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FROM THE EDITOR

THE INDUSTRY THAT IS CHANGING THE WORLD "For those young professionals looking to pursue a career in water and wastewater, I would tell them that there is no better way to make a real difference, locally and globally, than working in this industry. There are still challenges to be solved, solutions to be discovered and, more than anything, there are still millions of people that can benefit from their drive, passion, and innovation.”

This quote from Manuel Parra, Vice President of Practice Management at Xylem and featured on our cover, is my favourite in this fifth issue of Smart Water Magazine Monthly. And I think it's something we should all emphasize.

At a time of great social, economic and technological change, it is essential for our sector to be able to attract young talent who can contribute new ideas to solving the enormous challenges of the coming years.

This historic 2020 will be remembered as a turning point in which we became aware of our vulnerability as a species, PUBLISHER 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

but also of our resilience and capacity to respond to an adverse situation. In this, the water industry has been exemplary: keeping the services of billions of clients without any notable incidents, applying technology to manage assets remotely and collecting data that has allowed better decisions to be made, or opening up new niches such as epidemiological surveillance through wastewater. If we add to these milestones the adaptation and mitigation of climate change, the transition to a circular economy and the progress to achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals, we complete a very attractive roadmap for young people who are currently considering their professional future.

These young people are also one of the most loyal audiences for our pub-

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

lication, which with this issue closes a year of explosive growth in which we have been able to multiply our reach in the five continents and consolidate Smart Water Magazine as one of the reference brands for the water community. I would like to thank all those who have contributed in one way or another to this success: advertisers, writers, readers and, above all, the exceptional team that makes this product possible. What we have achieved in this 2020 has reaffirmed our conviction that we are on the right path to lead the way in water information on a global scale. In 2021 we will continue to inform how you are all helping to change the world.

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 05 - NOV 2020 FEATURE

INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW

FEATURE

A CIRCULAR ECONOMY FACE SCRUB?

2020: THE YEAR OF ACTION

REFUGEES RECEIVE RIGHTS TO WATER

IRRIGATING DIGITALLY IN THE DESERT

Pg. 52 KWR Water Research explains what beauty products and water treatment have in common through a circular economy in this article.

Pg. 62 We speak with Manuel Parra, Vice President of Practice Management at Xylem, on solving water resources management challenges.

Pg. 76 A UNHCR team of engineers in charge of WASH operations come up with a solution to guarantee refugees their rights to water.

Pg. 12 The Spain-based Hidroconta develops a digital irrigation modernisation project for JADCO, in the arid landscape of Saudi Arabia.

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CONTENTS NUMBER 05 - NOV 2020 FEATURE

FEATURE

INTERVIEW

FEATURE

PERNIK AND ITS NEW SUPPLY NETWORK

ENSURING TOURISM DOESN’T GO THIRSTY

WORKING FOR THE WATER INDUSTRY

THE PAST OF WATER TECHNOLOGIES

Pg. 44 Molecor completes a demanding project: supplying the drought-stricken city of Pernik in Bulgaria with drinking water in record time.

Pg. 34 Almar Water Solutions wants to protect the tourism market in water-scarce regions. To do so, it recently acquired Ridgewood Egypt.

Pg. 18 How is the COVID-19 pandemic and digitalization impacting the labour market? We speak with Lyle King at CM Industrial to find out.

Pg. 24 The history of civilization is the history of water technologies. Find out why by reading Walid Khoury’s in-depth chronicle.

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CONTENTS NUMBER 05 - NOV 2020

FEATURE

INFRASTRUCTURE

OPINION

INTERVIEW

PROTECTING CITIZENS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE

NO MORE ACQUA ALTA IN VENICE?

P3: THE ANSWER IN THE US?

TEENAGERS SOLVE WATER PROBLEMS

Pg. 94 In the face of increasing flooding and droughts, countries, cities and communities search for the right tools to protect themselves.

Pg. 101 We uncover the long-awaited MOSE system, a complex project of 78 mobile floodgates to protect the city of Venice, in Italy.

Pg. 32 Eva Arnaiz, Country Manager USA at Aqualia ponders on how to solve the States’ aging infrastructure and modernize its water supply.

Pg. 48 Two young Japanese minds combine scientific knowledge and experimentation to revolutionize the way water is used for agriculture.

