Smart Water Magazine Bimonthly 7 by Smart Water Magazine

FROM THE EDITOR

THE BATTLE IS OVER, A NEW TIME IS COMING After 8 months of hard battle, Veolia and Suez announced last April 12 an agreement for the merger of the two groups. The most relevant consequences of the resolution of this conflict will be the creation of a new Suez made up of assets forming a coherent and sustainable group from an industrial and social standpoint with revenues of around €7 billion and the implementation of Veolia's plan to create a global champion of ecological transformation, with revenues of around €37 billion. In the words of Antoine Frerot, CEO of Veolia: "All stakeholders in both groups are therefore winners. The time for confrontation is over, the time for combination has begun". This merger will completely change the configuration of the world's water industry. An industry in which the Saur Group is another major player. A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to chat with its CEO since 2019, Patrick Blethon, who explained the company's plans in municipal water markets and in other areas such as water treatment for industry. We also highlight in this issue the Provisur project carried out by Tedagua in Peru. An initiative that includes all asPUBLISHER iAgua Conocimiento, S.L. C/ Príncipe de Vergara, 132 Planta 9 - 28002 Madrid (Lexington Coworking) info@iagua.es MANAGEMENT Alejandro Maceira Rozados David Escobar Gutiérrez EDITOR Alejandro Maceira Rozados

pects of water cycle management, using a holistic approach to design, build and operate water supply - through reverse osmosis desalination - and sanitation facilities in a coastal tourist area south of Lima. Meanwhile, digitalization continues to gain ground as the topic of the moment. We look at a Hidroconta telemetry project in Spain that exemplifies how IoT equipment and the customized Demeter platform enable monitoring of domestic water consumption to ensure informed decisions that can pave the way to sustainable water use. Droople is also leveraging the benefits of IoT, this time in the hospitality sector, where IoT technologies play a role in water filtration solutions to ensure predictive maintenance and customer support. But there is much

EDITORIAL STAFF Águeda García de Durango Caveda Laura Fernández Zarza Paula Sánchez Almendros Olivia Tempest Prados Cristina Novo Pérez

more to come in the future: Xylem's global youth program, Xylem Ignite, wants to harness the power of technology combined with the passion and creativity of young people to drive innovation in the water industry. Finally, we launch a look at aging water infrastructure: the risks of aging dams and the future prospects of dam decommissioning. And we learn of an exciting new EU initiative, Destination Earth; it will create a digital model of the Earth to monitor and simulate natural and human activity, in support of environmental policies and sustainable development. We hope you enjoy this seventh issue of Smart Water Magazine Bimonthy. Alejandro Maceira - Director SWM

D @amaceira - E @AlejandroMaceiraiAgua

ART AND GRAPHIC DESIGN Pablo González-Cebrián Aurora Ortega Tello

ADVERTISING Javier de los Reyes PHOTOGRAPHY Pablo González-Cebrián

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CONTENTS NUMBER 07 - APR 2021 FEATURE

INTERVIEW

FEATURE

VEOLIA AND SUEZ FIND COMMON GROUND

MANAGING THE RISK OF AGEING DAMS

INNOVATION, SERVICE AND VALUE

HOLISTIC WATER CYCLE MANGEMENT

Pg. 18 Olivia Tempest looks into the potential benefits of the announced merger between the two French leaders of environmental services.

Pg. 76 We interview Dr Perera from UNU-INWEH to learn about ageing water storage infrastructure and the trends in their decommissioning.

Pg. 50 Atlanta’s Commissioner of Watershed Management tells us the keys to the success of this utility, leader in reliability and resiliency.

Pg. 40 A close look at Tedagua’s Provisur project in Lima, a public-private collaboration to ensure reliable water supply and sanitation.

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CONTENTS NUMBER 07 - APR 2021 FEATURE

INTERVIEW

OPINION

ENGAGING YOUTH IN WATER ISSUES

COMPANIES RETHINK WATER RISK

TOWARDS NET-ZERO DESALINATION

THE ROLE OF WASTEWATER IN AMR

Pg. 66 Xylem Ignite banks on the passion, creativity and command of technology of young people to drive innovation in the water industry.

Pg. 24 Catherine Moncrieff explains how CDP’s water data disclosure platform contributes to changing perceptions about the water crisis.

Pg. 29 Solar Water Plc proposes a game-changing technology to provide freshwater in a carbon-neutral, marine-friendly, cost-effective way.

Pg. 59 Danielle Fopp reflects on the risks of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the context of water recycling and the need for regulation.

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CONTENTS NUMBER 07 - APR 2021

FEATURE

INFRASTRUCTURE

OPINION

INTERVIEW

IOT TO MONITOR DOMESTIC WATER USE

SMART WATER MANAGEMENT IN JIUJIANG

NEEDED: CORPORATE WATER ACTION

SAUR TARGETS RESPONSIBLE GROWTH

Pg. 62 Can a network digitalisation project contribute to sustainable water resource use? Read more in this article by Hidroconta.

Pg. 60 The Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute uses a digital twin to create the digital context of downtown Jiujiang in China.

Pg. 32 “What’s good for water is good for business”: Emilio Tenuta (ECOLAB) provides some insights on corporate water stewardship.

Pg. 12 After his first year as CEO of Saur, Patrick Blethon shares his thoughts on the group’ growth and consolidation strategies.

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CONTENTS NUMBER 07 - APR 2021 THE MAGAZINE FOR THE KEY PLAYERS OF THE WATER SECTOR INTERVIEW

A DIGITAL MODEL OF OUR PLANET Pg.86 We hear from Dr Peter Bauer (ECMWF) about Destination Earth, a EU initiative that will provide Earth system simulation capabilities.

FEATURE

IOT IN THE HORECA INDUSTRY Pg. 72 Droople delves into the role of IoT technologies in water filtration solutions to ensure predictive maintenance and customer support.

RANKING

SMART WATER MAGAZINE RANKING Pg. 8 Discover our tool that will measure and order the influence of organizations in the water sector according to transparent criteria.

PEOPLE

A PIONEER OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION Pg. 10 We will remember David Schindler for his contributions to freshwater ecology, but he also led the way in the communication of research.

SPEAKERS' CORNER

WATER COMPANIES’ COMMUNICATIONS Pg. 94 Getting the message across: Jonathan Bargh shares some thoughts on his work as a communications manager at Northumbrian Water Group.

INTERVIEW

AN AWARD TO SOLVE THE WATER CRISIS

#SWMB7

Pg. 34 In this interview HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer tells us about the purpose behind the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award.

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SWM RANKING Smart Water Magazine (SWM) launches a Ranking to measure the inﬂuence of organizations and professionals in the water industry. The SWM Ranking is a tool that allows the influence of organizations in the water sector to be measured and ordered according to transparent criteria. The factors considered for the calculation are the page views on the web, the number of SWM Likes and the contents in Smart Water Magazine Monthly. The ranking order is established by a unit of measurement created for this purpose: SWM Points. This metric is calculated through a mathematical algorithm that takes into account the content published during the 365 days prior to the calculation date and will be updated every month, coinciding with the publication of each issue of SWM Monthly. The data of the visits to the web are extracted from Google Analytics, while the amount of SWM Likes are directly counted and can be seen in the different contents of the web.

mentioned that particular content can obtain a maximum of 1,000 points. This is done to prevent the distortion of the entire classification in case a specific content goes viral.

How are SWM points earned? Each content published on the web by an entity or blogger gets 1 point for every 10 page views; also, for each SWM Like it gets 2 points, which become 5 in the event that the user who grants it is a verified user. On the other hand, if the content appears in SWM Monthly, it gets 250 points. This amount is fixed and corresponds to an estimation of the average audience generated by the monthly magazines. It should also be

SWM Likes and Verified Users Registered users of SWM can click on the blue heart of any content on the web that they like. The number of SWM Likes appears beside the blue heart. The number of likes of a content is used for the calculation, having a different value if the user is verified (5 points) or not (2 points). Verified users are easy to distinguish as a white "check" icon appears on their profile next to their name on a blue circle.

Classification categories SWM publishes content of all kinds: by companies, public administrations, international organizations, associations, foundations, etc. In addition, SWM bloggers publish their articles in a personal capacity on a wide variety of topics. For all these reasons, the Ranking has several classifications depending on the category of the entity. The most important ones are: • Companies • Blogs In addition, a general classification can be consulted in which all the participating entities are compared regardless of their type.

How are SWM points earned?

SWM Points

SWM Like

Page views

Verified users

SWM Points

SWM Point

Page views

Non-verified users

SWM Alliances A blog that is linked to an entity will contribute only 50% of its points to that entity

250 SWM Points

50%

*The ranking order is established by a unit of measurement created for this purpose: SWM Points. *A specific content piece can obtain a maximum of 1,000 SWM Points. *The maximum number of content pieces in SWM Monthly that will be considered for the calculation is 16.

TOP 10 - COMPANIES RANK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

COMPANY

SWM POINTS

1.522 points 1.349 points 1.021 points 907 points 891 points 547 points 526 points 417 points 415 points 381 points

Schneider Electric ACCIONA Idrica Hidroconta Almar Water Solutions Veolia SUEZ Bentley Systems Xylem. Inc. Isle Utilities

TOP 5 - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONS Gov. Hong Kong (WSD)

TOP 5 - BLOGS 272 points

PUB Singapore's N. Water Agency 222 points

Karl-Uwe Schmitz

618 points

Graham Mann

492 points

DEWA Dubai

119 points

Madhukar Swayambhu

322 points

US NASA

101 points

John Mmbaga

269 points

UK Ofwat

80 points

Robert Brears

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PERSON OF THE MONTH

DAVID SCHINDLER A VISIONARY FRESHWATER ECOLOGIST WHO CHANGED THE DAILY LIFE OF CANADIANS AND AMERICANS.

On March 4, 2021, the world lost a giant of freshwater research, a guardian of the boreal, a defender of treaty rights and a speaker of uncomfortable truths, as his colleagues described him. John Smol, the Canada Research Chair in environmental change at Queen’s University, depicted him as “The greatest and most influential water ecologist on the planet.” He is David Schindler. An American/Canadian limnologist whose work on whole lakes at the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) led to the banning of phosphates in detergents. He is also known for his energetic research on acid rain caused by the sulphurous emissions pouring from metal smelters and coal power plants. The ELA team disclosed that even meagre acidification could damage a lake’s food chain. The evidence he produced helped to change the U.S. Clean Air Act to reduce acidic emissions.

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He was not only an outstanding scientist but also a pioneer in the communication of science. He believed scientists not only presented their research to the world, but also had a moral duty to make themselves heard, speaking to lawmakers, politicians and local authorities, even if these did not want to hear what they had to say. Born in 1940 in North Dakota, he got his bachelor’s degree in zoology from North Dakota State University and then went to the United Kingdom to study aquatic ecology at Oxford University, where he received his PhD in ecology in 1966. Schindler’s long career and eye-opening research earned him numerous national and international awards, including the Gerhard Herzberg Gold Medal, the First Stockholm Water Prize (1991), the Volvo Environment Prize (1998), and the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (2006).

BUSINESS

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INTERVIEW

PATRICK BLETHON CEO OF SAUR

efore joining Saur as CEO in 2019, Patrick Blethon held management positions for a long time at U.S. company Otis, world leader in the manufacture and maintenance of elevators. After a radical change to the water industry, we could say he continues to like to rise. In little more than a year, the French group has successfully overcome the pandemic, has consolidated its industrial water business with the acquisition of Nijhuis Industries, and has made the podium of water operators in the Iberian Peninsula with the purchase of Portuguese company Aquapor. Blethon looks to the future with optimism and expects Gestagua to be one of the pillars of the growth sought by EQT since their 2018 investment. He shares his thoughts with us in this interview. What is your assessment of your first year as CEO of Saur? Undeniably, this has been a year as difficult as it was promising for the future of our group. As everyone else, we have had to face the Covid-19 crisis. For our clients, due to the nature of our activities, we have been on the front line to guarantee the continuity of water and wastewater services. Even so, it has been a challenging year, but one of great achievements of which I am very proud! First, we established a new strategic framework based on 4 pillars: reinforce our competitiveness and our positioning in the French market, our historical market; accelerate the roll-out of our industrial roadmap; grow in key geographies and consolidate our Engineering activities. In this regard, we acquired strong companies such as Nijhuis Indus-

Z Alejandro Maceira - G Guillermo Martínez

“Saur will embody a new business model which will be based on a profitable and responsible growth” Saur continues to focus on purchases and acquisitions as the basis of the company’s internationalisation strategy, where the concession market and industrial water are key cornerstones, and the Iberian Peninsula a hub of operations. tries, Unidro and Econvert to build an international industry platform and consolidate our expertise and our industrial activities. We also acquired Aquapor, a leading player in the management of municipal water concessions in Portugal, a real game changer for us that enabled us to accelerate the internationalisation of Saur. We also won major new contracts in France and Saudi-Arabia (in the North Western Region that is approximately the size of Italy!). We launched the NextGen’Voices, a new program dedicated to millennials, to continue building with the future generations of Saur’s leaders and the Executive Committee Members a winning, meaningful and sustainable company. And last but not least, we launched the reorganisation of our activities in France to support our strategic objectives. One year after my arrival, I can therefore say that 2020 has been a decisive year for Saur. Once again, we have demonstrated our unfailing commitment in times of collective challenges,

all the while opening a new page in our Group’s history which portends a sustainable growth of our activities in the coming years. What trends do you see in public-private participation in water services and infrastructures around the world? The main issue for me can be summed up in one word: cooperation. National and local authorities cannot do without the expertise of private players, and private players need local authorities to push them to constantly improve with a view to meeting the challenges of sustainability and ecological transition on the field.

"We established a new strategic framework based on 4 pillars: reinforce our competitiveness and our positioning in the French market" - MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW

We acquired Nijhuis Industries, Unidro and Econvert to build an international industry platform and consolidate our expertise

Basically, whether we are in systems of delegated public service or direct public management, the issue remains the same: mobilizing the best expertise to meet water challenges. In all the countries where Saur operates or wishes to operate, we therefore follow a single guideline: providing the community with what it needs in order to better serve their expectations, and better address the specificities of the territory. Can you comment on the performance of the group in the Iberian market during 2020? The Iberian Peninsula is the group's second largest market, after France, where there are great opportunities, and where we are looking forward to seizing each of them. We are focusing our efforts to reinforce our positioning. Firstly, thanks

"We launched the NextGen’Voices, a new program dedicated to millennials, to continue building with the future generations of Saur’s leaders" 14

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to organic growth with new concessions and new contracts, which we are already looking for, not only in large cities but also in small and medium-size towns. Secondly, external growth will come with acquisitions in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. As things stand, Spain is at the heart of our objectives in terms of development around the Mediterranean: the objective is to double our revenues there over the next four years to reach 200 million euros. With the recent acquisition of Aquapor, you have become the third largest operator in the Iberian Peninsula. What will the Portuguese company contribute to the Saur Group? This operation represents a turning point in Saur's internationalisation strategy, with a €120 million gain in revenues and the integration of 1,300 new employees mobilized to serve 1.3 million people. It is also another decisive step in the deployment of our roadmap launched in 2020, aimed at making the Group a leading pure player of water which stands for water, and dedicated to the ecological transition in all territories. By bringing together within the same group Aquapor in Portugal,

Gestagua and Emalsa in Spain, Saur has become the third largest operator on the Iberian Peninsula with revenues of around €250 million. In 2021, we are optimistic about the EU recovery plan funds for Europe. What impact do you think they will have on the water sector?

PATRICK BLETHON

I am a convinced European, and Saur is by definition a European Group with regards to its ambition and organisation. From the outset, we have welcomed the ambition of the Recovery Plan, which responds to our challenges: to finally reconcile economy and ecology in order to build a sustainable and desirable future for the generations to come.

Water companies and local authorities must seize the historic opportunity presented by this plan to invest massively, whether in infrastructure renovation to limit network losses, or in the creation of industrial water treatment platforms with sufficient performance to both restore and defend the European productive fabric while meeting sustainability challenges.

"Nijhuis Industries will bring Saur’s Industrial Water activities to a step-changing level with a complete portfolio of advanced solutions" - MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW

The group pursues an ambitious objective: champion and support the ecological transition of our customers in all territories

What is Saur's position concerning the digital transformation of the water industry? Digital transformation for the sole purpose of digital transformation does not make sense. This is true for any company in general, and even more so in our field of activity. The digital transformation must have a meaning for our activity and represent more than just a proof of modernity. I believe innovation and digitalisation will revolutionise the performance of water and wastewater services. The issue at stake is much more than just a budgetary one. It is a matter of standing for water resources at a time when human activities, pollution and climatic events threaten them as never before. The digital transformation is embedded in the transformation of our activities. For instance, we have set up a partnership with Capgemini, through the creation

"We wish to refocus on our added value, around 4 areas of development in the service of a long-lasting and responsible growth" 16

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and deployment of a "Data & Digital Center", a digital factory dedicated to the industrialisation of innovation opportunities in the digital and data fields. Ultimately, we want to use the data to reduce water loss as much as possible from one end of its cycle to the other and we want to detect problems on the networks that could threaten it. There is a real business and responsibility issue about protecting water resources for future generations. Can you describe the importance of the Nijhuis acquisition and the creation of a new industrial division in the group? Nijhuis Industries, a leading Dutch group specialized in advanced industrial water and wastewater treatment solutions with a worldwide footprint, will bring Saur’s Industrial Water activities to a step-changing level with a complete portfolio of advanced technologies and a strong growth profile. This new Industry platform, resulting from the combination of Nijhuis Industries with Saur industrial businesses, namely Saur Industries, Unidro and Econvert, and located outside of France, will become a leading player in the Industrial Water sector with a complete

range of technologies and a capacity to serve its customers worldwide. I am convinced that only a clean industry can meet the ecological and reindustrialisation challenges that are at the heart of the current concerns of our territories. And I want Saur to participate, together with industrialists and local authorities, in meeting the challenge of the European industrial autonomy. What is your opinion on the merger process between Veolia and Suez, and what role may Saur play if water assets are sold? It is not up to me have an opinion on this issue, the matter is in the hands of the

PATRICK BLETHON shareholders of both groups. In any case, I can say that I understand the desire to create a world champion for ecological transition in the current context. Anyway, it is certain that the situation between the two market leaders in France is set to create international opportunities for our Group over the next few years. Undeniably, we embody another type of company, essentially focused on a relationship of proximity and trust with our partners, and with the sole concern of providing the best possible service for the benefit of the needs of the territories and water issues thanks to our knowhow and advanced technologies.

We intend to be extremely responsive in exploiting this potential and propose to our customers innovative solutions which meet competitiveness, performance and service quality requirements, and thus become the most attractive, innovative and responsible global player in the water sector. Finally, what are the next steps in the transformation that Saur is undergoing since the acquisition by EQT in 2018? The challenges of the water sector call for us to increase our commitment towards a sustainable growth. The group is transforming itself as it pursues a strong and ambitious objective: champion and

support the ecological transition of our customers in all territories. In terms of strategy, we wish to refocus on our added value, around 4 areas of development in the service of a long-lasting and responsible growth: Water Management, Industrial Water and Engineering and Works. With the support of EQT, which is investing heavily in our development, we have the means to create a growth model that creates value for all, and for a long time. Tomorrow, Saur will embody a new business model which will be based on a profitable and responsible growth to create a positive impact for all our communities and our planet earth.

