is generally underutilised and often literally going to waste, by being diverted to stormwater or sewage treatment plants and ultimately released into the environment.

This water is a vital part of developing a more resilient future and can be sourced from greywater harvesting, rainwater capture, from water exported from sewage treatment plants and a range of other sources (such as harvesting humidity). It presents a significant opportunity to protect our drinking water supply whilst also supporting economic growth and the environment.

A collective action plan

A collective, multi-pronged approach is required to develop a circular economy for water, to utilise potable water more effectively and efficiently whilst also better utilising existing and new non-potable water sources. There is a need to define the spectrum of water-quality requirements for different activities and their likely demands; for example, using rainwater to water gardens, top up swimming pools, suppress dust on construction sites and wash vehicles. These solutions are achievable by constructing simple community or district rainwater collection points to enable greater accessibility to this type of water supply.

An action plan for connecting the water sources with the water users is needed. Such a plan would focus on:

• The non-potable water sources available; for example, water discharged from sewage treatment plants used in irrigation schemes, and where that water could be best used to replace potable water in the first instance.
• Sources of non-potable water that could be harnessed with minimal difficulty (rainwater, for instance) and replace potable sources nearby. As an example, local government requirements for new developments with roof/stormwater drainage volumes over a certain amount to include a rainwater tank with the water used onsite.
• Identifying the highest water uses where potable water can be replaced and manage the implementation of the replacement measures.

The above approach recognises that potable water redundancy would likely be required in the transition period, but the journey towards change would have been started.

Legislation is only part of the solution

As with most water infrastructure, this requires a long-term view and commitment. Work has been done on quality requirements for re-use purposes for several decades now, and is increasingly better supported by evidence. This process has, to some extent, reached a milestone with the final documents in the National Water Quality Management Strategy’s ‘Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling’, but legislation and planning does not always support advanced re-use.

Re-use tends to vary on a state-by-state basis — for instance, Class A re-use requirements in Victoria (which match Queensland’s Class A+) are well developed. Education of authorities and developers is reasonably progressed, but there is less support for onsite re-use options such as composting toilets.

Planning and legislation need to be revised to support a nationally consistent approach coupled with effective communication, training and support of all regulatory officers tasked with assessing applications, as well as educating developers and industry.

In addition, provision must be included for future changes, which may, for instance, allow households to generate electricity, compost and re-use water of varying quality onsite, without needing to use delivery infrastructure.

Creating a water network more resilient to change

The obvious benefit to developing a circular economy for water in Australia is the development of a water network which is more resilient to change. By utilising our existing water supplies more efficiently we are creating a system which, at its core, values the water supplies and assets we already have.

Taking the concepts of a circular economy and applying them to the water industry is an opportunity to approach the required changes in a methodical and logical way. This could include prioritisation of planned investment from linear infrastructure to more resilient circular systems, ranging from small local systems to large-scale water re-use schemes.

This shift in perspective is vital; we need access to safe, secure drinking water — without it, our civilisations would not be able to exist, let alone grow. As populations continue to multiply and water supplies continue to become uncertain and decrease, water security and resilience will continue to generate national and global conversation and focused actions.

*Kirsty Bauer has extensive knowledge and experience in sustainable infrastructure projects and is a strong advocate for generational change in the implementation of sustainability. She has demonstrated expertise in professional services, across energy, carbon, environmental management, sustainability, waste and water management.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Krafla