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CONTENTS NUMBER 05 - NOV 2020 THE MAGAZINE FOR THE KEY PLAYERS OF THE WATER SECTOR

#SWMM5 SPEAKERS' CORNER

WATER COMPANIES’ COMMUNICATIONS Pg.102 Dr Greg Allgood, Vice President of Water, World Vision U.S. gives us his thoughts on good communication techniques for the sector.

INTERVIEW

THE THREAT OF PFAS CHEMICALS Pg. 38 We speak to Dr Olga Naidenko, an expert on the adverse health effects of PFAS in drinking water in the US and rest of the world.

RANKING

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

PEOPLE

PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE Pg. 10 Mario Molina, winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1995, dedicated his life to study the effects of climate change on society.

OPINION

TOWARDS ZLD IN DESALINATION Pg. 42 Christos Charisiadis describes a smart, customised approach to make the most of brine concentration technologies and water mining.

FEATURE

MEASURE, EMPOWER, IMPROVE Pg. 58 Schneider Electric improves the operational value of treatment plants with the latest technology and continuous improvement processes.

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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?

5

SWM Points

SWM Like

10

Page views

1

Verified users

2

SWM Points

10

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

1.307 points 922 points 861 points 627 points 549 points 511 points 509 points 428 points 379 points 364 points

Schneider Electric ACCIONA Idrica Almar Water Solutions Hidroconta Veolia SUEZ Membracon Isle Utilities Miya

TOP 5 - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONS

TOP 5 - BLOGS

PUB Singapore’s N. Water Agency 288 points

Karl-Uwe Schmitz

Gov. Hong Kong (WSD)

268 points

Kristin Savage

657 points

US EPA

126 points

Madhukar Swayambhu

626 points

RIVM Dutch

115 points

Graham Mann

505 points

US NASA

93 points

Robert Brears

321 points

1.184 points

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PERSON OF THE MONTH

MARIO MOLINA THE PRIZE-WINNING CHEMIST WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Mario Molina, winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1995, always believed science should be in service of society. For this reason, he dedicated his life to shine a light and delve deep into the planet’s major environmental challenges, such as the climate crisis and the thinning of the ozone layer.

This always inquisitive scientist published a paper alongside Frank Sherwood Rowland in 1974 on how chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, chemicals used in a range of products, were a major cause in the thinning of the ozone layer.

Molina’s discovery would then lead him to contribute to the drafting of the Montreal Protocol. Finalized in 1987, this global

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agreement was the first of its kind for the protection of the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

A decade later, Molina and American scientist Sherwood were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their discovery in which they both predicted that the emission of chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs) would cause a hole in the ozone layer.

The Mexican chemist, who passed away last month at the age of 77, first became enchanted by the power of science at a very young age while he was observing the micro-organisms in a drop of water with a toy microscope.

BUSINESS

FEATURE

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HIDROCONTA

Z

Z

Project team on site.

Ana Valverde Serrano, Export Manager at Hidroconta Carlos Arteaga Sรกnchez, Project Manager at Hidroconta

According to MEWA, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, the country has enough water reserves in its groundwater aquifers for hardly sixty years, if water extraction continues at the current rate.

Hidroconta, a leading Spanish company in water technology, has developed a project to control and monitor water withdrawal from groundwater aquifers for agricultural purposes in the region of Al Jouf, with JADCO (Al Jouf Agricultural Development Company).

84% of the water available in the country is used for agricultural purposes. Of that amount, 81% comes from non-renewable groundwater aquifers, 8% from desalination, 8% from renewable aquifers, and finally, 3% from treated wastewater.

Widely known as the "Desert Kingdom", Saudi Arabia is drying up. According to UNESCO professor Radwan al-Weshah, the country suffers the worst aquifer crisis in the world, and drought threatens the main water reserves, seriously impacted.

Some causes may be noted, including fast groundwater depletion, almost null input from rainfall, and a trend towards irresponsible consumption, with an average that is twice as high as the European average per capita consumption and is even higher in high-income areas.

The development of the agri-food industry in the country is extremely difficult because of the climate conditions.

However, the Saudi government supports the development of local agriculture to decrease the reliance on third-country products and become self-sufficient, even exporting certain products such as wheat.