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FEATURE

Eight months into the start of their fratricidal conflict, Veolia and Suez have found some common ground. After a fruitful meeting on Sunday, April 11, the two water and waste firms have agreed to a merger at 20,50 euros per Suez share instead of the 18 euros Veolia initially proposed. Z

Olivia Tempest

A “new Suez” and a world champion of ecological transformation are to be born. After a bitter eight months of cautioning statements, televised interviews, new proposals and legal battles, Veolia and Suez have finally managed to come to an understanding. On Monday 12 April, the board of directors of the two French firms announced they had reached an agreement on Sunday evening on the terms and conditions of the merger of the two groups. Veolia agreed to pay 20,50 euros a share for the 70 per cent of Suez it does not already own, which is 1.4 billion more compared to the 18 euros initially proposed by the Antoine Frérot-led company on February 8 and the price it had paid Engie for 29,9 per cent of Suez last year. At the time, Suez had considered the price insufficient, demanding 22.50

Veolia agreed to pay 20,50 euros a share for the 70% of Suez it does not own, 1.4 billion more than the 18 euros initially proposed 18

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VEOLIA & SUEZ

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FEATURE euros per share. In March, Suez Chairman Philippe Varin had told French daily newspaper Le Figaro that Suez would only be open to discussions if Veolia improved its takeover offer. The total value of the transaction is now 13 billion euros ($15 billion). Engie will also benefit from the revised takeover price. The creation of a new Suez The proposal will create a “new Suez” with 6.9 billion euros in revenue (compared to 17 billion in 2020). The entity will be owned by a majority of French shareholders, including the French public institution Caisse des Depots et Consignations, investment fund Meridiam and the consortium formed by Ardian and the private equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). Employees will also be able to participate with up to 10 per cent of the capital. The two companies have agreed that the social benefits of Suez’s employees must be maintained for four years, although Veolia’s CEO said in a conference call that the benefits would be preserved for ten years. Meridiam, who had confirmed interest in taking over the sale of Suez by Veolia in March, ratified in a statement on Monday that it is ready to take at least 40 per cent of the future company if the terms allow for the implementation of a long-term industrial project, reports Bloomberg. Although Veolia had only offered to sell Suez’s French assets up until now, the new company is to englobe much more. According to the newly reached agreement, the “new Suez” will be made up of the company's municipal water

Meridiam, interested in taking over the sale of Suez by Veolia in March, has ratified it is ready to take 40% of the future company 20

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and solid waste activities in France, including the International Research Center on Water and Environment (CIRSEE), Suez’s main competences center, as well as certain other activities, such as its water business in Italy (including its stake in Acea), the Czech Republic, Africa, Central Asia, India, China, Australia, and its digital and environmental activities. In Spain, the future of Aigües de Barcelona (Agbar) has been one of the key factors in the conflict between the two water firms, reports Expansion. While Suez was prepared and willing to sell the Catalan water distributor, Veolia wished to maintain control over the company, not only to grow in Spain but also due to its strategic position in Latin America through Aguas Andinas. World champion of ecological transformation “The conclusion of an agreement between Suez and Veolia will enable the construction of the world champion of ecological transformation around Veolia, offering France a reference player in a sector that is probably the most important of this century,” said Antoine Frérot in a press statement on Monday. The implementation of Veolia’s ambitious project includes revenues of around 37 billion euros. During the negotiations, Suez agreed to deactivate the Dutch foundation it had created to protect its assets in France and to terminate its agreement with Australian Cleanaway, which on April 6 had come to an arrangement with Suez to acquire its local recycling and recovery business for $1.93 billion. The transfer contract was ready to be signed but could be cancelled at any time before May 5 if Veolia was willing to sit down and discuss a new proposal. Experts believe this manoeuvre was critical for Veolia and Suez’s new disclosed arrangement, as the sale of Suez’s recycling business in Australia was considered critical for Veolia’s future expansion project.

Is this agreement beneficial for both parties? On April 12, shortly after the two French giants announced a $15 billion merger plan, shares in Suez increased 7.57% and Veolia Environment 4%. But is this agreement positive for both companies? When Veolia had initially acquired the 29.9% stake in Suez from Engie, the motive for a later merger was to be better prepared to compete with global contenders from China, had said Veolia’s CEO, Antoine Frérot. “This project will enable us to complement the solutions we provide to public and private actors in order to give them the means to sustainably re-

VEOLIA & SUEZ

duce their environmental impact. This historic opportunity will enable us to build the French world champion in ecological transformation, while accelerating international development and strengthening the new entity's capacity for innovation. This project is part of a friendly approach, as we share the same businesses, corporate culture and values with Suez.” From the beginning of the negotiations, Suez had maintained it was against the proposal, declaring it hostile, and threatening it would use all the means at its disposal to protect the interests of its employees, clients and stakeholders. It placed its French wa-

ter business under a foundation in the Netherlands as a major obstacle for Veolia and started negotiating the sale of businesses it knew its rival considered strategic. In February, Suez had said in a statement: “A transaction that would involve SUEZ’s dismantling threatens the Group’s corporate interest.” According to Barrons, the market was clearly sceptical anything would happen because the shares had remained fairly static ahead of the final agreement. But what changed? A recent report by S&P Global Ratings, released late March, found that the benefits for both parties were clear.

“Adding Suez would turn Veolia into a global leader in water, environment, and energy solutions, therefore the combined group would benefit from a stronger market position and greater diversification.” The ratings agency added that should a full takeover not have succeeded, Veolia’s

In Spain, the future of Aigües de Barcelona (Agbar) has been one of the key factors in the conflict between the two water firms - MAGAZINE

FEATURE

Suez agreed to deactivate the Dutch foundation created to protect its French assets and end its agreement with Australian Cleanaway

best move would have been to increase its stake in Suez and become the majority shareholder. “If this were to happen, we believe Veolia could fully consolidate Suez, in which case our business risk assessment would be similar to that under a full takeover situation.” According to S&P, at a time when macroeconomic trends are becoming more favourable for the sector globally and consolidation is poised to accelerate, joining forces would be presumably positive for Veolia and Suez. In addition, the enlarged group would enjoy greater geographic diversification and increased opportunities to manage portfolio arbitrage and optionality, barring major adverse events. Regarding Veolia’s water business after acquiring Suez, S&P reports that the group would benefit from long-term contracted water distribution operations

Shortly after the two French giants announced a $15 billion merger plan, shares in Suez increased 7.57% and Veolia Environment 4% 22

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in highly-rated countries such as France, Spain, and the U.S. Its water services would represent approximately 34% of Veolia's revenue compared with 32% previously. According to Barclays analysts, “For Veolia, this agreement ends months of uncertainty, which has held back the shares. Although we’re still missing more detailed financial information, we believe investors will take the view that this agreement will be realized leading to a win-win for both.” Even though the benefit of joining forces seems to outweigh the cons for the two companies, Barron believes that one of the key reasons why a deal was struck between the two players is because Veolia was seeking to vote at Suez’s nearing annual shareholder meeting. In the encounter, it may have attempted to topple Suez’s senior management team, adding that this is not the best of reasons to come together. Antoine Frérot stated on Monday: “This agreement is beneficial for everyone: it guarantees the long-term future of Suez in France in a way that preserves competition, and it guarantees jobs. All stakeholders in both groups are therefore winners. The time for

confrontation is over, the time for combination has begun.” However, Suez chairman Philippe Varin’s statement to the press was more cautious: “We have been calling for a negotiated solution for many weeks and today we have reached an agreement in principle that recognizes the value of Suez. We will be vigilant to ensure that the conditions are met to reach a final agreement that will put an end to the conflict between our two companies and offer development prospects.” Vigilance is the keyword in Varin’s declaration. On Monday, the two companies said the plan is for an “integration and mix of teams” and there are commitments from Veolia over the composition of the management teams at the headquarters and in different countries. However, only time will tell if these two lifelong competitors will be able to work together on these two ambitious projects. The battle had also taken a political turn, with the Minister for the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, intervening on several occasions. At the end of March, the Minister said that an amicable agreement was possible between the two rivals and welcomed the merger on Monday. The agreement “preserves competition for the benefit of customers between two major French industrial companies. It guarantees their positive development on the national and international markets and it preserves employment." The Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), French labour union federation, was less enthusiastic about the takeover. The CGT secretary of the European works council of Suez, Franck Reinhold von Essen, expressed on Monday a "real feeling of betrayal on the part of the board of directors, which seems to have given in to the pressure of Veolia, while the means to negotiate something else existed," reports Le Monde. "At first glance, we are not satisfied with the scope, because there is talk of 6.9 billion euros constituting the new

VEOLIA & SUEZ

Suez Chairman Philippe Varin. © Rudolf Simon

Suez, which is not the critical size that would guarantee the sustainability of jobs through the development of the company," he added. "We have not been associated with this pre-agreement, which is frustrating," he concluded, adding that he hoped to get things moving by the time the final agreements were reached, before 14 May. The merger between the two French giants has certainly surprised the sector. Even if there was always a chance of possible negotiations, the industry believed that there would be delays at least until Suez's stakeholders vote at the next an-

nual general meeting, either in May or June 2021. However, Veolia and Suez have not only come to a mutual understanding, but have said a definitive agreement is to be reached by May 14. After eight months of legal proceedings, pressure tactics and warnings, as well as political tension, the duel between the two water and waste giants, although now resolved, will remain a major episode in the history of French capitalism. Veolia and Suez are considered global leaders in environmental services, but as S&P concludes, even combined, represent less than 2% of the fragmented

global waste and water market. We must now wait and see if the two companies truly put their differences aside to build a new Suez and Veolia’s “world champion of ecological transformation” to face potential Chinese competitors.

According to S&P, at a time when macroeconomic trends are favourable for the sector, the merger would be positive for Veolia and Suez - MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW

CATHERINE MONCRIEFF

Z Olivia Tempest

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF WATER SECURITY, CDP.

“A water-secure world requires companies to rethink their strategies and transform their business models” Building a sustainable economy is not only possible but a necessity for companies, investors and cities. The first step in this direction is to measure and understand their environmental impact. This is where CDP comes in. Running the global disclosure system for businesses, metropolises, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts, CDP recently released a new report ‘A Wave of Change’ on water security in 2020. The document revealed that the cost of water risks to business could be over five times greater than the cost of taking action now to address those risks. However, on a more positive note, in the last year, companies have made progress on water use, with nearly two-thirds of companies reducing or maintaining water withdrawals, thanks to the implementation of measures to reuse and save water. For the past two decades, the non-profit has been working on supporting thousands of entities to measure and manage their risks and opportunities on climate change, water security and deforestation.

Over the last 20 years we’ve seen a step-change in how aware companies – and their investors and consumers – are of water risks 24

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In this interview, Catherine Moncrieff, Associate Director of Water Security at CDP, explains the progress made so far and the challenges ahead. Can you tell us briefly about your career path and your current role at CDP? At CDP I support the leadership of the water security program which aims to drive ambition and action on the stewardship of water resources through increased transparency. A key part of the program is ensuring that CDP’s disclosure platform remains the gold standard for disclosure of corporate and city water-related information globally and is working to rapidly deliver changes in corporate and city behaviour on water. I have been working on water issues for 15 years, in a variety of different contexts and with a range of stakeholders – from smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa to investors of large multinationals. Before CDP I was at WWF, supporting WWF’s freshwater conservation programs around the world and advocating for improved water and environment policy in the UK. I hold an MSc in Hydrology and Environmental Management from Imperial College London

and a Masters in Earth Sciences from the University of Oxford. Last year CDP celebrated its 20th anniversary. Over those 20 years, have companies become more conscious of their water risks? And if so, what measures do they generally implement to reduce those risks? Yes, over the last 20 years we’ve seen a step-change in how aware companies – and their investors and consumers – are of water risks. 20 years ago, CDP was founded on the concept of climate disclosure, which was then a brand-new concept and later broadened out. It was in 2009 that we sent our first disclosure request for corporate water data, with just 175 pioneering companies responding that year. Fast forward to today and we have almost 3,000 and counting. CDP recently published a new report ‘A Wave of Change’ that highlights the cost of water risks to businesses could be over 5 times greater than the cost of taking action now to address those risks. Do you think the report could change the mindset of companies to take more immediate action? I certainly hope so! One of the biggest and most pervasive barriers to environmental action is the assumption that it will cost too much money. We believe this is an outdated myth. Yes, there are some upfront investment costs, but it also saves money before long and is essential to business resilience in the long run. And there are billions of dollars in investment opportunities to be seized from water innovation. Rather than justifying how they can afford it, companies should consider how they can afford not to act. Our report

CATHERINE MONCRIEFF

shows the business case is clearer than ever. We have had a positive response so far. Could you give us some examples of business leadership on water security and the measures they have implemented? A water-secure world requires companies to rethink their strategies and transform their business models. Some pioneers are already making this transformation, by investing in innovative technological solutions, developing new products, harnessing value from wastewater and shifting their business models. Take Nissan for example – the carmaker’s rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling systems allow its India site to be independent of external water sources for 130 days. Luxury fashion labels PVH and Kering

are aiming to eliminate hazardous chemicals from their production processes. Another interesting example is L’Oréal. The cosmetics company has reduced the water footprint of its operations by establishing “Waterloop” factories where all water is reused or recycled in a loop on site. This means that the factory does not have to rely on city or municipal water supply. Or there’s Unilever, with its “dry” personal care products for water-stressed areas. These are just some of the inspiring examples we cover in our report, A Wave of Change. We need more companies to follow suit. Where in the world do businesses take water risks more seriously? Why do you think this is the case? Water risks are relevant everywhere as everyone in every place needs water to

live and do business. Globally, there is an increasing demand for water driven by economic growth. Worsening pollution and poor-governance have also increased pressure on the planet’s water resources. Although water stress is an issue that affects every continent, six of the ten most risk-prone rivers basins are in Asia - these are basins where companies are reporting most water risks through CDP. Encouragingly, Asian companies dominate our water security ‘A List’. 46 out of 106 companies that score an A on their water disclosures (and thereby demonstrate leading water stewardship practice) are headquartered in Asia. Japanese companies are leading the way, with 30 scoring an A. Asia is followed by Europe (29 companies scoring an A) and North America (21 companies scoring an A.).

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INTERVIEW However, it is important to note that supply chains, often where corporate water risks lie, typically extend to regions beyond corporate headquarters. Companies need to do more to address risks across their value chains, and this is something we are continuing to focus on. The report finds just 4.4% of companies are making progress against water pollution reduction targets. What recommendations would you give firms to foment tackling water pollution? In our report, we lay out six key recommendations for companies to advance water stewardship: Set bold and ambitious targets; Align and embed them in business strategy; Disclose on targets and progress through CDP; Formulate plans to achieve them; Build in governance mechanisms that provide resources and accountability; Collaborate with suppliers and other stakeholders on shared goals.

Over the last 20 years we’ve seen a step-change in how aware companies – and their investors and consumers – are of water risks

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Asian companies dominate our water securty 'A List'. 46 out of 106 companies that score an A on their water disclosures are in Asia On pollution specifically, companies need to shift their business models to find ways to eliminate toxic substances from their processes and products. Wastewater treatment and reuse should also be ramped up. There are huge opportunities to open up new markets and harness value from wastewater in the form of nutrients and energy, but CDP disclosures indicate that very few companies are capitalizing on these. In addition, the regulatory landscape on water pollution appears to be shifting. Regulators worldwide are driving a transition away from polluting behaviours and products. An example is the bloc-wide ban on single-use plastic implemented by

the EU in 2019. Companies will need to act quickly and take the issue of pollution seriously in order to keep up with regulations and to remain competitive. The report warns that the water crisis must be approached with the same urgency and innovation as the COVID-19 crisis, but for years the water crisis has been a silent one. Do you think this perception has changed? And if not, what can be done to create the necessary awareness? We do think people are waking up to the water crisis. In the last year, companies have made progress on water use, with nearly two-thirds of companies reduc-

CATHERINE MONCRIEFF ing or maintaining water withdrawals, thanks to the implementation of measures to reuse and save water. We have seen a 20% surge in the number of companies disclosing water data to their stakeholders through CDP, even in the year of COVID-19, showing greater awareness. And investors are urging greater transparency and action from companies on water risks. Over 590 investors with over US$110 trillion in assets are requesting companies to disclose water security impacts, risks and actions through CDP’s platform in 2021. In broader terms, the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the importance of water. Handwashing, the first line of defence against the virus, has highlighted the importance of having access to water. On top of this, there is greater awareness of the need to protect our natural ecosystems and biodiversity – water ecosystems included – to prevent the emergence and spread of future diseases. Loss of nature and biodiversity is an increasing concern for investors. What can companies do in this respect? Yes, investors are also increasingly concerned about the loss of nature and biodiversity, - and this of course includes water as a vital element to all ecosystems. In fact, we’ve seen an 84% collapse in

freshwater species populations since 1970 (according to the WWF Living Planet Report). Many financial institutions have recently signed up to the new Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures and other initiatives like Finance for Biodiversity. As this becomes mainstream, the pressure on companies to disclose and take action on biodiversity is expected to increase. As a first step, we’d suggest companies should be disclosing through CDP, especially on water and forests. As water of sufficient quantity and quality is vital for the health of freshwater ecosystems such as rivers and lakes, companies should be working with their suppliers to eliminate hazardous substances from production processes and reduce their water use. Meanwhile, working to tackle deforestation in supply chains is crucial to protect land-based ecosystems, while also helping to reduce the degradation of freshwater ecosystems.

progress towards it. 1,200+ companies are already doing this and it is a powerful force for change. Many of the activities that cut emissions can actually improve water security too, so there are many opportunities for effective win-wins. Agriculture is a rich area for this. For example, Mars’ is working on introducing a form of ‘wet-dry’ irrigation for rice cultivation which is expected to reduce water consumption by 30%, increase farmers’ incomes by 30% and reduce carbon emissions. Meanwhile in energy, the shift to renewables such as wind and solar, away from polluting and water-intensive fossil fuels, has the potential to improve water security as well as reduce carbon emissions. Ultimately, we need all companies and other stakeholders to work together on climate, water stewardship and biodiversity goals in a holistic manner, across value chains.

Concerning action on climate change, what recommendations would you give businesses to increase their policies to fight this challenging issue? First of all, I’d suggest companies set science-based targets for emissions reductions through the Science Based Targets initiative (of which CDP is a founding partner) and disclose transparently on

We have seen a 20% surge in the number of companies disclosing water data to their stakeholders through CDP, even in the year of COVID-19

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OPINION

DR NEWSHA K. AJAMI DIRECTOR OF URBAN WATER POLICY. STANFORD WOODS INSTITUTE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

BUILDING A CLIMATE-RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE WATER SECTOR Climate change undermines our water infrastructure resilien- tions such as horizontal levees, recharge ponds and permeable cy and reliability on a daily basis, and focusing on marginal pavements are proving to be vital climate adaptation strategies. changes to the current system without looking at its short- Moreover, soft infrastructure such as data, monitoring systems, comings, perpetuates the status quo. The once-through water information technology and decision support tools are key in infrastructure model developed over a century ago, combined managing a physical infrastructure network. Investment stratwith a siloed and fragmented governance structure, has created egies must be all encompassing, embracing these solutions as an inflexible system incapable of withstanding various social part of a broader network. and environmental crisis. Unimaginable climatic, health or soHarness sector interlinkages. Using infrastructure interconcio-economic events, such as the current COVID-19 pandem- nections and vulnerabilities to drive both financial and politiic, and recent water system failures in Texas and Mississippi, cal support for infrastructure solutions can create resilient outhighlight flaws in our existing water system. comes. For example, while the One Water movement aims to It is clear we cannot continue facing today’s challenges and break down water sector silos, it also highlights opportunities solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s solutions. The for bridging infrastructure boundaries across sectors. RecoverBiden-Harris “BuildBack Better” plan resonates under current ing energy from wastewater, using parking for stormwater capcircumstances. There is an opporture, green infrastructure to improve tunity to forge new solutions. As social wellbeing and stormwater While considering investment communities grapple with buildmanagement are a few examples of ing climate-resilient and equitable intertwined water, energy and transstrategies, it is critical to rethink water infrastructure and recover portation infrastructure boundaries. the water sector’s antiquated from the current pandemic, the Some of these interconnections were following three transformative on display during the recent extreme business model, and ideas are important to consider: cold events in the south and south governance structure Harness the digital revolution to east US, when water and energy build a resilient water infrastrucsystems failed simultaneously. It is ture network. As the sector moves towards a hybrid infrastruc- imperative to remember these interlinks while debating how to ture model, mixing centralized and decentralized systems with build future cities and where to spend infrastructure dollars. gray and green infrastructure, it is important to know where Ultimately the business model that today’s water sector deand when these solutions are needed, and how to coordinate pends on is outdated and unable to weather environmental management. Newfound digital capacity and smart systems and economic stressors, let alone galvanize the paradigm shift help track, inform and enable this transition, giving water util- needed to meet tomorrow’s challenges. While considering inities a better understanding of long-term water demand trends vestment strategies that enable equitable social and economto guide infrastructure planning. The goal should be to avoid ic growth, it is critical to rethink the water sector’s antiquatover-investing in costly solutions when small, distributed, ed business model, and fragmented governance structure. We modular and adaptive solutions are available. should not miss a national opportunity to shrink the access gap Redefine the boundaries of water infrastructure. The bound- by investing in both soft and physical water infrastructure. As aries of water infrastructure are slowly expanding. Water reuse we emerge from this pandemic, these three ideas can help us systems are transforming conventional once-through water build a set of climate ready and equitable water infrastructure use networks. Green infrastructure and nature-based solu- to carry us through the next century.

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OPINION

DAVID REAVLEY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT SOLAR WATER PLC

SOLAR WATER PLC’S SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR FRESHWATER DESALINATION We are facing a combined set of water and climate crises that Solar Water’s Concentrated Solar Power Dome plants are effecare interconnected and we must act now to solve them. 70% of tively solar furnaces that use solar power to produce the high levour planet is covered in water, but only 3% is freshwater and els of energy required, using heliostat mirrors positioned around billions of people have access to none. According to estimates, the receiver dome to gather sunlight, focusing the sun's power global demand for fresh water will exceed supply by 40% by onto the dome structure. The heat generated is conducted to the 2030; at the same time, climate change could shrink rainfall, lower crucible where the constant and rapid intake of seawater snowpack and freshwater availability by 40% by 2050; and the is boiled to produce saturated steam. This is then put through a world’s population is due to grow by a further 15% by 2035. cooling unit, condensed and precipitated as freshwater. Together these effects will continue to grow water stress and Solar Water Plc’s Solar Domes provide the solution for govscarcity with depleting supplies of freshwater for socio-eco- ernments, water municipalities, agriculturalists and businesses nomic development – shortages for domestic use, agriculture, with the requirements of generating a supply of freshwater for urban development, industry, tourism, health and wellbeing. growing populations and rapidly expanding socio-economic deReverse osmosis desalination systems have served this water velopment ambitions. shortage relatively well, but the world has woken up to the Our technology is operationally capable of solving water stress problems within this interconnectin any location with high enough ed crisis system that RO adds to. levels of irradiation and access to Solar Water Plc is revolutionising These plants are energy-intensive, seawater (or potentially brackish and the fossil fuels burnt are curgroundwater): at least 80 countries the desalination process with rently leaving a massive carbon around the world including Spain, a game-changing technology footprint of 76 million tonnes of Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, across CO2 each year, a number that is South America, and throughout that provides limitless expected to rise to around 2,018 Middle-East, Africa and Asia. supplies of freshwater million tonnes by 2040 – all of Solar Water is also part of the REwhich will accelerate climate WAISE consortium (REsilient WAchange. And RO also tends to dump hyper-saline brine back ter Innovation for Smarter Economy) based out of Spain and into the sea harming marine ecosystems. backed by European Commission funding - the project creates Solar Water Plc is revolutionising the water desalination a new smart water ecosystem, embracing the true value of water process, with a game-changing technology that provides and paving the way for a resilient circular economy. The amlimitless supplies of fresh water in a carbon-neutral, marine bition is to incentivise water-related investments and accelerate friendly, cost-effective manner, using the concentrating pow- SME growth - by linking users with specific water needs and er of sunlight. collective actions, new governance frameworks will generate high Our technology is based on harnessing concentrated solar social returns, maximising value in water (putting to beneficial power to enhance the natural process of evaporation, conden- use dissolved substances such as nutrients, minerals, chemicals sation and precipitation. Unlike RO, we use no fossil fuels, only and metals, as well as organic matter and energy, embedded in the power of the sun, so the process is net-zero, carbon-neutral, water streams), value from water (enhancing activities inherent to sustainable. It also means that the opex costs are significantly the water cycle, products and services that generate benefits and reduced, which alongside lower capex costs, mean that we can jobs) and value through water (fostering societal and well-being produce water at a competitive cost. functions of water, while minimising emissions).

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WATER & NEWS - BUSINESS

SUEZ AND SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC CREATE JOINT VENTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WATER DIGITAL SOLUTIONS The Suez and Schneider Electric groups join forces to create a leader in digital water to improve the management of the water cycle

SUEZ and Schneider Electric have announced the creation of a leader in digital water to develop and market a joint offering of innovative digital solutions for the management of the water cycle. This joint venture will support municipal water operators as well as industrial players in the acceleration of their digital transformations, by providing them with a unique range of software solutions for planning, operation, maintenance, and optimization of water treatment infrastructure. This joint venture, to be created once all the authorizations from the relevant competition authorities have been received, will leverage SUEZ’s expertise in water and its experience in digital solutions, as well as the know-how of Schneider Electric in the development of software which provides digital water,

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energy management, and automation solutions. The offering of this new entity specializing in software solutions designed specifically for digital water will provide customers with access to an application software database to optimize installations and networks, and enhance their performance, resilience, and sustainability: reducing leaks, optimizing network performance, generating energy savings, extending the lifespans of installations, preserving natural environments, improving the environmental footprint of water systems, etc. Diane Galbe, SUEZ Group SEVP, Smart & Environmental Solutions global Business Unit and Strategy: “Our shared vision and the complementary expertise of Schneider Electric and SUEZ will enable us to strengthen our agil-

ity and our leadership in the fast-growing digital water market. The creation of this joint venture is fully in line with the SUEZ 2030 strategic plan which aims to use cutting-edge technologies in order to offer all of our customers’ digital solutions that are 100% sustainable in terms of their impact on health, quality of life, environment, and climate.” Peter Herweck, EVP Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric: "By combining SUEZ's expertise in the water business with the capabilities of EcoStruxure, Schneider Electric's open and inter-operable IoT platform, we are creating new solutions and services to empower our customers with actionable information to manage their process and assets more efficiently. With this joint venture, we look forward to becoming the digital partner of water cycle players, enabling them to reach true resiliency and sustainability." AQUADVANCED®, SUEZ’s real-time software suite, addresses the full range of challenges in the water cycle. It allows for the optimization and steering of water and sanitation networks and plants thanks to optimized, predictive monitoring of infrastructures. Using data science, AQUADVANCED® solutions combine the historic expertise of a water operator with the best data processing methods. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure for Water and Wastewater allows for real-time supervision of data from multiple applications which can then be shared with the different company departments.

ACCIONA COMPLETES FINAL TESTS AT UMM AL HOUL EXPANSION SWRO DESALINATION PLANT The plant will be the largest desalination plant in Qatar using reverse osmosis technology, producing 564 million of litres per day ACCIONA, world leader in Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology, has successfully reached a production of 282 million of litres per day, its full capacity, in its Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant at Umm Al Houl in Qatar and has completed final tests ahead of schedule. The Umm Al Houl Expansion (UHP Expansion) is part of a bigger Independent Water & Power project (IWPP) that includes an existing SWRO facility. With the expansion, the twin RO desalination plants will produce 564 million of litres

per day, making it the biggest desalination plant in Qatar using Reverse Osmosis technology. The complex will supply drinking water to 1.1 million of people. ACCIONA has been responsible for the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the UHP Expansion. José Francisco García Jorge, UHP Expansion Project Director, says, “This milestone is the result of good teamwork between the client, our engineers and the construction teams in challenging conditions because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are very proud to have completed this project that will deliver safe drinking water in a sustainable and innovative way.” UHP Expansion has recently achieved an important health and safety milestone at the plant, having overseen 10 million working hours without lost-time injuries. With completion of the project in just 22 months, the project has also set a construction record in the world of desalination. This is the third RO desalination plant that ACCIONA completes in Qatar.

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Join us to preserve water, our shared source of life!

OPINION

EMILIO TENUTA SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER. ECOLAB

ACHIEVING BUSINESS RESILIENCE THROUGH SMART WATER MANAGEMENT Access to water is essential to economic prosperity and environ- ty news research organization GreenBiz surveyed 93 companies mental sustainability. The theme of World Water Day 2021 was with revenues of at least $1 billion. “valuing water”, reminding us all to take good care of such a preThe survey underscored the need for increased urgency around cious resource. The health of our economy and society strongly water action within organizations, with only 38% of respondents depends on the availability of good quality freshwater. stating that water is a strategic corporate initiative that is proacThe World Resources Institute (WRI) estimates that more tively managed across their operations. At the same time, S&P than 1 billion people currently live in water-scarce areas, and that Global reports that corporate water use progress is currently inby 2025, 3.5 billion would experience water scarcity. A study sufficient to prevent the projected freshwater gap. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology published in While water targets and goals are typically set by sustainability 2014 already predicted that trend projecting that by 2050 more and corporate responsibility teams, 95% of respondents in the half of the world’s population will live in water-stressed areas. Ecolab-GreenBiz survey said that facility-level teams are responThe WRI has also predicted a 56% gap between global wa- sible for achieving these targets, which may contribute to the dister supply and demand by 2030, if nothing changes. In many connect between water intention and action. places, demand is already exceeding sustainable supply, and in The enhanced Ecolab Smart Water Navigator, developed in others, water scarcity is hindering partnership with WRI, the Pacific economic growth. Institute, S&P Trucost and leading At Ecolab, we have committed Water availability and economic global companies, supports users prosperity are highly intertwined. who are just beginning to identify to undertake responsible water To sustain economic prosperity in baseline water use as well as those stewardship by identifying an increasingly water-scarce world, who are ready to track year-over-year we urgently need to decouple performance. The tool delivers an opportunities for our company growth from resource use. Industry automated analysis of water use that and our customers is a significant water user accountallows users to set informed, coning for around 20% of global watext-based goals that consider the water withdrawal, and agricultural supply chains for 70% (FAO ter basin health in surrounding communities and environments. Aquastat). Smart and circular water management help reinforce the reCompanies have a critical role to play in contributing to a wa- silience of businesses and local communities. In addition to the ter-secure future. Business leaders must place water at the heart Smart Water Navigator, there is a wide range of existing solutions of their corporate strategy, including plans to decrease water use, that businesses can use to understand and address water-related and implement smart, circular water management practices in risks and opportunities to better develop strategies for managing order to build resilience and unlock opportunities. water. The 2020 CDP Global Water Report shows that 64% of the At Ecolab, we have committed to undertake responsible water companies surveyed are now reducing or at least maintaining stewardship by identifying opportunities for our company as well their water withdrawals. This is a positive trend, but more needs as for our customers to use water resources in a manner that bento be done to ensure a thriving, sustainable economy. efits business, communities and nature. To better understand the state of corporate water management Water is essential to our economy and society. It’s time we and how companies can more effectively advance their water become smarter in the way we manage water resources. What’s management goals, in February 2021 Ecolab and sustainabili- good for water is good for business.

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WATER TREATMENT

INTERVIEW

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HE SAEED

HE SAEED MOHAMMED AL TAYER

MOHAMMED AL TAYER Z Olivia Tempest

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT SUQIA UAE

“A more affordable approach to desalination could be instrumental in reaching a long-term solution to water scarcity” The UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia UAE, is a non-profit organisation that provides humanitarian aid around the world and helps communities that suffer from water scarcity by providing them with potable water. The non-profit organization Suqia not only provides potable water to those in need but recognizes that the water crisis demands different approaches and innovative solutions. Therefore HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched a USD 1 million global award to find sustainable solutions to water scarcity. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award is now celebrating its third cycle, inviting corporations, research centres, institutions, innovators and youth to apply and present their latest technologies

The biennial Award supports research and development of new and innovative technologies that harness the potential of renewable energy

and solutions to address water scarcity. In this interview, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Suqia UAE, explains the need for this type of international events and the importance of financing pioneering ideas in water desalination and purification systems to overcome the world’s water crisis. Why is the UAE organising the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award? The UAE launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award based on our strong belief in the potential of innovative and sustainable technologies being able to address the global water crisis. The current scale of the water crisis calls for different approaches that go beyond just providing water to those in need. This is why His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, launched

this USD 1 million global award to award prizes to encourage individuals, research centres and organisations from around the world to compete in finding sustainable and innovative solutions to water scarcity. The biennial Award supports research and development of new and innovative technologies that harness the potential of renewable energy sources to produce, distribute, store, monitor, desalinate and purify water. These efforts also consolidate the UAE’s global position in the development of solutions to address challenges faced by poverty-and disaster-stricken communities worldwide. The previous Award winners recognised bright minds from around the world for their pioneering ideas and innovations in water desalination and purification systems. What does this award mean for the global water sector? Although water is a basic life necessity and a driver for sustainable growth, wa-

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INTERVIEW ter scarcity affects 40% of the world’s population and this keeps growing. For many communities in rural and poor urban areas around the world, clean water is a luxury. Therefore, providing access to clean water is synonymous with giving hope, as it provides an opportunity for better health and wellbeing. The UAE’s and the world’s efforts to achieve this are considerable and this award is part of His Highness' vision for the UAE to be one of the most innovative nations in the world. It fulfils this vision by creating a means to find cost-effective and renewable energy-powered sustainable solutions to address the challenges presented by water scarcity in many unprivileged communities. The most important keyword here is sustainability, as the solutions to address this challenge need to be sustainable. Only then can it keep pace with the growing global demand for clean water without affecting the longevity of our natural resources. The 3rd cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award has expanded the scope of the award. Could you tell us a bit more? The first two cycles of the award recognised 20 innovators, including individuals, pioneering organisations, and research centres from around the world for their innovative models that produce clean water using solar power. Building on that success, Suqia UAE announced the expansion of the scope of the award this year to include new technologies that produce, distribute,

The previous Award winners recognised bright minds for their pioneering ideas in water desalination and purification systems 36

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store, monitor, desalinate and purify water using renewable energy. If you look around, renewable energy sources are plenty and include solar, wind, biomass, ocean, gradient salinity and geothermal technologies. Furthermore, the Award also introduced a new category, the Innovative

Crisis Solutions Award, that recognizes innovations that can provide relief within the most critical 48 hours after internationally declared emergencies occur. This is significant as rapid access to safe drinking water is a crucial element for survival when crises and natural disasters occur.

HE SAEED MOHAMMED AL TAYER How can innovation and new technologies help solve the global water crisis? Owing to the impact of climate change and rising population, the water supply and sanitation industries continue to face mounting pressures and increasing demand. This is why governments in developing countries need to increase the

resilience and sustainability of these industries. Technology and innovation are key elements that can help us improve water, sanitation, and water resources management. A wide range of functions such as achieving water safety, efficiency, utility operations, monitoring and treatment and data and analytics can be

accomplished by integrating technology and innovation into our day-to-day operations. Seawater desalination in particular is an area that is experiencing interest and innovation. Although salt water is abundant, desalination is considered too costly and energy-intensive for many to invest in. However, recent attempts have aimed to reduce the resources required in the process. A more affordable approach to desalination could be instrumental in reaching a long term solution to water scarcity. Today, there is a greater willingness by utilities and businesses to test and adopt promising technologies developed by innovators and entrepreneurs, and this is what we want to facilitate through the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Awards. What is the role of innovative and sustainable technologies that use renewable energy to produce clean potable water? Through the Award, we witnessed how innovative and sustainable technologies have a strong potential to address many of the challenges presented by the global water crisis. Many of the winners in the previous cycles of the Award have demonstrated simple and innovative solutions that either produce, purify and distribute clean water to communities in need. Take for instance during the first cycle, Elemental Water Makers from the Netherlands, a first-place winner of the Innovative Projects Award - Small Projects came up with a solar-powered Reverse

Providing access to clean water is synonymous with giving hope, as it provides an opportunity for better health and wellbeing - MAGAZINE

INTERVIEW

Osmosis (RO) plant capable of producing clean drinking water. In addition, their innovative placement of the plant on an elevated hill reduced the energy cost of operating the plant, thereby generating savings equivalent to 63% compared to conventional RO systems. Another unique solution from the Masdar Institute in Khalifa University that won the Innovative Research and Development Award – National Institutions in the first cycle used a perforated black fabric placed under a solar collector to drive a Humidification de-hu-

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Governments in developing countries need to increase the resilience and sustainability of the water supply and sanitation industries

HE SAEED MOHAMMED AL TAYER

midification (HDH) solar desalination process. The use of this fabric helped overcome the barriers of low water production and high equipment costs associated with conventional HDH Systems. In addition, Dr. Marta Vivar from Spain, winner of the Innovative Individual Award – Youth in the first cycle, submitted a new concept for a hybrid solar photovoltaic photochemical system to disinfect water. The system integrates photovoltaic solar cells and solar natural ultraviolet (UV) disinfection by using UV and infrared red light. The

photovoltaic cells also generate electricity to power the pump that circulates water through the system. Yet another notable innovation was the BLU Drop Solar Water Farm from GivePower Foundation, which won 1st place in the Innovative Projects Award – Small Projects in the second cycle. This is a solar-powered containerised desalination unit located in Kiunga, Kenya, produces about 37,000 litres of clean water a day at a highly efficient energy cost of 4Wh per litre of water. The unit runs on 50 kW of solar power, and

can store up to 120 kWh in Tesla Powerwalls to ensure the steady operation and can serve a community for up to 20 years.

Through the Award, we witnessed how innovative and sustainable technologies can address the challenges presented by the water crisis

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FEATURE

Tedagua is proud to present a pioneering and iconic project that brings together a wide range of different specialities relating to the water management cycle. Given that it is such an original, coordinated and effective solution for sustainable socioeconomic progress in the area, we are very confident that it will lead the way for similar projects in Latin America.

Raúl Fernández, Head of TEDAGUA's Engineering Department

The districts of Santa María del Mar, San Bartolo, Punta Hermosa and Punta Negra - located south of Lima on the Pan-American Highway - have seen the quality of their inhabitants' lives change radically. Tedagua has commissioned and delivered all the facilities that make up the PROVISUR Project - a project that, for the first time, combines under one single contract the design, supply, construction and implementation of all facilities related to the Water Management Cycle within this large area, as well as the licence to operate the treatment plants for 25 years. Thanks to the public-private collaboration between the Ministry of House Construction and Sanitation, SEDAPAL (Lima's drinking water and sewerage service) and Tedagua, all administrative and technical challenges involved in a project of this size have been successfully overcome. After obtaining approval for all relevant permits, including the environmental impact study and approvals from

After obtaining approval for all permits, Tedagua carried out the complete engineering, construction and commissioning of the system 40

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the affected municipalities, Tedagua was able to carry out the complete engineering, construction and commissioning of the system. The component parts of the PROVISUR project include seawater intake, a seawater desalination plant, drinking water storage, high- and low-pressure drinking water distribution network, domestic connections, sewerage connections, sewage network, wastewater pumping stations, wastewater treatment plant and submarine outfall. As the contract includes all aspects of the water management cycle for such an extensive area, it has been possible to take a holistic approach to the design, and adapt the design of each component to actual requirements. The districts in the south of Lima covered by this project share a number of differentiating features: all are located along more than 10km of the South Pan-American Highway and have spectacular beaches as well as very wellknown and recognised seaside resorts. The area chosen to locate the treatment facilities and the marine works is Santa María del Mar. This beautiful district has many homes for people who enjoy the local seaside resorts. The integration of the treatment facilities into this area has always been designed with respect for the ways it is used, and minimising visual, sound and traffic impacts.