Only 2% of the country's surface area is arable land, and even with intensive irrigation and agriculture techniques, Saudi Arabia has always depended on food imports. Agriculture makes up only 2.34% of the country's GDP (2008).

The main agricultural products cultivated in Saudi Arabia are dates, wheat, tomatoes, grapes, tropical and subtropical fruits, citrus fruits, potatoes, cucumbers and gherkins, melon and watermelon.

The Saudi Vision 2030 is a strategic framework to reduce Saudi Arabia's reliance on oil, diversify its economy and develop sectors like health, education, infrastructure, entertainment and tourism.

As part of Vision 2030, the government has been investing in irrigation projects to develop its arable land and respond to rapid population growth. Advanced irrigation equipment is required to successfully implement the plan, enabling optimum use of water and related products, like high-performance seeds.

In this context, Hidroconta has developed an irrigation modernisation project for the AlJouf Agricultural Development Company (JADCO), a Saudi company

"Hidroconta has developed a project to control and monitor water withdrawal from groundwater aquifers in the region of Al Jouf" - MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

The development of the agri-food industry in Saudi Arabia is extremely difficult because of the challenging climate conditions

created in 1988. Hidroconta, with extensive experience in the modernisation of irrigated areas and the implementation of remote control systems in different countries, has developed a system with its own exclusive technology that can be adapted to the needs of any project. In this specific case, the needs of the Saudi company are quite unique given the scarce water resources in the area.

JADCO is located in the Busaita Wadi Alsarhan-Al Jouf district, in the northern region of Saudi Arabia. The project total surface area spans 60,000 hectares of fertile land located above fossil groundwater reserves, and the climate conditions favour the cultivation of almost any crop, like wheat, barley, corn, fodder, potatoes, onions, fruits and olive trees.

Hidroconta has supplied to this company the technology to manage remotely

"Hidroconta has developed an irrigation modernisation project for the AlJouf Agricultural Development Company (JADCO), a Saudi company" 14

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The distances between the centre points of the pivots are approximately 1 km to the adjoining pivot and 1.47 km to the one located diagonally. Those distances represent the dispersion of the control points in the system.

The main objective of the project is to read the flow rates extracted through the

their irrigation systems (whether central pivot or drip irrigation systems). The company, along the lines of the country's new strategy, is adapting its crops and irrigation techniques.

The project was made possible thanks to an excellent collaborative relationship with the Alkhorayef Group, which works on agriculture and irrigation projects for large international producers. This partner is present worldwide, with operations in more than forty countries that represent products and manufacturers of known quality.

Control of water withdrawals The scope of the project comprises the facilities of JADCO, a company located in the province of Al Jouf, in northern Saudi Arabia. The closest town is Tabarjal, at the edge of the cultivated land area. The company grows cereal using pivot irrigation and fruit trees using drip irrigation.

The water used in the agricultural operations is drawn through very deep boreholes. Water is extracted with hydraulic pumps powered by high-power, high-capacity diesel engines. Each borehole irrigates a sector, and each pivot has a diameter of approximately 800 m, therefore each pivot irrigates a surface area of more than 50 hectares.

Location in Saudi Arabia.

HIDROCONTA boreholes and log them automatically and remotely. The project must meet the following requirements: J Precise flow rate data logging.

J Permanent connection of remote reading equipment.

J A complete solution with a single module.

J Simple installation.

J Weathering resistance under extreme conditions: large variations in temperature in the desert, plus sand storms.

The solution provided by Hidroconta The two issues the project must address are, on one hand, precise measurement

of water flow rates and, on the other hand, remote reading, historical data log and data visualisation.

The meter converter and the DemĂŠter telemetry terminal were set up inside a protective case to endure the harsh conditions in the desert and facilitate the installation of a single piece of equipment,

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FEATURE connected and operational from the moment it leaves the factory.

Reading the extracted flow rates To read the flow rates, we decided to use Hidroconta Hidromag electromagnetic flow meters, specifically the version with a separate converter and powered with 220 V AC. The energy necessary to power it will come from alternators coupled to the diesel engines already installed in the operations.

In this model, the processing is fully digital, with higher resistance to noises and producing more reliable measurements; it has the flow rate and volume data outputs necessary for the connection to the remote control system.

The working principle of the HIDROMAG electromagnetic meter is based on Faraday's Law of Magnetic Induction. The sensor consists mainly of a measuring tube with an insulation coating, a pair of electrodes inserted in the measuring tube, and a pair of coils and iron cores to produce the magnetic field. When the conductor liquid goes through the measuring tube, a voltage is produced between the electrodes, which is directly proportional to the speed of the liquid. The signal is amplified and processed by the converter to carry out the different functions shown in the display.

Communication between devices and remote data visualisation In order to enable remote data reading and historical data logging, we installed Hidroconta's Deméter System with Deméter 4H GPRS terminals.

The Deméter 4H is a remote management and monitoring device for hydrants

"Hidroconta has supplied to this company the technology to manage remotely their irrigation systems (central pivot or drip irrigation)" 16

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and measuring equipment used in water consumption and distribution systems.

The installation of autonomous GPRS terminals enables controlling water extraction from aquifers; the information can be accessed from anywhere in the world through the Internet, and it is updated in real-time.

Deméter terminals are fully autonomous. They are battery-powered and they can also be charged with a small solar panel. Moreover, they can communicate with a central server using GPRS technology or free band radio; they can work continuously for six months in the absence of communications with no loss of information.

Deméter 4H operates through a microcontroller that has 256 kB for firmware storage and 96 kB of volatile memory for program data. In addition, it has a 244 kB external non-volatile memory to store historical data and the configuration. That is enough to store more than 20,000 records.

The Deméter equipment has different analogue and meter inputs: Analogue inputs: two 0-20/4-20 mA analogue inputs with 10-bit resolution.

The equipment has a 15 Vdc terminal to power the probes.

Meter inputs: four meter inputs designed for a reed type potential free contact. Consumption is 30uA with the closed contact, but they can be used as well with “open collector” pulse emitters (ensuring correct polarity).

In the Jadco installation, we used a meter input and an analogue input, thus enabling precise recording of the total volume extracted as well as instant extraction flow rates at each point in time.

Furthermore, the device has outputs for latching solenoid valves, and also general-purpose digital input and output, not used in this project.

In terms of communications, the Deméter 4H has a low consumption quadband GPRS modem (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) with a broad temperature range from -40 to 85 degrees Celsius, which is a must given de project location.

The implementation of Hidroconta's Deméter System includes a SCADA-web user interface that allows operating the equipment from any device connected to the Internet. The software allows detecting alarms, controlling quotas, generating historical data logs and managing users, through the Deméter Web application.

The Deméter Web application is a web tool to control remote units. The application can be opened from any web browser, such as a browser in a computer, a tablet or any mobile device. The system can be visualised, managed and maintained through this tool.

The interface can be accessed with a user and password.

HIDROCONTA The software allows the registration of new users by introducing their data, user name and password, together with their level of access to the system.

The administrator can decide which elements of the network can be seen or modified by each user.

Monitoring the hydraulic network is guaranteed with synoptic animated charts. Each system terminal is related to each DemĂŠter remote unit installed in the network. The units can be located using the search tool or a specific code (identifier) assigned by the user and which is shown at the top of the window. Each terminal's window has several tabs:

The main objective of the project is to read the flow rates extracted through the boreholes and log them automatically and remotely

Cultivated area and neighbouring towns.

J Status: it shows basic information about the terminal, including whether it is active (being used) or disabled, the date and time of the last connection, the total volume of the associated meter, the number and type of equipment connected, the status of the terminal, including the GPRS model, the battery or solar panel and general reports.

J Summary: it shows the information of the connected equipment in a table format to facilitate a quick overview of the network status.

J Configuration: it shows with several drop-down menus the basic equipment configuration, including the assigned identifier, the search criteria, the battery alarm levels, the configuration of communications and the GPRS link, the alerts that have been set up with the type and predefined thresholds, or the historical data log.

J Programs: it allows access to the valve and digital output programs of the elements linked to the device.

J Alarms: if they are enabled, it shows the active alarms in the terminal.

Reports: it allows showing in a chart or a table the historical data for the terminal and the connected elements.

J Manage elements: it allows enabling or disabling the equipment inputs and outputs, so the user can connect new equipment whenever the system undergoes modifications.