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FEATURE As a key global player in the water management cycle, Tedagua is taking a further step forward by assuming a leading role in this type of project, in which all the necessary infrastructure for the management of the endto-end water cycle is built, starting from scratch, and demonstrating its capacity to face increasingly demanding challenges. The construction contract has been structured around several components: Component A: consists of the temporary refurbishment of an old wastewater treatment plant, to operate whilst the rest of the components of the project were being executed, upon which it ceased to operate completely. Component B: includes the construction of the seawater desalination plant, the wastewater treatment plant, marine works and the entire drinking water distribution and sewerage network. The flow rates for drinking water production and wastewater treatment are 250 litres/second and 135 litres/second respectively. Component C: covers the expansion of the desalination plant to be able to produce 400 litres/second and the wastewater treatment plant to be able to treat 180 litres/second. The concession agreement also includes the operation of the desalination and treatment facilities for 25 years. Below is a detailed description of the different components of the infrastructures that were built as part of the PROVISUR Project. Seawater intake Seawater collection was done using a Johnson passive intake screen with a

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5 mm slot width, positioned 535 metres from the beach of Santa María del Mar, at a depth of 17 metres. The design of the screen, built in super duplex steel, ensures that water passes through it slowly in order to respect marine life and minimise the environmental impact. The screen is cleaned by injecting counter-flow compressed air. From the passive intake screen, the water flows through a 1200 mm diameter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe installed on the seabed for a length of 200 metres until it split into two 560 mm-diameter HDPE pipes which lead to the pumping station, at a distance of 335 metres.

Seawater pumping station The design and execution of the seawater pumping station was a major challenge in which Tedagua deployed all its execution capabilities to align the effectiveness and safety of the facility's operation with the requirements of the area. Indeed, the pressure on the beachfront in terms of urbanisation is very high in the district of Santa María, where there are no available remaining permanent or temporary sites. In order to ensure the correct operation of this facility, it needed to be located as close as possible to the edge of the sea, with the least possible impact on the usual uses of local people. It was therefore

TEDAGUA decided to build the pumping station under a roundabout and a car park. The whole facility - which includes four submersible pumps, electromagnetic flow meter, anti-water hammer tanks, air compressor, chemical dosing and electrical room with transformers and electric panels - is located underground under the public highway. It has an operational entrance used for normal access and for bringing in chemicals, as well as an upper entrance via the car park, for carrying out maintenance tasks. By having a 5 mm passive intake screen installed as part of the sea intake, the pumping station can be operated without

As a key global player in the water management cycle, Tedagua is taking a further step by assuming a leading role in this type of project the need to place screens at the inlet channels. It also avoided the need for waste container extraction tasks and unpleasant smells in the local recreational area. Seawater desalination plant One of the special features of this major project is that the seawater desalination plant shares a site with the wastewater treatment plant. This has allowed Tedagua's team to find synergies and opportunities for optimisation as well as meet challenges in a way that would not have been possible if the plants were in different locations. The site chosen for the treatment plants covers an area of about 41,000 m2 and is located around 900 metres from the coast. The treatment line chosen for this project includes dissolved air flotation (DAF), self-cleaning filters, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, CO2 injection and calcite contact beds. The design foresaw the production of two lines to satisfy Component B of the contract as well as a third one for Component C. The pre-treatment process is extraordinarily robust, and ensures a very high quality of pre-treated water. Dissolved air flotation provides the facility with a high level of reliability and it can remain operational even during red tide events. Prior to flotation, coagulant is dosed inline using static mixers.

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FEATURE KWI was selected as the DAF technology supplier, using 3 lines, each with its own flocculation and flotation chamber. The DAF can be bypassed if deemed appropriate by the plant operator, in situations where the quality of the water is good, in order to improve the facility's energy efficiency. Both the recirculation pumps and ultrafiltration feed pumps draw water from the clarified water tank. Ultrafiltration is located in the process building. There are six racks each with 79 Hydranautics HYDRAcap MAX 80 membranes. The use of ultrafiltration as a pre-treatment for reverse osmosis ensures a very high permeate quality, with a very low fouling index (SDI) and a recovery rate of more than 96%. In ultrafiltration, removal of all solids larger than 0.1 micron is achieved using PVDF membranes with an inside-out filtration arrangement. The heart of the plant consists of three reverse osmosis lines, each capable of producing almost 12,000 m3/day of permeate water. The reverse osmosis recovery rate is 45% - in line with current industry standards for this type of water. A configuration with isobaric-chamber energy recovery devices has been chosen for each line. In this way, approximately 50% of the water is pressurised by means of isobaric chambers, reusing 96% of the energy in the brine. Energy recovery from the reverse osmosis modules is done using racks of 10 ERI PX-Q300 elements, which ensure energy recovery of over 96%. After reverse osmosis, the water has lost more than 99% of the salts that it

One of the special features of this major project is that the seawater desalination plant shares a site with the wastewater treatment plant 44

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The heart of the plant consists of three reverse osmosis lines, each capable of producing almost 12,000 m3/day of permeate water originally contained. To be fit for consumption, it must be remineralised until it reaches the parameters recommended by the World Health Organisation. For this purpose, a remineralisation and pH adjustment treatment process is carried out by injecting carbon dioxide into the permeate water stream, after which the water flows up through a contact bed of micronised calcite. This allows the required alkalinity and Langelier index parameters to be met. To make the water drinkable, sodium hypochlorite is added afterwards. This ensures that the water is fit for human consumption and maintains its hygiene-sanitary parameters through the entire system right through to consumers' taps. Once it has been made drinkable, the water is stored in two 5000 cubic metre tanks, located near the plant. From these tanks, a pumping set consisting of three horizontal 220 kW centrifugal pumps provide all the energy the water requires to travel through the distribution system and reach all the homes covered by the PROVISUR Project under the necessary conditions. Central drinking water storage reservoir After the water has been pumped, it is lifted by the pumping unit referred to

above to a reservoir located on top of a nearby hill. This reservoir has a capacity of almost 10,000 cubic metres and is built in two reinforced concrete chambers. It acts as a central reservoir for the PROVISUR system's drinking water distribution network. Drinking water distribution network Before the PROVISUR Project was implemented, the condition of the supply networks within the four municipalities was very poor: old networks, a lot of leaks, and often totally inoperative. In many cases, houses had individual water tanks supplied by tanker trucks. From the central reservoir, a main distribution line of more than 9 km long and 400 to 700 mm diameter has been built. This primary line supplies five main areas that overlap with the four municipalities covered by the project: Santa María del Mar, San Bartolo, Punta Negra and Punta Hermosa, as well as a second area in San Bartolo. The distribution network is perfectly hierarchical to ensure high levels of operability, in line with the standards set by SEDAPAL - the entity that operates the networks. At the entrance to each area, a Sector Inlet Chamber (SIC) has been

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FEATURE built. These SICs include sectorisation valves, flow meters with bypasses, shut-off valves, pressure-reducing valves in the mainline and in the bypass. Each SIC is remotely monitored continuously. Each sector is further divided into sub-sectors, which include a maximum of 1,000 connections or batches. The network also has venting, purge, pressure-reduction, and speed-reduction chambers, hydrants, domestic connections, and so on, which make this network a complete and perfectly manageable complex that adheres to the most up-to-date market standards.

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A total of 17 subsectors have been built, with more than 10,500 connections and over 115 km of new pipes. Sewerage network and pumping stations As with the supply network, the PROVISUR Project includes a sewerage network to provide this service to the same people who benefit from the drinking water network. Before the project, the sanitation situation was mixed: Santa María del Mar, San Bartolo and Punta Hermosa had sanitation and treatment stations that were in varying states of conservation. Punta Negra meanwhile completely lacked this service.

In order to adapt the effluent and enable part of the wastewater to be reused, a complete sewage network was designed and built in line with SEDAPAL's criteria. The sewage network has been structured by the municipal area, discharging water into a main discharge pipe that largely follows the route of the Pan-American Highway, and carrying the wastewater to the treatment and reuse plant. Due to the relief of the terrain, which is mostly flat with some ravines, it has been necessary to build and equip 19 Sewage Pumping Chambers (SPCs) to pump

TEDAGUA wastewater in certain sections. All the SPCs are located in insulated buildings with odour-treatment systems, pre-treatment with automatic stainless-steel screens, submersible pumps with redundancy, electrical panels and emergency generators. In addition, they all have safety valves. This comprehensive design ensures that no large solids are introduced into the network whilst also avoiding negative impacts on the environment. As part of the work on the sewerage network, more than 4,900 household connections have been made or repaired, and more than 121 km of new sewerage pipes laid.

The distribution network is perfectly hierarchical to ensure high levels of operability, in line with the standards set by SEDAPAL Wastewater treatment and reuse plant (WWTP) All wastewater from the PROVISUR Project is pumped to the new wastewater treatment plant. A number of aspects of this plant make it unique worldwide. In particular, it is the only wastewater plant built on the same site as a seawater desalination plant. In tackling this challenge, Tedagua prioritised safety in the supply of drinking water over any other criterion. As the site is unique and shared by both plants, it has been possible to share some services such as electricity supply, certain transformers, administrative elements, discharge points and so on, resulting in greater efficiency of the whole site. To avoid any cross contamination from the treatment plant to the desalination plant, they have been located in different areas of the same site, whilst sharing the same urban infrastructure. With regard to the WWTP treatment process, a pre-treatment operation has been built with two coarse screening lines (2x100%) by means of an automatic rake with a 25 mm slot width. After the coarse screening, there are two fine screen lines with 3 mm slot widths, followed by a grit and oil removal stage. The entire pre-treatment process is located inside a closed and deodorised

building, thus minimising both the impact on the environment and the possibility of contamination with the desalination plant. Following pre-treatment, the wastewater moves on to be biologically treated. For this, Xylem's ICEAS-ABJ SBR technology has been chosen. This batch reactor technology offers the advantages of the SBR, with its high levels of efficiency and adaptation to the variability in terms of water conditions. At the same time, however, it works with a constant feed to the reactors. It was this flexibility and guaranteed efficiency that led Tedagua to select this technology for a flagship project like PROVISUR. The contractual analytical parameters allow for an inlet contamination of up to 500 ppm BOD5, 300 ppm TSS and 1000 ppm COD. The challenge that Tedagua accepted in regard to the output values guarantees that the effluent from the WWTP is of the necessary quality to be reused for irrigation and animal drinking water in accordance with DS 002-2008 MINAM, category 3. To achieve this quality at the outlet of the WWTP, a chlorination stage with sodium hypochlorite has been included. The tertiary treatment is done using two filters (2x100%) consisting of discs with a filtration degree of 10 microns

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FEATURE that ensures values for helminth eggs at the outlet are less than 0.10 NMP/100 ml and TSS of less than 3 ppm. The fact that the final sections of the wastewater discharge pipes are pumped from the SPC has been used to create a treatment facility that is based completely on gravity. This means that the wastewater does not have to be pumped from the inlet to the outlet after the disc filter and subsequent discharge into the sea. This is another advantage of having designed the system holistically, as the needs of the WWTP and the wastewater discharge pipes have been matched to get the most out of the energy supplied. The discharge from the WWTP is collected in a tank prior to ocean disposal. Water can be taken from this tank for reuse, as it meets all the parameters laid down under DS 002-2008 MINAM category 3. Excess sludge produced during biological treatment is completely stabilised and pumped to two 12-metre diameter gravity thickeners, covered and deodorised to minimise the impact on the environment. Finally, the sludge has the dewatering from it in two 10 m3/h centrifugal decanters, located in a closed and deodorised room inside the WWTP building. It is then stored in a hopper ready for removal by truck. Underwater outfall Another particular feature of the project that makes it a pioneer (and from which many models can be drawn for future plants) is that the underwater outfall is

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unique for the WWTP and the desalination plant. From the plant, where the discharges from the WWTP and the desalination plant meet, discharges are directed to follow a route parallel to the seawater intake pipe to the Santa María del Mar beach. From here, two parallel DN560

pipes were laid by means of HDD drilling, with a length of 362 metres. Once past the stretch used for recreational purposes, the outfall continues via a DN900 HDPE pipe, laid on the seabed for a distance of 700 metres up to the diffusers. The outfall loading chamber is located in the area of the WWTP, and both the

TEDAGUA overflow from the reuse chamber and the brine from the desalination plant flow into it. This pre-mixing of the discharges brings a number of environmental advantages: In regard to the WWTP effluent: although the effluent from this plant has already been chlorinated and filtered, the

high salinity of the brine exerts a biocidal action on any potential microorganisms that are present in the discharge. In regard to the brine: the low salinity effluent from the WWTP dilutes the brine's high level of salinity. In spite of all these benefits, they did not form part of the consideration

when designing the outfall. Rather, at all times, this design prioritised safety in order to avoid any impact on the marine environment, whilst also taking into account that the discharge area is an area used for recreational and fishing purposes. At Tedagua, we are very clear that one of the determining factors for this type of infrastructure is the environmental impact of discharges. One of the cornerstones of the way we operate - as enshrined in Cobra Group's environmental management policy - is to respect the environment and prevent, manage and reduce any environmental impact from our work. For all these reasons, the design of the underwater outfall has taken account of the worst-case scenarios: discharge of wastewater only, discharge of brine only, and joint discharges. The design of the underwater diffusers ensures compliance with legal requirements and has no impact on the marine environment under any of these design scenarios. To achieve this, many near- and far-field dilution simulations were drawn up, with several field campaigns conducted in order to collect data to feed into the hydraulic models. In conclusion: with the implementation of the PROVISUR project, the quality of life of affected residents have been improved through the provision of a reliable and good quality supply and drainage. At the same time, the protection of the environment and the economic activity in the area have been guaranteed.

Wastewater treatment plant effluent meets reuse quality requirements to be used for public areas irrigation

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MIKITA BROWNING

COMMISSIONER OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. CITY OF ATLANTA DEPARTMENT OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

“We observed the positive impacts of sound investments in our infrastructure, resulting in reliability and resiliency” The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, a public utility serving 1.2 million customers, ensures the treatment and delivery of safe drinking water, treatment and collection of wastewater and management of stormwater in the city.

Cristina Novo Pérez

The City of Atlanta is making strides to become one of the more sustainable cities in the United States. A strong partner in the sustainability and resilience of the city, the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) aims to be a leader in innovation, service and value. It delivers excellent customer service and ensures the treatment and delivery of high-quality drinking water, as well as the collection and reclamation of wastewater to a high standard, while implementing innovative solutions for resource recovery. In this interview with DWM Commissioner Mikita Browning, she gives an overview of the initiatives and unique programmes behind the department’s successful operations. Can you tell us briefly about your career path and your current role as Commissioner of Watershed Management? I began my career over 20 years ago as an entry-level engineer in the public sector and quickly realized that I needed to transition to the private sector to learn and grow in the field of civil/environmental engineering. Since then, I

have been fortunate to have developed a diverse depth and breadth of professional experience in municipal and consulting within the engineering industry. I have been employed with the City of Atlanta since 2011, previously serving as Watershed’s Assistant Commissioner, leading daily administrative operations, and overseeing the implementation of the Clean Water Atlanta Program. Prior to becoming Assistant Commissioner, I served as the Consent Decree Program Director and provided leadership for daily operations and implementation of the City’s Clean Water Atlanta Program, a comprehensive, $3B multi-program to improve water quality in Atlanta. Prior to joining the City, I worked as a consulting engineer in the private sector and had the honour of working with a few global water and wastewater engineering firms and overseeing a variety of water/ wastewater/stormwater design and construction projects. My years of experience have allowed me the great experience of managing large, complex, linear, and vertical capital construction, regulatory compliance, operation, and maintenance programs. As a result, I have acquired

extensive experience in water, wastewater, stormwater conveyance and storage infrastructure design and construction; air quality and transportation regulatory compliance; traditional and natural treatment facilities design; green infrastructure design and implementation; planning and permitting; and environmental policy. My work has also allowed me to deepen my skills as a cross-functional leader with extensive experience coordinating with the community stakeholders, local, state, and federal agencies, and other utilities. The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) aims to lead in innovation, service, and value. The Strategic Plan 2022 identifies the transition to a Smart Utility as a priority area. Can you give us an overview of the progress made in this area so far? We have begun mapping business processes to identify areas of opportunity to deliver services more efficiently and optimize operations. We are currently implementing the migration of our data centre to the cloud in support of the City of Atlanta's cloud-first strategy. We are also in the process of upgrading critical systems and consolidating applications to streamline decision making and achieve potential cost savings. Can you tell us about DWM’s efforts to improve the resilience and sustainability of its operations? DWM continues to invest in critical infrastructure at our water treatment and water reclamation plants, as well as our distribution system and wastewater col-

We are currently implementing the migration of our data centre to the cloud in support of the City of Atlanta's cloud first strategy

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FEATURE Nutrient Recovery System

lection system through our Clean Water Atlanta program. Under the Capital Improvement Program, we are reaping the benefits of our strategic planning. With several key projects completed, these upgrades will allow for lower operations and maintenance requirements and operate more efficiently. To what extent has the current pandemic posed challenges to ongoing operations and the implementation of the strategic plan? Have investments to improve resilience paid off in these challenging times? Like many utilities across the country, the pandemic has proven to be a uniquely challenging time. And DWM has experienced the real-life impacts of the pandemic on our frontline workforce, and we have had to quickly respond by implementing smart and proactive measures to safeguard the health and safety of our workers. At the same time, we have had to remain laser-focused in continuing to provide the very vital resource of water and related services to our customers daily despite the conditions. Similarly, and as a testament to resiliency, we have also continued our planning, design, and construction efforts in implementing priority infrastructure improvements pursuant to our $1.06B 5-year Capital Improvements Program and strategic plan. Over the past year, we managed to meet a regulatory milestone for one of our federally mandated Consent Decrees, instituted an updated stormwater ordinance, completed construction of a water reservoir and green infrastructure capital projects, and continued to maintain regulatory permit

Under the Capital Improvement Program, upgrades allow for lower operations and maintenance requirements and operate more efficiently 52

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MIKITA BROWNING compliance. It is through many of the capital investments in our infrastructure over recent years that we have observed first-hand the positive impacts of sound investments in our water/wastewater/ stormwater infrastructure and that has resulted in infrastructure reliability and resiliency. Can you comment on the success of cost-saving initiatives such as energy savings improvements and nutrient recovery from wastewater streams? DWM has continued investments under two Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contracts to save energy and reduce operation and maintenance costs. Cost savings improvements include increasing the life of our facilities by replacing aging equipment with efficient technology, reducing maintenance time with new mixing systems, UV lighting upgrades and enhancing staff visibility with real-time metering. The Nutrient Recovery System at the R.M. Clayton WRC is expected to remove 150 tons of phosphorus and 70 tons of nitrogen per year. The City of Atlanta expects 1,000 tons of the fertilizer product Crystal Green Pearl to be produced annually. Enhanced nutrient removal will improve permit compliance, reduce chemical and operating costs, and provide a reusable by-product. Based on the pilot findings and subsequent evaluation of projected design and operating conditions, as well as capital investment requirements, it was projected that the nutrient recovery system would have a payback period of approximately 12 years, with a net savings of approximately $2,500 per day on facility operations. All this would add up to significant operational and financial benefits to both the RM Clayton Water Reclamation Center and the City of Atlanta. The DWM takes pride in its customer service performance. Can you expand on your customer service initiatives,

DWM has continued investments under two Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contracts to save energy and reduce O&M costs such as the Neighbourhood Planning Unit Ambassador Program? The NPU Ambassador Program is comprised of 27 DWM employees assigned to a specific NPU. The ambassadors attend NPU meetings monthly and provide information on the following topics: DWM operational updates, customer service/incentive programs, water quality reports, capital improvement projects (per NPU), water conservation/ educational information, and national awareness campaigns. Ambassadors also receive customer inquiries or concerns about their water bill, work taking place in the neighbourhood and related news stories DWM programs. In addition, we also offer the Customer Experience Improvement (CEIP) and Care and Conserve Programs. The goal of the CEIP is to educate stakeholders of our efforts to improve the customer experience, build relationships, increase our credibility, and establish a new culture as part of the commitment to a worldclass customer experience. The City offers financial assistance to low to moderate-income ratepayers who are having difficulty paying water and sewer bills through an innovative program called Care & Conserve. The Care & Conserve program takes the further step of helping these ratepayers prevent future high bills

by providing assistance with plumbing problems and with the installation of water efficiency devices. Care and Conserve benefits all customers of the Department of Watershed Management by helping to reduce the burden of outstanding debt on the system and by promoting the most efficient use of our water resources. Senior Citizens may also be eligible for a 30% discount on water and sewer bill if they meet eligibility requirements. DWM has some innovative programs to engage the public in water conservation and stormwater management, such as the ‘Adopt a drain’ program and the rain barrel workshops. To what extent do you think they contribute to improving the city’s storm drainage system and raising awareness about sustainable water management in general? The Adopt-A-Drain Program has been instrumental in raising awareness about

The Nutrient Recovery System at the R.M. Clayton WRC is expected to remove 150 tons of phosphorus and 70 tons of nitrogen per year

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Nutrient Recovery System

the City’s stormwater infrastructure. Volunteers are given the necessary tools to clean their drain, as well as signage. It is also a great opportunity for residents to engage their neighbours, share information, and get them involved. We do not have quantitative data to measure the improvements and success of the AdoptA-Drain Program. However, storm drain inspections by our crews, along with our outreach programs, helps us maintain and improve our system. Our customers know to call the ATL311 Customer Service Center if they see issues with a storm drain in the city. In regard to the

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Rain Barrel Workshops, due to the pandemic, no workshops were conducted in 2020 but interest in our rain barrel workshop remains constant. We receive regular inquiries about the return of our rain barrel workshop, which is held from April through September. This is a strong indication of the awareness of our programs. It also reflects the effort of individuals to want to be better stewards of this natural resource. The Office of Communications and Community Relations is working to determine the best method of offering the workshop albeit virtual, limited in-person participation based on CDC guidelines and directives from the Mayor, or as a drive-by service providing the installation kit at cost for those who already have the knowledge of how to construct a rain barrel. We are also developing an evaluation process for our next season of workshops. Collection of information through annual surveys, from previous and current participants, will give us information on the useful-

ness and benefit of those who have installed their rain barrels at their homes or offices. Can you comment on the contribution of green infrastructure and watershed protection projects to address flooding and water quality concerns? The City of Atlanta is dedicated to managing stormwater in a holistic and equitable fashion. This requires having strong development standards that mitigate additional runoff from new construction, but also having a robust preventative and maintenance program to address existing stormwater infrastructure. In areas served by the combined sewer, the City has invested in largescale green infrastructure solutions in the Custer and Proctor-North Ave basins to help reduce localized flooding. The City has also adopted a Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan that promotes an integrated approach to managing stormwater through part-

MIKITA BROWNING

Preparing for pavers installation

nerships, policies, capital projects, and outreach. Could you give examples of situations your department has successfully handled that can provide a model to replicate in other areas of the United States? Relating to the pandemic, we quickly realized the need to institute proactive measures to safeguard the health and safety of our workers. As a result, we implemented non-invasive temperature checks at all of our facilities very early on in the pandemic. Similarly, we implemented staggered shifts to limit the number of employees in the workspace and ensure social distancing, posted signage at facilities to reinforce the importance of practicing safe social distancing, as well as implemented an aggressive deep cleaning protocol for our facilities and shared fleet vehicles to ensure a clean and safe work environment for our workers. Of course, a top priority was to equip our workers with the necessary

We recently have partnered with two local, distinguished universities to conduct sampling of wastewater as an indicator for COVID-19 PPEs, such as masks, gloves, etc. to use and perform their daily job duties. And we recently implemented rapid testing at our facilities to further help safeguard the spread of the virus. We learned that clear and routine communication with our workforce was very important, as well as taking proactive steps to show our commitment to ensuring their

health and safety was imperative. We also recently have partnered with two local, distinguished universities to conduct sampling of wastewater as an indicator for COVID-19. We are excited about this unique and relevant initiative that could potentially provide very useful and predictive public health data concerning the virus and potential spikes.

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WATER & NEWS - WATER TREATMENT

TRENDS IN DWTP MANAGEMENT FOR 2021: CENTRALIZED, AUTONOMOUS CONTROL Miren Aldecoa, Water Treatment & Desalination Consultant at Idrica, identifies the key trends in DWTP management for 2021

In 2021, progress will be made towards a centralized, totally autonomous control over drinking water treatment plants, transcending silo-based process management. The new trends aim to solve a common problem in drinking water treatment plants, namely process fragmentation, stemming from the use of different technologies and operating modes. The updating and interconnection of the different SCADAs, which usually emerge ad hoc with each revamping, expansion or new process, is a challenge for the team and makes it difficult to optimize the DWTP. As a result, and given the importance of these facilities for the supply of drinking water in terms of quantity and quality, these plants tend to rely on significant human resources for their operations.

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This is mainly due to the lack of tools and equipment to collect sufficient information and perform the tasks at hand. However, automation is increasingly gaining ground in daily operations, overcoming the initial reluctance and investment constraints. Advanced predictive control of DWTPs: There are several steps on the way to full plant automation. Basic automation, which is already common in several countries, collects information through instrumentation for subsequent manual control. In this sense, PID control is a clear improvement over previous methods, as it enables a proportional, integral, derivative reaction to errors. The next step, advanced predictive control, is the latest trend. This system automatically adjusts the predictive model parameters to the cause-effect

relationship of the process and its variations over time. The algorithm learns and calculates the ideal level of each parameter. The cases of use in which advanced predictive control is applied, for example, involve predicting the quality of the water collected, automating dosing for coagulation, simulating the properties of the chemicals stored, monitoring decanters, optimizing filtration and pumping, monitoring water as a product and calculating microbiological risks. Integration and analysis of all relevant data: to achieve stand-alone control of an entire plant, all the data that may have an impact on its operation must be integrated. Asset life optimization: in line with a move towards greater sustainability, the trend is for predictions - rather than manufacturer recommendations - to outline the best time to replace an asset or update its maintenance schedule. In addition, new technological solutions will enable corrective actions to be taken when necessary, performing predictive, proactive maintenance, since the system will detect trends and make specific recommendations to operators, in order to extend asset life. Detection of possible threats: In the future, we will see how systems increasingly take into account the detection of possible threats to the population through drinking water. The monitoring of variables will serve to avoid crises based on viruses and bacteria, as well as any other event that could affect water security.

EU ADOPTS A COMMON APPROACH TO TRACK COVID-19 THROUGH WASTEWATER MONITORING The European Commission asks all its Member States to set up wastewater surveillance systems to monitor COVID-19 and its variants

The European Commission adopted a Recommendation on monitoring COVID-19 and its variants in wastewaters in the EU. The aim is to make greater use of a new source of independent information on the spread of the virus and its variants, which will make a significant and cost-effective contribution to public health decision-making. The Recommendation asks the Member States to put in place wastewater surveillance systems and ensure that relevant data is promptly provided to the competent health authorities. Common methods for sampling, measurement and data analysis, supported by a European exchange platform should be made available and used to ensure that the collected data is reliable and comparable.

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said: “The evolution and spread of variants of COVID-19 are a real threat to our effective response to the crisis. It is important that all available means are fully utilised to detect the virus and its variants. The use of wastewater surveillance can provide a cost effective, rapid and reliable source of information which would assist us in combatting the virus.” It is crucial to support the sharing of best practices between Member States, but also with third countries that may not readily have access to such data. The Commission will provide financial assistance to support wastewater surveillance activities and the systematic analysis of variants as well as to create a dedicated European exchange platform.

FOUR BIDDERS TO COMPETE FOR CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF PUERTO MALDONADO WWTP Four international bidders have pre-qualified to compete in the tender Proinversion, Peru’s Private Investment Promotion Agency, has announced that four bidders from Latin America and Europe have been pre-qualified to compete in the international tender for the construction and operation of the Puerto Maldonado Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Three companies and one consortium obtained the status of pre-qualified (bidders) after demonstrating compliance with technical experience in construction, operation of wastewater treatment plants. The prequalified bidders are: Tecnología Intercontinental, S.A.P.I. de C.V., Fypasa Construcciones, S.A. de C.V., FCC Aqualia, S.A. and COPASA-ALMAR consortium. The Puerto Maldonado Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) will help reduce the persistence of acute diarrhoeal diseases (ADDs) and parasitosis in the city of Puerto Maldonado generated by the low coverage of the sanitary sewerage service and the contamination of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers. The winning bidder of the Puerto Maldonado WWTP project will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, rehabilitation, expansion, operation and maintenance of the treatment and final disposal of municipal wastewater in the city of Puerto Maldonado. Under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, the approach goes beyond construction, as it will ensure the sustainability of the service during the contract period. The estimated investment in works amounts to S/ 231 million (nearly US $63 million), and the concession term is 22 years and 6 months.

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WATER & NEWS - WATER TREATMENT

NEW WATER TOXICITY-TESTING TECHNOLOGY READY TO 'SCALE DOWN' FOR FIELD USE Nanolyse Technologies develops a new process to reduce the cost of testing water for chemical pollution and toxicity levels

A new nanotechnology process developed by Oxford University research scientists has been proven to simplify and reduce the cost of testing water for chemical pollution and toxicity levels. The technology, now in its next phase of development via university spin-out company – Nanolyse Technologies – could transform the protection of human health and the environment against chemical pollution caused by toxic, heavy metals dissolved in water. Dr Imad Ahmed, founder and CEO of Nanolyse, explained: “Separating and analysing different ‘species’ of toxic chemicals relies on costly, complex chromatography and mass spectrometry equipment housed in university research and industrial laboratories, needing PhD-level qualified operatives.

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“This hampers effective and streamlined pollution control when what we need are bioavailability-based environmental regulations which restrict the types of toxic metal pollution most likely to be absorbed in the body. Therefore, Nanolyse has now developed and patented a bioavailability-based testing technology for monitoring heavy metals, which takes us a step closer to enabling on-thespot, field testing for water toxicity in real time on-site.” Dr Ahmed added: “Our current benchtop system in the laboratory will – with new funding from the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – be developed for use in miniaturised sensor devices. This will enable portable, low-cost, lightweight and rapid field analysis of a wide range

of chemical species in water by anybody, anywhere, and allow a more timely and accurate analysis of toxicity. “This is important, because any delay between water sampling and chemical analysis – resulting in non-compliant data – means polluted water might have entered the environment, reached the food chain or been consumed by humans or animals. Recent data from the UK’s Environment Agency revealed that “every river in England is polluted”, with only 14% achieving a “good ecological standard”. For example, nickel, zinc, cadmium, lead, nitrate, phosphates, organo-metal tributyl tin and polyaromatic hydrocarbons are among the commonly found chemicals in UK rivers at levels exceeding environmental guidelines and harmful to health. Equally, a report from the Lancet Commission in 2018 showed how diseases caused by polluted water, soil and air cause millions of deaths worldwide annually and cost billions of dollars. In addition, a European Environment Agency report revealed that 60% of EU rivers, lakes and wetlands are unhealthy. This report highlighted major water quality issues across the EU with mercury, cadmium, arsenic chromium, zinc, lead, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and flame retardants on the list of chemicals causing failure in water quality status. The technology has potential to contribute to improving environmental regulations, protect the ecosystem and – ultimately – offer toxicity analysis applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

OPINION

DANIELLE FOPP CIVIL (WATER) ENGINEER AND LECTURER. THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MANAGING ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE IN RECLAIMED WATER: AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT FOR POLICY MAKERS? Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) presents a global health date that intact SARS-CoV-2 viruses have been transmitted via threat that in recent times has taken a back seat in discussions sewerage systems. due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 It is known that AMR has the potential to cause harm to both deaths are currently 2.87M worldwide. Yet the WHO warned humans and agriculture by threatening the effectiveness of antibiin 2019 that drug-resistant diseases could cause 10M deaths otic treatments. Despite following treatment processes prescribed each year by 2050. COVID-19 patients in hospital present a by the AGWR, treatment plants may be dispensing water to the heightened vulnerability to secondary infections which often environment which distributes resistant microorganisms into the leads to an increase in antibiotic prescription associated with receiving waterways. Given ARGs can be passed both vertically keeping these infections at bay. The potential for overuse of and horizontally between bacteria, potential hotspots for transfer antibiotics on a global scale due to misdiagnoses of these infec- require increased regulatory consideration. It is known AMR is a tions as bacterial rather than viral has heightened concerns for global health threat, yet more research is required to define and the long-term impact the pandemic may have on AMR. There confirm the role wastewater has in this resistance. is a pressing need for increased research efforts and discussions Under Victorian legislation, a person who negligently pollutes surrounding AMR as we look at the long-term impact of the the environment, or permits an environmental hazard that repandemic on resistance. sults in a substantial risk of serious A key player in the resistance threat to human health is guilty of It is known AMR is a global equation is the role the environan indictable offence. Similar legment plays in facilitating the moveislative provisions exist globally. If health threat, yet more research ment of antimicrobial-resistant wastewater treatment plants disis required to define and microorganisms. Reuse water is charge into the aquatic environment of particular interest in this examantimicrobial-resistant microorganconfirm the role wastewater ination and presents challenges for isms, could this constitute pollution has in this resistance both policymakers and treatment and lead to an offence under the plants. The Australian Guidelines corresponding regulation? The 2020 for Water Recycling (AGWR) acknowledges that the transfer National AMR Resistance Strategy noted the review of regulaof these microorganisms through waste into the environment is tory measures relevant to antimicrobial usage and resistance as an area of emerging concern and managing these risks is prob- a key priority area for action. Yet with COVID-19 taking centre lematic. In contrast, approaches for regulating and managing stage, are enough resources being directed towards AMR regurisks associated with conventional contaminants and pollutants latory reviews? Treatment plants require security during these are well established. In Australia, common pollutants found uncertain times until regulations are updated to reflect definitive in wastewater prior to treatment are covered substantially by requirements. the AGWR. Yet often the same treatments which are used to The task of regulating antimicrobial resistance in wastewater remove these traditional contaminants can present challenges is beyond complex in the legal sphere, presenting a multitude of for the removal of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARG). By way of challenges for policymakers. The reduction and stabilisation of example, where a traditional contaminant may be treated by antimicrobial resistance may present more than just a ‘wicked’ relying on microbial activity, this same treatment arrangement problem and may prove to be a near-impossible feat. One of the may present ideal conditions for facilitating the movement of biggest threats to human and animal health today should not be ARGs through the system. In contrast, there is no evidence to overlooked.

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WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

THE JIUJIANG SMART WATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT – WHAT TO EXPECT

In downtown Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China, the Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute is working on a comprehensive water environment management project. Estimated to cost a total of RMB 7.7 billion (nearly US $1.2 billion) and take three years to complete, the plan is divided into several phases. Phase one includes a sewage plant and the supporting network, water ecological restoration, river regulation, and an ecological renovation of Sponge Avenue with a pump gate. The smart water management project has faced numerous communication and coordination challenges, including managing work across multidiscipline design teams and federating multiple data sources. The Jiujiang team adopted a smart water management solution that includes ContextCapture to create the digital context of downtown Jiujiang. The solution is Bentley Systems’ open modeling applications for the water plant and network design. The

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team also used ProjectWise to support collaborative design. The digital twin helped the team to make better-informed decisions, take corrective actions, and prevent potential issues. Using ProjectWise for collaborative design and Navigator for collision detection and resolution reduced design errors by 80%, saved 800 days of design and verification work, and saved RMB 4 million in design costs. Construction costs were also reduced by 20%, compressing the schedule by four months. In 2019, Bentley Systems included this mammoth project as one of the finalists for its Year in Infrastructure awards in the category of Digital Cities. Feng Qian, BIM engineer, Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. said: “We make it possible for operators to gather the important data of water-related affairs along the Yangtze River Basin.”

DIGITAL

FEATURE

TELEMETRY IN RURAL MUNICIPALITIES

IN THE BIERZO REGION (NORTH-WESTERN SPAIN) Hidroconta has supplied IoT equipment for a pilot project in the municipality of Bembibre (province of León), carried out by Hidrogestión, in order to monitor domestic water consumption remotely through a web platform. Located in the Bierzo region, in Castile and Leon, Bembibre is a town of 10,192 people. The pilot project implemented by Hidroconta focused on the nearby village of Viñales, home to 205 people. The purpose of the pilot plan was to obtain information about the impact of the digitalisation of urban water networks on the population and water use monitoring. It contemplates the provision of 147 water meters with IoT communications, as well as antennas or communications links as required for the system to work. Meter replacement and the installation of antennas or communications links have been carried out by water management company Hidrogestión, with technical support provided by Hidroconta. Network digitalisation allows controlling domestic water use from a device connected to the network, with no need to physically go to the location and collect data in situ. Generating records and reports that help with decision making facilitates quick action concerning leak detection, monitoring domestic consumption, and calculating water balances. This enables assessing different options going forward, once you have all the information you need. All of the above translates

The Bierzo project was implemented with the company in charge of water management in the area, Hidrogestión, as a pilot project 62

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into savings in terms of operating, management and maintenance costs. The implementation of meters with communications will enable the visualisation of water use balances and any warnings detected by the Deméter system. Furthermore, the digitalisation project in the Bierzo region established the need to integrate the data collected into the control platform of the management company. Thanks to the interoperability of the Deméter platform, the manager can visualise the data in its commercial cycle platform, in order to facilitate the process of billing customers for their domestic water use. The equipment supplied by Hidroconta is the Atlantis range of high-precision, single jet mechanical water meters, R160H. The Atlantis domestic use meter offers a perfect service, able to detect any potential leaks, thus avoiding further damages in dwellings. The traditional mechanical meter includes an external Iris communications module by Hidroconta, an automatic meter reading (AMR) device which, once installed in any meter, can record and send the water volumes passing through the meter. This way, the user can visualise the information in a web platform or an app in a transparent way. Furthermore, the Iris module has the capacity to send warnings based on the information obtained by the water meter: warnings about reverse flow, leaks, about the meter stopping, about the meter being undersized, about meter tampering and the battery status.