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INTERVIEW

LYLE KING BUSINESS MANAGER, WATER & UTILITIES AT CM INDUSTRIAL

“I foresee a water industry that will be information-centric with a work force intertwined with technologies promoting efficiency” Z Cristina Novo Pérez The water industry faces unprecedented changes, as digital technology transforms the way we work and the way we consume. Accordingly, the labour market in the sector is evolving fast.

Water sector careers are evolving as organisations adapt to the opportunities and challenges of new technologies in water management. How is the sector responding to the need for a workforce with old and new skills? And where is the talent? Lyle King is a recruitment consultant with CM Industrial that specialises in the global water and utilities market. Passionate about water, you might have read his articles on key issues like water scarcity. In this interview, Lyles gives us some insights into the labour market in the water industry.

"One of the changes that I’ve seen over the last few years is the ever-growing need for digital technologies, accelerated by COVID-19" 18

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Could you tell us briefly about your career path and your current role in CM Industrial?

I’m Lyle, a Business Manager with CM Industrial and I provide a global executive recruitment service for companies operating across the water industry. I started with CM Industrial, part of the Charlton Morris Group, as a recruitment consultant in January 2016. This was after graduating from the University of Leeds with a BSc in Aviation Technologies & Management, with a background in manufacturing and precision engineering.

Since 2016, my role at CM Industrial has developed to the role I hold at the moment where I’m now leading a team of consultants that specialise in the water industry. We work with a variety of different companies from start-ups/SME’s through to multinational conglomerates that operate across a variety of different clean water and wastewater sectors.

LYLE KING

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INTERVIEW These range from single product line manufacturers to multi-brand technology manufacturers, full-service providers, contractors/consultancies and utilities.

We pride ourselves on staying engaged with professionals in the water industry, who we know don’t always want to talk about recruitment. That’s why we create, collaborate on and share water-focused content, via the CM Industrial website too.

To what extent has the water sector workforce evolved in terms of their education and skills in recent years?

One of the main changes that I’ve seen over the last few years is the ever-growing need for digital technologies, accelerated by COVID-19, across the water industry, and the way that companies are shifting their talent needs to reflect this.

Industrial water facilities and utilities alike are using digitally enhanced technologies including remote monitoring, data analytics, IoT and IIOT systems in an effort to promote energy optimisation, reduce water consumption and allow operators to remotely monitor their water assets. Many of these trends have been on-going for a number of years but some predictions suggest that only 3% of the data that is being collected across the water industry is extracting anything of value which would suggest there is a lot yet to achieve on the digital front. Further to this, as you can imagine, many companies have seen an accelerated demand for digital technologies/systems, when the ability to be physically present, has been significantly impacted by COVID-19!

This trend means that the industry requires more digitally apt and technologi-

"Companies should be taking a pro-active approach so that they have immediate access to highly skilled and highly relevant talent" 20

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cally focused talent to help shift the industry into this new digital age and satisfy the demand for more digital technologies. I’m seeing an increase in demand for software engineers and developers, and profiles with backgrounds in electronic/electrical engineering more generally, with a reduced demand for legacy-type operators.

I foresee a water industry that will be information-centric with a workforce intertwined with a variety of technologies promoting efficiency.

What challenges do water sector organisations face when it comes to recruiting, training and retaining talent?

One of the main challenges is that the recruitment market is a very busy market and it can be difficult for companies to stand out from the crowd. The vast majority of (good) candidates are usually only passively looking for their next career change, so it’s incredibly important for companies to have a talent pipelining strategy and roadmap in place. This will provide a sustainable model that lets you access quality talent immediately and saves you from waiting around for good candidates to reach out to you, or answer job advertisements that they might miss.

Companies should be taking a pro-active approach so that they have immediate access to highly skilled and highly relevant talent which stems from a having a strong employer brand that attracts talent, rather than having to seek out talent.

Another problem that companies can run into is the number of simultaneous interview processes that individual candidates can be in at any one time, making it even harder to attract talent. There are ways, however, that companies can differentiate themselves from competing businesses. One way to do this is to make your recruitment process efficient; arrange interviews with prospect candidates as quickly as possible, don’t delay an interview process, offer constructive feedback (positive or negative) and make the interview process an engaging dialogue between the prospect candidate and the hiring team.

Once you’ve done this, and you’ve added top-quality talent to your team, make sure there are clear goals for them to progress. Offer training and other ways for them to develop. Companies must train in order to retain, or risk employees leaving for more progressive opportunities.