The equipment provided by Hidroconta in the Bembibre project, both water meters and telemetry devices, have inductive pickup, with the following advantages: there is no need to use emitters nor other intermediate accessories, they are able to detect reverse flow, and have been developed to impede interferences in the pulse pickup with magnets. The equipment developed by Hidroconta has been designed so that any installer will be able to digitalise the water network by following some simple directions. In this case, the staff of Hidrogestión was in charge of installing the equipment, always with the technical support provided by Hidroconta. Specifically, the Iris communications module by Hidroconta can be used with the mobile app Iris Installer. The application has been developed by the Hidroconta team, taking into account all the parameters required, and with a user-friendly interface. The Iris Installer app is currently available in Google Play. The purpose of the app is to guide the installer through the device set up and its synchronisation with the web platform. Activation only requires scanning the serial number of the Iris device and filling in all the fields in the form. That way it will be registered in the system and the consumption data obtained by the meter will show up in the Deméter WEB platform. If there is no internet coverage at the time of installation, the Iris Installer app has a no-connection mode, where all the installations will be saved until there is an internet connection available.

HIDROCONTA

Images from the Iris Installer application

Every digitalisation project must take into account different parameters in order to ensure equipment communications, such as coverage or the final location of the equipment. From that point, Hidroconta is in charge of setting up the terminals based on the communications technology selected in each case.

In this case, Sigfox technology was selected for the project in Viñales. After studying the coverage in the area, we established the need to install a base micro-station in the village's school, because coverage in the area was not enough for the distributed equipment to communicate optimally the infor-

mation about domestic water use recorded. Hidroconta selected the village's school to install the micro-station based on several criteria: it should be a point with electric power, with GPRS coverage, a central location on high ground, and it should be accessible for maintenance work.

Image from the coverage study done prior to the project

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FEATURE

Atlantic meters with Iris communications modules installed on the façade of houses

Moreover, knowing the final location of the equipment is essential for the coverage study, because it may be necessary to place communications modules at different points with a higher level of service, or to add signal repeaters to the project. In the case of the Bembibre project, meters have been installed, for the most part, in water meter boxes on the façade of the houses. As mentioned earlier, the domestic consumption data retrieved by water meters will show up in the Deméter System Web. The Deméter Web platform is a user interface, accessible from any de-

The purpose was to gather information on the impact of water network digitalisation on the population and on water use monitoring 64

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vice with internet access, where you can visualise network data. In the main control panel of the Deméter Web platform, you can visualise a summary of information on the selected element. It includes the location,

A terminal's control panel

when did the last communication with the device take place (time and date), the battery leftover in the communications module in this case, notifications about any warnings detected by Iris, readings on the water volume used, etc.

HIDROCONTA

Report for system integration

The Deméter Web platform allows visualising water consumption using different types of graphs: bar graphs of consumption over time (per hour/day/month), how the average consumption has evolved, etc. With all the information collected, you can generate the reports needed to study the hydraulic system, do water balances and study trends and how performance evolves. Deméter gives you the option of generating all the reports necessary to study the system. The reports may be visualised as graphs or tables, either in the system or be exported to your computer in Excel format. Having developed the Deméter system internally at Hidroconta ensures flexibility, so that the platform can adapt to the client’s needs. In the case of the pilot project in the village of Viñales, municipality of Bembibre, the reports were adapted, linking water consumption with the customer number, in order to integrate the information with the control program of the water management com-

Hidroconta supplied 147 Atlantis single jet mechanical water meters with Iris communications modules, configured with Sigfox pany, and thus facilitate and streamline the billing process. A well-informed decision is always a good decision, therefore the digitalisation of urban water networks is crucial to achieving sustainable use of water resources. At Hidroconta we work towards the development of equipment to compile data, and systems to present the data in a user-friendly fashion.

The pilot project includes the integration of data on domestic consumption with the commercial cycle platform of the water company

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FEATURE

Xylem is a leading global water technology company committed to solving critical water and infrastructure challenges with innovation. Recognizing the mounting environmental challenges such as water scarcity, resilience to climate change and affordability that are impacting humankind, and the need to prepare the next generation of young talents to solve water issues, Xylem has dreamed up its global youth program, Xylem Ignite. Z Cristina Novo Pérez Water impacts our lives every day, from meeting our personal needs to influencing the global economy and the well-being of our planet. Factors like climate change, pollution and ageing infrastructure threaten global water supplies and water security. Xylem Ignite invites students in high school, undergraduate, or equivalent, to be a part of the solution. Through a series of activities, Xylem aims at creating a movement to enrol, ignite and nurture the NextGen Water Leaders, leveraging on their passion about sustainability, creativity and command in technologies to drive innovation, helping to solve together one of the greatest challenges of our time: Water. The objectives of Xylem Ignite are: J Enroll: Reach out and build a network of NextGen water leaders leverag-

Xylem Ignite invites students in high school, undergraduate, or equivalent, to be a part of the solution to global water issues 66

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ing existing and new partnerships with schools, youth organizations and water sustainability associations. J Ignite: Engage students in our Xylem Ignite activities to deepen their knowledge and passion for solving water issues. J Nurture: Nurturing students to become leaders in their communities to drive the water movement. All students, especially high school (secondary school, pre-university) and college (university, post-secondary) students that are passionate about sustainability and desire to be water leaders in their communities, as well as youth groups such as water clubs, environment/recycling clubs, computing clubs, community service/interact clubs, and teachers, principals, and educators are very welcome to enrol. The three key pillars of Xylem Ignite are: J Xylem Solve, where Xylem organizes and delivers activities, programs & event competitions that bring encouragement, motivation and technical training to students, specifically focusing on hackathons and innovation challenge competitions, as well as on MasterClass programmes. J Watermark for Youth, to raise awareness and educate on water related is-

sues, engaging youth in volunteer work that impacts our communities. Students will have a chance to create and be part of a water-passionate network, while making a real impact in their communities. A watermark t-shirt will be delivered to all participants both for the online or off line events. J Innovation Incubator, that leverages on coaching and mentorship opportunities, to build a network and gain industry exposure. It is for high school and college age students that have an existing innovation or research project they would like to utilize Xylem mentorship to further develop. Xylem Ignite Incubator program is intended to support students’ projects with Xylem expertise, coaching, and network building. One example of the three program pillars is the Xylem Global Student Innovation Challenge (belonging to Xylem Solve, 1st Pillar) that aims to boost youth’s passion for technology and sustainability. The Innovation Challenge is a global virtual competition open to participants between 13 and 23 years with a passion for technology and sustainability, to tackle one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges: water.

XYLEM WATER SOLUTIONS

Students will have to develop innovative solutions to address a problem statement of their choice among four options. The competition challenges students to use problem-solving, creativity and strategic thinking abilities to solve real-world water challenges. Projects can be a technical solution, a business solution, a community or policy solution, or a combination of the three, depending on students’ skills and interest. The Challenge Statements Participants’ projects should focus on one of four challenge statements: (1) Reducing the water footprint of everyday products, (2) Gaming for water with EarthEcho, (3) Urban flood prediction,

and (4) What if you lived on Mars? Let us look in more detail and what the creators of the Innovation Challenge came up with to put young minds to work. Challenge Statement #1 - Reducing the water footprint of everyday products Many of us have never considered how much water is used to produce everyday products. Consider this: what water footprint does your favourite product leave behind? How much water is involved in the process, production and creation of these items? Are your favourite products created with water conservation or sustainability in mind? Participants will analyse the life-cycle water consumption, including the

sourcing, manufacturing, production, and marketing processes, of one of the following consumer products: a smartphone, a leather bag or shoes, an electric car, or another product of their choice. They then have to develop a solution to reduce the water footprint of the selected product or one of its components. Finally, they will analyse the benefits of their

As a leading global water technology company, Xylem recognizes the need to prepare the next generation of talent to solve water issues

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FEATURE

solutions to the consumer, manufacturer, seller, and community. Challenge Statement #2 - Gaming for water with EarthEcho Do you have a passion for games? The EarthEcho Water Challenge is one of the world’s largest community science programs empowering more than 1.6 million young people and community members in 146 countries to connect with and protect their local waterways. If they choose this challenge statement, students have to create a game to bring more awareness to this cause and engage community members. Challenge Statement #3 - Urban flood prediction As extreme weather and rain events become more frequent due to climate change, waterways and drainage systems can become overloaded by an influx of

The innovation challenge is a global virtual competition open to participants between 13 and 23 years with a passion for technology 68

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water. This results in flooding that can potentially cause massive property damage and even loss of life. The problem intensifies in urban environments with dense population and infrastructure. It is imperative for us to have better solutions to predict and manage floods. Those engaged in this challenge will examine datasets – including rainfall, snowfall, temperature, humidity, weather events, surface elevation, sewer depths and flow from sensors installed in sewers – to predict flood event occurrence and sewer system peak depth by creating models utilizing AI/ML or other appropriate technology. They will have to create marketable applications that may include enhancing public engagement and awareness or infrastructure planning. Challenge Statement #4 - What if you lived on Mars? The world held its breath on February 18, 2021, as the Perseverance rover made its risky landing in Jezero Crater. It is believed that three and a half billion years ago, streams of water flowed across this wide expanse of dust and rocks. Mars has long captivated our collective imaginations – offering the tantalizing possibility to find life in another world or to explore it ourselves. The

ability to harness water on Mars is critical to the success of potential human exploration. Mars is known to have water present in various forms above and below its surface, and extraction concepts already exist today. The challenge here is to support a water system for the first Mars City. Participants will create a solution to enable smarter and more successful production, reuse, monitoring or allocation of water. Judging criteria and prizes The projects will be assessed based on three criteria: (1) impact, (2) innovation and (3) challenge fit and feasibility. Participants will compete for eight cash prizes from a $20,000 prize pool. Details of the event, including the official rules, project deliverables, can be found in the Xylem Innovation Challenge website. Also, stay tuned for the upcoming Xylem ignite events following @xylemspain. Deep learning: MasterClass and Webinars Learning and education is a big part of the Innovation Challenge. In connection with the challenge, Xylem has teamed up with experts in the field from industry and academia to offer a Water MasterClass, a series of engaging video

XYLEM WATER SOLUTIONS classes to learn about a range of important water topics from water sustainability to design thinking. Students will learn about global water challenges and solutions through 10 episodes. In addition to the Water MasterClass series, participants can take part in a series of webinars each of them focuses on a specific challenge statement: J Introduction to Digital Water. Challenge Statement #3, Urban flood prediction J What makes a product sustainable? Tour Xylem’s manufacturing facility in Emmaboda. Challenge Statement #1, Reducing the water footprint of everyday products. J Hear about current research and efforts for bringing humanity to Mars with Vera Mulyani, CEO and Founder of Mars City Design. Challenge Statement #4, What if you lived on Mars? J Water quality and climate change community engagement with EarthEcho founder Philippe Costeau and Rayan Krishnan. Challenge Statement #2, Gaming for water with EarthEcho. Xylem, a leading global water technology company, is the company behind this exciting competition for students. As global water challenges intensify – scarcity, resilience to climate

Committed to meeting the world’s water needs through innovative and smart technology solutions, the company dreamed up Xylem Ignite change, affordability – Xylem believes it is essential to involve passionate people from an early age, to be part of the movement to solve those water challenges together. The water sector gives young people the chance to work at the nexus of sustainability and advanced technologies; in fact, there has never been a more exciting time to work in water. Committed to meeting the world’s water and wastewater needs through innovative and smart technology solutions, the company dreamed up Xylem Ignite, an overarching scheme targeting

youth. It aims to build a network of passionate student leaders and empower them to drive change in the water industry. Through a series of activities, including the Global Student Innovation Challenge, but also others such as hackathons, an incubator, mentorship and volunteer programmes, etc., Xylem seeks to enrol, ignite and nurture the next generation of water leaders. The world needs young people’s passion, creativity and command of technology to drive innovation, including the digital transformation of the water sector. Are you ready to Ignite?

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WATER & NEWS - DIGITAL

TRENDS IN LEAK DETECTION FOR 2021: DATA ANALYSIS, SENSORS AND COMMUNICATIONS Idrica lists a series of trends in the water industry that will reduce the amount of water that is lost from hydraulic networks In 2021, in order to achieve the best possible management of water as a resource, new leak detection methods that go beyond sectorization should be consolidated as a first step towards reducing the size of inspection areas and enhancing water loss reduction processes. Technological advances in sensors and communications are bringing us closer to our ultimate goal; to use water as efficiently as possible. Josep Reguart, Leaks Specialist at Idrica, forecasts the trends in leak detection for 2021. The first one is locating leaks using mathematical models and algorithms. A new alternative to sectorization is locating leaks through the analysis of big data, applying mathematical modelling and algorithms to data processing. For this process to be successful, data is required to develop the mathematical model (GIS, demand distribution and operational control) to assess the feasibility of installing flow meters at strategic points and to monitor nighttime consumers. The value of this system is enormous, but in order to obtain results, utility managers will have to implement advanced software so that the section of the network where the possible leak(s) is/are located can be pinpointed. A second trend that we expect to see gaining ground in the coming year is acoustic leak detection, through the permanent installation of hydrophones and integrating the data obtained from them into platforms used to manage water efficiency as a further step to-

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wards pinpointing the location of leaks. The aim is to send this data to water efficiency management platforms that can integrate data from different utility indicators and thus be able to identify the specific point in which a leak is located. Another trend that is already on the table is the transformation of household water meters into sensors that help to monitor any anomalies that may occur in the network in real time. Thus, by taking advantage of existing infrastructure and using data processing and algorithms, each customer would be helping to detect possible water losses. In the case of water pipelines or large diameter pipes, there are already viable solutions on the market. Leading this race is a network inspection system with wireless, in-line, neutral buoyancy

technology for the detection of water leaks. This equipment detects leaks by pinpointing their exact location, and evaluates the network. Last but not least, there is a trend towards data centralization on a single platform. Advances in telecommunication infrastructures, with the advent of 5G, are leading us to a scenario of digital connectivity that breaks down barriers in terms of the number of linked sensors and the communication between them in real time. Progress in sensor technology to reduce water losses only makes sense if the data acquired can then be processed to make better decisions. It is increasingly necessary for any type of service indicator such as smart metering, work orders, GIS, smart SCADA and billing to be housed on the same platform.

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE CHALLENGES OF WATER INDUSTRY IN LATIN AMERICA Isle Utilities has developed an innovation programme to help industries achieve sustainability through the use of water technologies The growing demand for water to supply populations and secure the development of economic activities in Latin America represents an enormous challenge in the management of water resources. Therefore, it is key to increase investment, adopt the use of new technologies and diversify water supply sources for the industry, as well as improve the use or reuse of resources. The provision of water services and its industrial use are at a demanding stage but with clear opportunities for

improvement, given that traditional approaches are beginning to be questioned by the maturation of new technologies. To guarantee the resilience of the industry in the face of future challenges in the water sector, exchange and collaboration between companies is essential to share the technological solutions that best suit each case. That is precisely the goal of Isle Utilities, a global consultancy focused on helping industries achieve sustainability results through the use of water and wastewater technologies.

The first edition of the iTAG (Industrial Technology Approval Group) online workshop for Latin America brought together industry leaders to discuss opportunities to save money through the use of smart technologies, that allow improving asset management, process efficiency and product quality. It is essential to promote these spaces that facilitate collaboration between peers to accelerate learning through collective experience, allowing the evaluation of the best available technological solutions.

ACCIONA CHOOSES VODAFONE’S NB-IOT NETWORK TO OPTIMIZE END-TO-END WATER MANAGEMENT IN TOLEDO (SPAIN) A pilot project uses Hidroconta ultrasound remote reading meters to provide realtime information to manage the water supply network ACCIONA has launched a pilot project that incorporates R4000 by Hidroconta ultrasound remote reading meters connected to Vodafone’s Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) communications network to optimise endto-end water management in the town of Yuncos (Toledo province of Spain). The new remote reading system will provide real-time information, involving the hourly recording of water consumption and more accurate detection of events and incidents (leaks, pipe breaks, etc.). Thanks to the real-time transmis-

sion of data ACCIONA will obtain information on possible misuse or incidents that can occur in the water system to enable early detection and solving of problems in a shorter time, avoiding the disruption of supplies to users. Once the system has been validated, the data will be centralized in BIONS, ACCIONA’s Business Intelligence service platform for water services, designed to detect, analyse and manage events and incidents in the water supply network. Working with aggregated information

and data from several sources helps the decision-making process and the design of proactive measures through the use of predictive models based on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Furthermore, and with the aim of placing the end user at the centre of our priorities, these readings can be accessed from ACCIONA’s Virtual Office of its Water Division. This means that our clients can self-manage the tasks that they currently perform in the physical office in a simple, intuitive and flexible way.

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FEATURE

HOW CAN IOT TAKE THE HOSPITALITY

SECTOR TO THE NEXT LEVEL? By 2050, the growing urbanization is predicted to result in 70% of the world's population living in cities. Meanwhile, the dynamics in the world’s industrial activity and agriculture development is leading to increasing water pollution. The presence of micropollutants and heavy metals in the underground water is reducing the quality of tap water. These trends, combined with the reduction of the single-use plastic bottled water and the need to protect equipment from sediment and scale, will boost further adoption of water treatment solutions in the residential and HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants & Catering) segments. Water quality: a key success factor for the HoReCa industry

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The key factor for success in the HoReCa industry is customer experience, and water is present in virtually every process. The main drivers for the adoption of the water filtration systems by the hospitality sector are about the taste and hardness of the water. Indeed, to produce high-quality food and beverages with a constant flavor and quality worldwide, beverages and food processes often require specific water characteristics such as pH balancing, mineral content levels, etc. A typical example that highlights the importance of water taste are coffee-centered businesses. One of the most important aspects of water for HoReCa businesses is the hardness. Treated water is a necessity to maximise the life expectancy of equip-

ment such as steamers, dishwashers, ice machines, coffee machines, water dispensers and laundry services, improving efficiency and reliability. Today’s water filtration market is dominated by global players, many of which are forward integrated. They include manufacturers and service providers of water treatment solutions and dispensing systems connected to the water supply, such as "Point of Use" (PoU) or "Point of Entry" (PoE). Most of these filtration solutions rely on hybrid technology options such as Solid block activated carbon (SBAC), Granular activated carbon (GAC), Reverse osmosis (RO), Ultraviolet light (UV), UV-LED systems, Microfiltration (MF), Ultrafiltration (UF), Nanofiltration (NF), or Ion exchange (IX)

DROOPLE The key factor for success in the HoReCa industry is customer experience, and water is present in virtually every process. With the growing urbanization and agricultural activity worldwide, the filtration systems will increasingly rely on data to ensure timely replacement of consumables, equipment maintenance and customer sustainability requirements. Learn how IoT can help the Hospitality industry to make a true quantum leap of service levels through real-time data access.

Peter Racz -

Ramzi Bouzerda, Droople

with either anion or cation exchange (AX and CX, respectively). To satisfy the strict requirements of the HoReCa industry in terms of taste, the filtration systems rely on the timely replacement of filters or other consumables like UV lamps. However, their maintenance need depends greatly on usage patterns, water quality, and many other context-specific factors where IoT can drastically reduce operating costs while maximizing equipment lifetime. IoT technologies at the service of the filtration solutions Real-time monitoring and analytics systems are today progressively adopted by a wide range of industries. The IoT-based solutions allow us to integrate various tech-

nologies with edge and cloud data processing, bringing together precise monitoring capabilities, predictive maintenance, and efficient customer consulting and support. Water treatment applications such as Reverse Osmosis systems, purifiers, filters, softeners, as well as dispensing systems can be equipped with a wide variety of connected sensors, able to precisely measure flow, pressure, TDS and temperature. The fine-grained data are collected by the smart sensors and transferred to the dedicated cloud platform. The machine-learning algorithms can then be customized to provide vendors, services providers and end customers with actionable insights. These will monitor assets performance, enable their on-time maintenance and predict the

replacement of the consumables such as filters, cartridges, UV lamps, etc. The quantum leap of service levels through real-time data access A full-stack cloud solution developed by Droople can deliver today highly increased service levels across the entire value chain. In the context of the water softener market, the smart data platform helps end-users to save water, by bringing visibility to their consumption, and by allowing them to predict salt refills and filter swaps. The service providers can then lease their hardware and provide value-added services on top of their softening or filtration device. The Droople Water Intelligence Platform enables the cost-effective monitoring of large fleets of assets distributed geographically. The different sensors can be installed as a retrofit to enable a smooth transition towards IoT or for each new installation. The iLink communication module collects real-time data on a single platform, where they are interpreted to deliver immediate insights. New levels of service and automation enable personalized advice including an optimal choice of appliances and process optimization. The data transparency also makes it possible to fulfill sustainability requirements, generating customer loyalty and trust through data access sharing.

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OPINION

VICTORIA EDWARDS CEO AND CO-FOUNDER AT FIDO TECH

BUNKER MENTALITY WILL NEVER SOLVE THE WORLD’S WATER LEAKAGE PROBLEM Forty per cent. It feels like a magic number when it comes the most experienced analysts get it wrong 40 per cent of the to water. It’s the percentage of the earth’s population suffering time. That human error leads to wasted site visits, dry holes from water scarcity. It’s the shortfall humanity faces in nine and billions on billions of litres of lost water, wasted revenue years if the demand for water grows as expected. and stunted economies. No wonder the UK’s leakage rate is And, damningly, in parts of the world, it’s the amount of stubbornly stuck around the 19 per cent mark. treated water lost through leakage every day. How can this be? For places without DMAs and sensors, the outlook had Almost three years from when drought-hit Cape Town, a major looked even bleaker. Until FIDO came along. FIDO took the city, came within a breath of losing its supply– a phenomenon view that no-one’s over the finishing line until the last runcalled Day Zero - why are so many only just waking up to the ner gets home. We’ve consciously created a global response to damage of leakage? No other industry pours (excuse the pun) leakage which overcomes challenges of proprietary hardware, so much time, money and resource into creating the perfect network immaturity, heavy investment and human error. product only to let it slip away. Our super accurate artificial intelligence is the world’s only For many in the developed northern hemisphere, water scarcity technology that analyses acoustic and vibration data from any has too long seemed like something in ‘a far-away country of which make of sensor to identify leaks/no leaks and, more remarkwe know little’. But if world wars and ably, the size of a leak. It works beglobal pandemics teach us anything, cause FIDO is a true application of We have consciously created it’s that seemingly distant problems deep-learning - not just pattern-reccan have far-reaching significance. ognition – is sensor agnostic and a global response to leakage And some, like COVID, are only trained on absolute truths. which overcomes challenges solved if they’re solved globally. As a result, FIDO no longer Leakage is like that. As climate needs human intervention or senof proprietary hardware change raises the spectre of more sor-heavy networks. We believe in and network immaturity ‘zero’ days, it’s not just the poorer, smart software but dumb hardware. drier, less developed countries who Where the files come from is irreleare worried. Incredibly, even in some advanced nations, the strat- vant. AI is the clever bit. As software-as-a-service (Saas), FIDO egy for tackling leakage is still to wait for a customer to call in and comes plug-and-play by CAPEX-free monthly subscription. report it. Yet, 95% of leaks never show above ground. Give us access to your sensor files and we’re up and running. In the UK, where strong regulation has driven the issue, leak But what’s really levelling the playing field, and gaining worlddetection is more mature. Here, networks are divided into dis- wide attention, is the fact that, with simple CAPEX-free hardware trict metered areas, pressure management helps reduce water called Bugs, FIDO eradicates the need for huge investment in loss, and acoustic and vibration monitors ‘listen’ for potential permanent sensors and gives all water systems access to a mature, leaks. This kind of infrastructure takes time and considerable fully developed leak detection solution almost overnight. investment. And in a competitive environment, this has led to There is no longer any reason or excuse for not tackling leakdisparate technologies; locking companies into a Wacky Rac- age. It’s a global problem and we will only solve it globally, es scenario of unilaterally-backed proprietary solutions which collaboratively, together. By leaving our proprietary bunkers don’t share information. and sharing data with technology like FIDO, which crosses Here’s another 40 per cent. Leak sounds are easily masked boundaries and raises everyone to the level of the best, we help by traffic, pressure management valves or even usage. Even ourselves, and each other, avoid Day Zero.

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SDGs

INTERVIEW

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DR DUMINDA PERERA

DR DUMINDA PERERA UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY. INSTITUTE FOR WATER, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

“Implementing one-size-fits-all criteria to assess dam removal projects in the global context is at least useless and at most dangerous” With a design life of 50 to 100 years, most large dams worldwide were built between 1930 and 1970, and could show signs of ageing by now. Dam decommissioning is a growing trend in the developed world as older dams become increasingly more expensive to maintain or become obsolete.

Cristina Novo Pérez

A report by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) highlights that many of the tens of thousands of large dams built in the 20th century are operating at or beyond their design life. Increasing potential of dam failure, rising costs of repair and maintenance, and loss of functionality and effectiveness are some of the signs of an ageing dam. We interview author Dr. Duminda Perera about this emerging global risk and the implications of dam decommissioning, a relatively recent phenomenon gaining pace in North America and Europe. With over ten years of experience primarily focusing on water-related disas-

"Decommissioning dams is a recent phenomenon but is becoming progressively more common on various scales globally and regionally"

ters and risk management, Dr. Perera's expertise covers surface and subsurface hydrology, numerical modeling, disaster risk reduction (DRR), early warning systems, climate change impact assessments, integrated flood management, and capacity development. Before joining UNU-INWEH, he worked for many years in Japan as a research specialist at the UNESCO International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM). Since joining UNU, he has been working on climate change, DRR, and water resources variability-related themes. His current research focuses at UNU-INWEH include a global evaluation of operational flood early warning systems, assessing African water security, ageing water infrastructure, and water-related threats to megacities. What are the emerging trends in dam decommissioning? Decommissioning dams is a relatively recent phenomenon but is becoming progressively more common on various

scales globally and regionally; for example, it has become quite common in the USA and Europe. The dams removed are, however, primarily of smaller size. Removal of large dams is still in its infancy, although a few cases have been recorded mainly in the last ten years. The USA plays the leading role in dam decommissioning, removing nearly 1,275 dams in 21 states over the previous 30 years. However, most of the removed dams were smaller in size ( < 5 m height) and privately owned. The decommissioning of the Glines Canyon and Elwha Dams which are nearly 110 years old and over 60 m high in Washington, USA, is recorded as the largest dam decommission project with a cost of about USD 325 million. In Europe also a number of dams are decommissioned, mainly in relation to their environmental impacts. In developing countries, dam decommissioning has not significantly emerged as a solution to ageing dams yet. Those dams’ functional contributions to their economies are inevitable, and still, a replaceable alternative is not feasible in terms of cost and technology. How do the socio-economic impacts of dam decommissioning vary between low and high-income countries? A dam decommissioning will have various societal impacts, such as changes in the local economy. Fisheries, agriculture, tourism, and hydropower will be affected by dam removal and, in turn, impact employment opportunities and livelihoods. The extent of dam removal impacts may vary based on geography and socio-economic conditions. In developed nations where water availability is reliable, many ageing dams have been rendered obsolete. Their removal may be the ideal choice to manage ageing infrastructure because of the cost-benefit and the positive ecolog-

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INTERVIEW

"The USA plays the leading role in dam decommissioning, removing nearly 1,275 dams in 21 states over the previous 30 years" ical impacts of regaining a free-flowing river. However, dams may be critical infrastructure for low-income countries to provide clean water and sanitation, irrigate crops for improved livelihoods and poverty alleviation, and provide a reliable, clean energy source. In these cases, dam removal may not be a viable option. Thus, implementing one-size-fits-all criteria to assess and prioritize dam removal projects in the global context is at least useless and at most dangerous. The agricultural sector may benefit from or be inhibited by dam removal. For low-income, developing nations in the global South, dams and irrigation systems can play a critical role in alleviating poverty (e.g., in Asia and Africa, most large dams are for irrigation purposes); hence, dam removal could have detrimental consequences to local livelihoods. Alternately, dam removal may turn out to be beneficial for people who previously relied on the reservoir footprint for agricultural lands such as pastoral societies or subsistence farming. Hydropower generation can be significantly affected if a dam is removed. In developed economies where access to electricity is nearly universal, removing obsolete hydropower dams may have a limited impact on local societies. In contrast, in developing economies where people lack access to electricity for their homes and workplaces, a hydropower dam removal may have far-reaching negative consequences and, thus, not be a viable option to address ageing infrastructure. Rivers are rarely dammed for the sole purpose of fishery creation, and in most

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cases, damming a river results in losses of riverine fisheries. Dam removal can increase fishery yields that are important for local populations. Dam removal may stimulate the local economy by increasing tourism, but reservoirs can also attract tourists, e.g., swimming, fishing, and boating, which may be lost if the dam is removed.

The cost of dam removal is estimated to be an order of magnitude less than that of repairing. Do you think the cost will be a primary driver to choose dam decommissioning over repair? Costs for repair and decommissioning are critical factors in the decision-making process of a dam's fate. However, public safety, continuous maintenance

DR DUMINDA PERERA costs, sedimentation, and environmental impacts are equally important factors to be considered. According to the report, both constructions of a new dam and its later decommissioning must consider various positive and negative economic, social, and environmental impacts. To

what extent does decommissioning, in those countries where it is already taking place, follow regulatory procedures similar to those necessary for dam construction? Dam decommissioning is still practicing primarily in North America and Europe especially on smaller dams. There are published guidelines by several states in

"Fisheries, agriculture, tourism, and hydropower will be affected by dam removal and, in turn, impact employment and livelihoods" the USA to follow in dam removal; their main focus is on privately owned dams. In Canada, provincial governments, e.g., Ontario, have published a decision-making framework to implement dam removal. Likewise, regional procedures are available; however, this issue is emerging globally. Therefore it is essential to develop standard or commonly used regulatory procedures. Extreme weather events as a result of climate change can increase the threat of ageing large dams designed using historical hydrological data. On the other hand, a recent study by Japan's National Institute for Environmental Studies exposes the role of dams in mitigating flood risk under climate change. Do you think climate change should be another factor to consider when making decisions about the future of dams? Yes, absolutely. Climate change-induced extreme events, primarily floods and droughts, can cause significant impacts on these ageing structures. Increased intensity and frequency of extreme flood events can challenge dams' structural integrity and capacity. Overtopping is a common cause of several dam failures recorded in the past. Also, the dams in the tropics will face high evaporation rates in the future due to increased temperatures leading to storage losses. Eventually, these events are threats to the effective functioning of dams. Flood control is one of the major functions dams were designed for. We agree that dams play a big role in mitigating flood risk. Due to the loss of stationarity of the hydroclimatic data as a result of climate change, it is challenging to

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INTERVIEW predict future events based on past data. Therefore, the decision about ageing dams should be made considering the uncertainties in future events, capacities of dams, and their structural integrity. Large dams are still planned in some regions. To what extent do you think the implications of dam decommissioning should be taken into account during the planning phase for a new dam, similarly to other major projects, such as mines which include planning for future reclamation activities?

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Decommissioning is an issue emerging globally, therefore it is essential to develop a standard or commonly used regulatory procedures

DR DUMINDA PERERA Irrigation and hydropower are the main driving factors for planning dams in some regions. We do not know how far those project planners have considered the planned structure's decommissioning after its lifespan. However, the dams built in the 60s and 70s are reaching the end of their lifespans are now facing the ageing issue; these cases suggest present-day dam planners ought to consider decommissioning as the end component of a dam's life cycle. The report calls for protocols to guide the process of dam removal, to under-

stand processes and outcomes. What do you see as the path ahead for this to become a reality? Are any countries leading in this regard? Over 90% of large dams are located in 25 countries. The majority of them are in the developed world, which is economically and technologically advanced enough to find sustainable alternatives for the ageing dams, including dam decommissioning as a solution. So far, dam removal is limited mainly to small dams in North America and Europe. However, sharing the lesson learned, technol-

ogy, and experience can lead the other nations to develop sound plans for dam removal in their soils. Ultimately, value judgments will determine the fate of many of these large water storage structures. It is not an easy process, and thus distilling lessons from and sharing dam decommissioning experiences should be a common global goal. Lack of such knowledge and lack of its reflection in relevant regional/national policies/practices may progressively and adversely affect the ability to manage water storage dams properly as they age.

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WATER & NEWS - SDG

WMO SPEARHEADS NEW WATER AND CLIMATE COALITION TO ACHIEVE MORE EFFECTIVE INTEGRATED POLICIES The coalition will galvanise the principles of integrated water and climate and break traditional water, disaster and climate siloes

A new Water and Climate Coalition has been launched to achieve more effective policy-making in an era when climate change, environmental degradation and population growth has exacerbated water-related hazards and scarcity. The coalition was announced at a high-level General Assembly event to speed up lagging progress towards the water-related SDGs and in particular SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation for all. The value of water is about much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. "Our discussion today isn't just about liquid in a bottle. It’s presence or absence means so, so much more. It's about dignity. It's about opportunity.

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It's about our health & our ability to survive," said General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir. In her opening remarks, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammad called on Governments to raise ambition on climate action as a key priority for achieving the water related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda. “I call on Governments to raise ambition on climate action. Increased flooding threatens to destroy water points and sanitation facilities and contaminate our water sources. I reiterate the call of the Secretary-General to allocate 50 per cent of climate finance to adaptation”, she said. “We are seeing a growing amount of disasters. Many of those disasters are related to water… The biggest impacts of climate change have to do with water,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof Petteri

Taalas in a video message. “We have to adapt to climate change. And one of the powerful ways to adapt to climate change is to invest in early warning services and meteorological and hydrological services.” A 15-member Water and Climate Leaders panel is fronting the international coalition spearheaded by WMO and 10 UN agencies. The Water and Climate Leaders group includes current and former government, business and civil society leaders as well as 2 youth representatives from all regions of the world. They will provide practical guidance on proper integration, information, cooperation and investment. WMO spearheads the new coalition because a major obstacle to provide efficient and sustainable water solutions is the lack of information about the currently available water resources, future availability and demand for food and energy supply. Decision makers are faced with the same dilemma when it comes to flood and drought risks. The Water and Climate Coalition is a voluntary effort to close the information gap in the water, food and energy nexus and tackle the growing water and climate-related impacts. Fit for purpose National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, embedded in regional and global information streams are a prerequisite for success. The Water and Climate coalition supports the implementation of the UN Water Action Decade through the UN-Water Global Accelerator Framework for SDG 6 with a concrete action mechanism.

EGYPT WILL DEVELOP CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION PROJECTS WORTH $5 BILLION Projects include various water saving approaches, wastewater treatment and desalination plants to support the country’s 2030 agenda

Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, announced the country will implement 43 projects to develop clean water and sanitation with EU backing worth $5 billion, reports Zawya. The funds represent over 19.4% of the Ministry of International Cooperation’s financing for sustainable development goal (SDG) 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation. The minister said during the EU – Africa green talk webinar on Water Sustainability and Clean Oceans, “Water replenishes our people, transports our trade, and is key to any industry. It is the foundation for all development growth and economic stability, and through our international partnerships for sustainable development, Egypt is dedicated to supporting green growth”.

She also added: “The projects cover a wide array of strategies in approaches of water saving, wastewater treatment and management plants and water desalination plants”. The new projects support Egypt’s 2030 agenda, an ambitious program to achieve green growth and encourage sustainable consumption and diversification of resources. “Through our economic diplomacy and our international partnerships for sustainable development, we continue work with multilateral and bilateral development partners to support green growth to sustainable future for the country,” the minister said, “Accordingly, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Egypt share a development portfolio of $2.5 bn, focusing on projects on energy, pollution compact, water management and transportation”.

SOUTH AFRICA UNLIKELY TO ACHIEVE UN’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL FOR WATER BY 2030 Progress is too slow, but the future of the country depends on water Dr Kevin Winter of the University of Cape Town's (UCT) Future Water Institute in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science has examined why South Africa is unlikely to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for water by 2030. The SDGs are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity by 2030. With fewer than nine years ahead, it is unlikely that South Africa will achieve the targets set for water. The final report to the UN is more likely to take the form of a rain check, claiming that the pandemic has interrupted the agenda for addressing the SDGs. South Africa will not be the only country making such a plea. However, access to and availability of water is crucial for the country to press on with its developmental agenda by using the SDGs to complement the National Development Plan and to use the opportunity as an international benchmark. Meeting water and sanitation challenges was never going to be easy. Poor economic growth, poor monitoring and data, increasing pollution, water stress, and insufficient supply are in the way. At current levels of progress and institutional capacity, these challenges are unlikely to be addressed within the next nine years. The water authorities will need to look outside of themselves. An independent water regulator could play a significant role as a facilitator to ensure greater participation of local communities and in strengthening public-private partnerships.

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OPINION

OSWARD M. CHANDA WATER SECURITY AND SANITATION DIVISION. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

NEW SANITATION AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT ATLAS: A FLASHLIGHT ON SANITATION CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA Access to sanitation is a human right, essential for preserving the narrow sense of the management of human faeces, but human dignity and attaining a high quality of life. It is also a extended to include the management of different wastewater social service with important contributions to human health, streams comprising municipal, industrial, urban stormwater poverty eradication, gender equity and economic develop- runoff, agricultural and medical wastewater streams as well as ment. Diarrheal diseases, linked to poor access to safe water the management of solid waste. The report has a graphically and inadequate sanitation, is the third leading cause of death appealing look and is rich in statistical facts and insightful in Africa. Studies have shown that for every dollar invested graphical illustrations. in water and sanitation, there is a return of 3-5 dollars in The report has a broad scope, which extends to water, sanisavings from medical and funeral expenses, care for the sick tation and hygiene coverage on the African continent; urban and increased productivity of the workforce, among others. versus rural disparities in service coverage levels; demographic Despite the obvious benefits from sanitation, a large pro- trends and impacts on sustainable development; surface and portion of the African population has no access to basic san- groundwater availability and water stress situation; approachitation, and many countries did not meet their sanitation es for sustainable management of wastewater streams includMDG target. The Joint Monitoring Programme for Water ing types of technologies used in wastewater treatment; wasteSupply, Sanitation and Hygiene water re-use and circular economy (JMP) report for 2019 indicates approaches on the continent; interThe report amplifies the that in 2017 about 750 million national, continental and national people in Africa (i.e., close to policy and regulatory frameworks huge deficit in sanitation 70% of the population) did not for the management of water and access in Africa and is a have access to basic sanitation sanitation; and country profiles on while over 200 million people water and sanitation. call to intensify efforts for (i.e., 20% of the population) The report amplifies the huge improving sanitation access practiced open defecation. deficit in sanitation access in AfriMany factors are responsible for ca and is a rallying call on African the dire situation in Africa. These include low levels of prior- governments, development partners, non-governmental oritization and investment in the sanitation sector; high capital ganisations, community-based organisations, businesses, uniinvestment cost of urban sanitation systems; poor policy and versities and research institutions, and private individuals to regulatory frameworks; weak water and sanitation utilities; intensify efforts for improving sanitation access on the contilow levels of awareness on sanitation and hygiene, and poor nent. Potential interventions include updating and increasing cultural practices and beliefs. An equally important contrib- the depth of data on water and sanitation; channelling finanuting factor is the lack of accurate information to support cial resources to support the preparation and implementation evidence-based policy and decision making on sanitation of urban and rural sanitation programmes, supporting efforts management. to document lessons and best practices; supporting advocacy, The latter situation – on a weak information base – information dissemination and awareness raising; improving changed with the publication of the first-ever Sanitation and the enabling environment for sanitation investments and proWastewater Management Atlas for Africa. This report promoting innovative approaches and technologies; and promotvides a comprehensive overview of the sanitation situation ing greater involvement of the private sector in financing the on the continent. Sanitation in the report is viewed, not in sanitation value chain.

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CLIMATE CHANGE

INTERVIEW

DR PETER BAUER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT AT THE EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MEDIUM-RANGE WEATHER FORECASTS (ECMWF)

“Emerging digital technologies present new opportunities to create a much more powerful digital replica of the Earth system” The objective of the Destination Earth initiative is to develop a very high precision digital model of our planet. It will monitor and simulate natural and human activity, and allow developing scenarios to support European environmental policies and foster sustainable development. Z Cristina Novo Pérez Destination Earth is a ground-breaking EU initiative to support the green transition by providing new Earth system simulation and observation capabilities. A digital twin of the Earth will be created, making it possible to explore natural processes and human actives in an interactive way. It is expected to enhance our ability to produce climate models with unprecedented detail and reliability. Thanks to it, policy-makers will be able to anticipate and mitigate the effects of climate change, saving lives and alleviating economic consequences in cases of natural disasters. The European Centre for Me-

"The concept of Destination Earth emerged from the need to greatly accelerate simulation model skill and observational data usage" 86

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dium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a major partner in the EU initiative alongside the European Space Agency and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). In this interview, Deputy Director of Research at ECMWF Peter Bauer gives an overview of Destination Earth and what we can expect from it as it unfolds. Can you tell us briefly about your career path and your current role at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)? I studied atmospheric physics in Germany and did my PhD on satellite remote sensing in Hamburg. I then joined the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and founded a group working on satellite remote sensing of clouds and precipitation. During this time, I also spent some time in the USA (NOAA and NASA) and France (IPSL). I joined ECMWF in 2000 where, after a few years, I took over the management of the satel-

lite section, then of the model division. At present, I am the deputy director of the research department and coordinate the ECMWF contribution to Destination Earth. The ECMWF recently presented EU plans to develop a high-precision digital model – a digital twin – of the Earth. Can you explain how the idea for Destination Earth emerged and evolved? What needs does it address? The concept of Destination Earth emerged from the need to greatly accelerate simulation model skill and observational data usage given the ap-

"In phase 1, the initial digital twins will focus on weather induced and geophysical extremes and climate change adaptation"

DR PETER BAUER

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INTERVIEW

Users will be from all sectors: traditional weather, climate and environmental services, civil protection, food, water, energy, etc. ECMWF Weather Room

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parent challenges that extremes and climate change have on our society. Some of this had been already proposed in a project called ExtremeEarth a few years ago and several publications over the years. The presently emerging novel digital technologies supporting high-performance computing, big data handling, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning present new opportunities to scale up what we are presently able to do and create a much more powerful, open and interactive way of digitally replicating the Earth-system and use this information in support of better policymaking for the green transition.

DR PETER BAUER Can you tell us about the planned timeline and milestones of Destination Earth? Destination Earth will be kicked off in mid-2021 and its first phase will last 30 months. However, we expect it to stretch throughout the entire EC funding framework period 2021-2027. The first phase will be an implementation phase, in which the digital twins, the core service platform and the data lake will be set up and connected. The initial digital twins will focus on weather-induced and geophysical extremes and climate change adaptation. The core service platform will be the access portal for everything that Destination

Earth produces and the data lake is Destination Earth’s virtual data repository. Phase 2, after 30 months, will then start production, scale-up these infrastructure components and increasingly widen user access, openness for data and models. Who are the potential users of the model? How will it be made available? The users will be from all sectors affected by extremes and climate change – from both public and private entities. That includes traditional weather, climate and environmental services, civil protection, food, water, energy, health and finance/insurance. The programme will make available data, models and services through its service platform that allows interactive access to Destination Earth data and models. This will guarantee interoperability and open and free access. What are the sources of the data fed into the digital twin, and how will it be kept up to date throughout the years? Destination Earth will use and disseminate the vast amounts of diverse observational data from satellites, surface networks, balloons, buoys etc. that our weather and climate community has been used to ingesting for decades. Both the volume and diversity of this data are growing rapidly. In addition, new observational data sources like IoT will be explored. A major data source will be Earth-system simulations based on very high-resolution models that we aim to combine with the observations such that we can produce the best possible representation of the Earth system at any given point in time and location. To what extent do you think the destination Earth initiative will help integrate green transition efforts across different sectors that depend on Earth data such as the water or the agricultural sectors?

"A major data source will be Earth-system simulations based on high-resolution models that we aim to combine with the observations" This is actually one of the main aims of Destination Earth as it will look at the Earth system – including the human sphere related to food and water management – in a holistic way. This should provide a much more integrated tool for planning policy measures and controlling their effectiveness. Where does Europe stand versus the rest of the world in terms of global-scale simulation and modelling? The global Earth-system modelling community is very well connected and there is a strong exchange between centres all over the world to advance our joint capabilities. An example of this is the strong role of the World Meteorological Organization in running joint development and operational programmes that also help disseminate developments across the globe. The quality of global weather and climate predictions is rather similar between the leading centres of the world, and it is important to maintain a common push for more realistic models and enhanced predictive skill. Where do you see the Destination Earth initiative 20 years from now? As a fully operational, highly accessible data analysis and modelling platform giving access to the best available simulation models combined with vast observational datasets, continually updated and fully connect to impact sectors like food, water, energy and health: the best possible digital replica of the Earth system monitoring the past and present and predicting the future.

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WATER & NEWS - CLIMATE CHANGE

DESIGN FIRM STANTEC LAUNCHES ITS INSTITUTE FOR WATER TECHNOLOGY & POLICY The Institute will identify emerging technologies to address water challenges and bridge the gap between science and practice

Global design firm Stantec has unveiled its newest initiative – the Stantec Institute for Water Technology & Policy (the Institute) – to explore the real-world impacts of a changing climate on the sustainability of water and the role of emerging technologies in water science and policy. The Institute engages scientists, engineers, and technology specialists across the globe to investigate questions at the forefront of transforming the water industry’s future. Of paramount importance is capitalizing on opportunities that accelerate sustainability and resiliency within the changing global climate, specifically through addressing the nexus of food, water, and energy by focusing on decarbonization and the circular economy. Many water systems are grappling with aging and deteriorating infrastruc-

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ture, changing customer bases, regulatory compliance, and climate change – all of which add to the growing costs of providing affordable and equitable water services. Many of the technical problems facing our water industry are solvable through the implementation of suitable policy and emerging technology. However, the pace of research and commercialization is not fast enough in many cases. And because the publicly owned water industry has tended to be risk averse, early adopters of water technology or new approaches often pay a premium to be first. “A primary mission of the Institute is to identify emerging and leading-edge technologies to help address the water challenges our communities face and bridge the gap between science and practice to de-risk their implementa-

tion. The Institute exists to demonstrate that solutions to preserve and protect water quantity and quality in the context of a changing global climate are both technologically available and achievable at any scale,” said Dr Art Umble, Stantec Senior Vice President, Global Sector Leader for Wastewater Treatment. The Institute will function as a connector – through work with experts at regional utilities, industrial water users, academic institutions, industry organizations, and technology providers – to explore technology-based solutions that reach across the entire hydrologic cycle. The Institute will leverage the firm’s breadth of expertise and strategic partnerships across the areas of water resources, water quantity, water quality, and water conveyance and their intersection with public and environmental policy. At the centre of the Institute’s activity is science-based data that will help inform decision makers setting water policy and addressing regulatory issues. “Our reputation is built on our experience working on some of the world’s largest and most technically challenging projects,” said Dr Rob Simm, Senior Vice President, Emergent Sector Leader. “We are in a unique position to help establish these critical connections due to our global reach and, most importantly, the strength and depth of our relationships across the water technology, venture capital, vendor, academic, and industry communities.”

CLIMATE CHANGE INFLUENCES RIVER FLOW, AN INDICATOR OF AVAILABLE WATER RESOURCES Recent research explores whether globally visible changes are attributable to climate change or water and land management River flow has changed significantly worldwide in recent decades. An international research team led by ETH Zurich has now demonstrated that it is climate change, rather than water and land management, that plays a crucial role at a global level. Climate change is affecting the water balance of our planet: depending on the region and the time of year, this can influence the amount of water in rivers resulting in more flooding or drought. River flow is an important indicator of water resources available to humans and the environment. The amount of available water also depends on further factors, such as direct interventions in the water cycle or land use change: if, for example, water is diverted for irrigation or regulated via reservoirs, or forests are cleared and monocultures grown in their place, this can have an impact on river flow. However, how river flow has changed worldwide in recent years was so far not investigated using direct observations. Similarly, the question of whether globally visible changes are attributable to climate change or water and land management had not been clarified. Now, an international research team led by ETH Zurich has broken down the influence of these factors, after analysing data from 7,250 measuring stations worldwide. The study, which has been published in the scientific journal Science, demonstrates that river flow changed systematically between 1971 and 2010. Complex patterns were re-

vealed – some regions such as the Mediterranean and north-eastern Brazil had become drier, while elsewhere the volume of water had increased, such as in Scandinavia. “The actual question, however, concerned the cause of this change,” says Lukas Gudmundsson, lead author and senior assistant in the group led by Sonia Seneviratne, professor at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich. To answer this question, the researchers carried out computer simulations, using global hydrological models fed with observed climate data from the period 1971 to 2010. The results of the model calculations matched the analysis of observed river flow. “This means that climatic conditions can explain the observed trends in the flow volumes”, says

Gudmundsson. In a second procedure, the researchers included additional water and land management in their simulations in order to study the influence of these factors. This did not affect the result, however. “Changes in water and land management are evidently not the cause of global changes in rivers”, he says. Although water management and land use can result in large local fluctuations in flow volumes, investigating it was not within the scope of the study, adds Gudmundsson: “For us, it was not about local trends but global changes that become visible over longer periods.” This is why the researchers did not consider data from individual measuring stations in isolation, but collated them into subcontinental regions for the analysis, making it possible to identify the influence of climate change.

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WATER & NEWS - CLIMATE CHANGE

SEVERAL STATES IN WESTERN U.S. LOOK AT CLOUD SEEDING TO TACKLE DROUGHT Researchers have shown cloud seeding technology can be used to generate snow, though it does not solve the root causes of drought

As the western U.S. continues to experience an ongoing drought, weather modification interventions to prompt precipitation are appealing to more states, reports The Guardian. At least eight states are now considering the use of cloud seeding to bring about precipitation. Interest in the technology is mounting across the world as global temperatures rise and drought risks increase. In the Colorado Basin, about $1.5 million are invested in cloud seeding every year, with costs shared by state agencies in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, as well as Nevada, California, New Mexico and Arizona. Until recently, there were many unknowns as to how well the technology works. Statistical studies have shown it may produce around 5 to 15% more snowfall,

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at a lower cost than water recycling or desalination. Recent research is providing new insight into how efficient cloud seeding is. Katja Friedrich, from the University of Colorado, Boulder, helped lead the SNOWIE project. “We can now finally put a number on how much water we can produce through cloud seeding”, she said. However, researchers caution that even though it is possible to generate snow, they have not shown it is possible to overcome drought. In fact, experts point out cloud seeding does not solve the root causes of drought and it’s unknown how it might work in a warming climate. It can be used to increase the water supply as part of a broader water resources plan that involves water demand as well as water supply management measures.

WATER AID REPORT WARNS CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS CLEAN WATER FOR WORLD'S POOREST Reliable and resilient water systems will protect vulnerable communities WaterAid’s latest report: Turn the tide: The state of the world’s water 2021 shows how people are losing access to clean water as droughts dry up springs, sea levels rise and landslides destroy water pumps. The international development organization shows investing in water systems that provide a reliable supply, regardless of the weather, is a frontline defence against the impacts of climate change. In the crucial battle to reduce global emissions, the situation faced now by those most impacted by climate change has been given little focus or investment. Without easy access to clean water, people’s lives are blighted by sickness, poverty and the endless drudgery of collecting water. For water, climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating problems caused by poor management of water resources, lack of political will and inadequate investment. With the current climate scenario, UN Water has predicted that water scarcity will displace between 24 million and 700 million people, by 2030. One in ten people worldwide do not have clean water close to home. The hours spent collecting water or recovering from waterborne illnesses robs entire communities of an opportunity to build a better future. Currently, only 5% of total global climate funding is spent on helping countries adapt to a changing climate, and that money is not targeted to communities most vulnerable to climate change. The most climate vulnerable countries receive just $1 per person per year for investment in water.

OPINION

RACHAEL MCDONNELL STRATEGIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR – WATER, CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESILIENCE, IWMI

PREPARING FOR DROUGHT IN THE WORLD’S MOST WATER-STRESSED REGION The pandemic aside, the past year saw natural disasters on an In Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco, the MENAdrought project has unprecedented scale bringing misery and millions of dollars of brought together experts in water management, modelling and destruction across the globe. Wildfires raged across the west- remote sensing, water planning and others to provide policymakern United States, while a hyperabundant summer monsoon ers, water managers and engineers with the training, data, tools brought floods and economic loss to much of southern China. and planning skills they need to cope with future water shortages. Scientific assessments link the increased intensity of these MENAdrought rests on three pillars: monitoring and earextreme events to human-induced climate change. But climate ly-warning systems; impact and vulnerability assessments; and change brings other impacts that do not grab headlines. Rains elevating the importance of drought mitigation, response and that are weeks late, until they finally arrive and are too sparse preparedness. and the growing season too short to harvest a normal crop. Too IWMI partnered with the US National Drought Mitigation little water can do as much damage as too much. Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to adapt their Agriculture, which uses 70% of global fresh water, is the most drought monitoring system to local conditions. Crucially, naobvious victim of drought, but it is enmeshed in a complex nex- tional partners were involved in the process so that they can us of interdependent sectors. Urbanization and economic devel- make use of satellite data locally while sustaining the effort and opment depend on water too, and improving the modelling for their because changing water regimes specific needs. The International Water have far-reaching consequences in A crucial planning tool is an Eneach sector, the management of wahanced Composite Drought Index Management Institute (IWMI) ter resources is becoming more vital (eCDI), which takes observations has been leading a USAIDand more difficult. from satellites, along with locally About one-third of the world’s specific historical data, to enable funded project to deliver the population lives in places subject evidence-based choices. The eCDI, basis for improved planning to water scarcity, and droughts are plus newly developed artificial ina natural part of the water cycle in telligence (AI)-enhanced seasonal many places. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), rainfall forecasting, gives scientific guidance for when to declare the most water-stressed region in the world, drought is an ev- a drought and when to trigger emergency relief. The geographer-present threat. Even a small fall in the availability of water ical specificity and local accuracy of the eCDI means that early threatens aspects of daily life, and drought multiplies existing mitigation can be directed to areas in greatest need, forestalling threats, amplifying tensions within the region. greater problems later on. Climate change will make droughts more frequent and Throughout the project, an overriding concern has been to perhaps more severe. Proactive drought management is more ensure close cooperation of water utilities and various governeffective and less expensive than crisis-led responses, which is ment departments responsible for sectors such as agriculture, why better planning and preparedness are vitally important. health and industry. As a crucial element in the entire waWe can no longer rely on the past as a guide to help us plan ter-food-energy nexus, integrated management is essential for for the future. As water managers learn to contend with the water and food security. Our work with MENAdrought has new normal, they need better models and tools. shown that proactive, evidence-based drought decision-making The International Water Management Institute has been leading can make a difference, with results that will be valuable far bea USAID-funded project to deliver the basis for improved planning. yond the Middle East and North Africa.

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SPEAKERS' CORNER

“IT’S OUR JOB TO KEEP REMINDING PEOPLE JUST HOW PRECIOUS WATER IS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PRESERVE EVERY DROP” Jonathan Bargh, External Communications Manager at Northumbrian Water Group. Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) is the British holding company for several companies in the water supply, sewerage and wastewater industries. Serving a large customer base, the firm has a responsibility to educate the population on adequate water usage, but also promote an internal comms strategy for its many workers. We spoke to Jonathan Bargh, External Communications Manager at Northumbrian Water Group, to discover the company’s approach in this respect.

Z Olivia Tempest How do you think communication in the water sector has evolved in recent years? I’ve been in the water industry for four years and I think some of biggest changes I’ve seen have been in the sector’s approach to social media. Some companies have really kicked on and evolved how they use their channels, and some have established themselves as really interesting and engaging accounts, even for people not specifically interested in the industry, which is no mean feat! I think there are some brilliant examples of great customer service taking place via water company social media channels with direct messaging support and operational updates during incidents. And what I also really love is that social media has given a platform for people who work in the industry to share more about what they do. Real people, who do real jobs in the water industry can get across

their expertise and passion directly to customers, stakeholders and the wider public. They’re able to share stories, experiences, opinions firsthand through social media channels and that’s brilliant. There’s more of this than ever and it’s making a difference. Why do you think it is important to communicate about water? Because it’s amazing. It’s a huge part of all of our lives, we use it every day in all kinds of ways and, most importantly, unless we protect it then it will run out! We have to keep reminding people about this because it’s really easy, especially in the UK, to take clean water for granted. For most of us, we turn on the tap and it comes out. That’s pretty much all we have to worry or think about. But water is a finite resource and it is running out. It’s our job to keep reminding people just how precious

it is and how important it is to preserve every drop. That way we can ensure that generations to come will always have access to clean water. What are the most challenging aspects of communicating about the work of the water industry? It’s a quite technical and complicated industry, and rightly so because some of the amazing work that our teams have to do is pretty technical and complicated. Ever tried designing and building a reservoir from scratch? So trying to get that across in a way everyone can understand can be challenging at times, but we’re getting much better at doing this. It’s also really tough to get noticed. We’re competing with everyone else for attention and it’s a real challenge to ensure that we get some of it. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the water industry just isn’t that sexy and

we have to be super creative and clever with our communications to make them stand out. It’s difficult but it’s a brilliant challenge and forces you as a communicator to get better! Could you highlight one of your company’s communication success stories? Our ‘Bin the Wipe’ campaign has been amazing and led to real change which we’re delighted with. Like all water companies, we have issues with wet wipes causing havoc with our networks and sewer systems. We’d done lots of campaigns and initiatives on the issue previously to try and help but never really been able to get a significant change in customers’ behavior. In 2020, we launched ‘Bin the Wipe’. The campaign aimed to make a real impact and reduce the number of wet wipes being flushed down toilets once and for all.

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MEDIA LIBRARY BY: OLIVIA TEMPEST SOMETHING TO READ...

WATER WARS Sharing the Colorado River

Authors Bruce J. Carter and Douglas Winslow Cooper recently released their new non-fiction book, where they address the future of the world’s supplies of clean water by exploring in-depth the U.S.A.’s Colorado River Basin and analyze a variety of approaches that have been used and proposed to manage provision and allocation of the basin’s water. SOMETHING TO WATCH...

ALL IS LOST When courage is lost, all is lost

Set in the Indian Ocean, award-winning actor Robert Redford wakes to find water flooding his boat and then encounters a devastating tropical storm. J.C. Chandor’s second feature film is a survival drama film, which was released in 2013. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Editing and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.

SOMETHING TO ENJOY...

JUST LIKE A RIVER DOES Exploring her lost soul Last year, the British singer-songwriter Birdy released ‘Just Like a River Does’, in which the artist mourns her lost and wandering soul. In the single, she compares herself to a ‘river’, an entity that flows without a home. A phenomenon since she was just twelve years old, at the age of 24, she continues to produce beautiful and heart-wrenching melodies

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