There is talk about an upcoming wave of retirements in the water workforce and the need to replace them. What are your thoughts on this?

LYLE KING This is a common theme for many (if not all) industries and I think this is heightened by the fact that there is already a shortage of skilled workers, but ultimately it’s a problem that all companies will face at some point or another. The most effective way to manage this is by having a pro-active talent pipelining strategy, as I mentioned earlier, so that you have a pipeline of successors in place in the run-up to retirement.

The water sector is known as a traditional sector. Are there challenges to

attract talent with the skills needed to navigate the digital transformation of the sector successfully?

This is very true for the water industry and I think we’ll see more and more talent coming from outside of this sector, with transferable skill sets, that will enable the industry to continue its digital expansion. Attracting talent from outside of the industry can have its challenges but I also think that a career in the water industry offers many other benefits that will naturally attract talent.

An important tool to use, when companies are looking to hire from outside of the industry, is the data itself. There are platforms available on the market which allow companies to identify potential candidate pools for specific geographies/locations, which can be tailored further to show the pool of candidates that are available with a particular set of skills. This essentially means that companies will know how likely they are to attract talent of a certain criteria, before even doing a search. This then allows a company to focus its time

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INTERVIEW

and energy on an area that will deliver results, from a wider candidate pool.

We’re entering an age where sustainability initiatives are seen as more than just environmental standards, but one that impacts us all on an economic and

"Once you’ve added top quality talent, make sure there are clear goals for them to progress: offer training and other ways to develop" 22

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social level. There are global challenges and issues that the water industry is facing; water scarcity, sanitation and climate change (to name a few), all of which are very complex issues, by nature, with many complex solutions.

Companies that are operating across the industry have the ability to make a real impact on these global problems and the opportunity to be a part of this will play a key part in the industry’s ability to attract talent from other areas.

Women are notoriously underrepresented in technical and managerial positions in the water sector. Does this

lack of gender diversity ever come up in your area of work, and to what extent do you think it affects the water industry?

This is something that is rightfully getting more attention. I think this is a problem not synonymous with the water sector alone, but on a much wider basis across many industrial/engineering industries.

Diversity brings so many advantages like increased productivity, creativity and even higher retention rates. A balanced team of individuals from diverse backgrounds, with different experiences, often offer different ways of approaching problems and more rounded thinking.

LYLE KING

We’ll see talent coming from outside of this sector, with transferable skills, that will enable it to continue its digital expansion

from all corners of the water industry are beginning to adopt technology in the way they use water. Data collection and data analytics can (and no doubt will) play a huge part in how the water industry moves forward. Digital systems can offer a range of savings from energy consumption, carbon emissions and maintenance savings.

Going digital could lead to a gap in the talent market, which may mean that companies look outside of water and particularly to the tech markets to bring in the necessary talent.

That’s why we need to move towards a more diverse workforce, not simply gender but ethnic and sexuality diversity too.

It’s so refreshing to see women and people from diverse backgrounds being appointed as board members and in leadership positions. D&I is so important in today’s recruitment market. I think this is an area that will see a significant change in the years to come.

What trends do you expect to see in the water industry’s labour market in the coming years?

Everyone’s talking about digitalisation.

I think it’s very apparent that customers

Do you see a trend towards the expansion of green careers in general?

Do you think the COVID-19 recovery provides an opportunity to boost green jobs?

Absolutely! We’re seeing an increased demand for green energy and green technology. I think sustainability is becoming a priority across the market which, up to this point, has largely been driven from international bodies such as the UN’s 2030 agenda, the Paris agreement and the European Union’s Green Deal.

There’s now a growing expectation for companies to become more sustainable.

As part of this, I think that companies

will be promoting their sustainability initiatives as a way of differentiating themselves from the competition.

There are already some excellent examples of how companies have reduced their water footprint with the introduction of water recycling and re-use technologies, as part of CSR initiatives. A great example of this is L’Oréal’s “Dry Factory” which is re-using 100% of its industrial process water, but other big household names include Microsoft, PepsiCo, Heineken, IKEA and Amazon that are all investing into better water management processes.

Another great example of how companies are embracing sustainability is how the UK’s water companies have collectively agreed to become carbon neutral by 2030. I think one of the main challenges these companies/sectors face when trying to achieve these ambitious targets is how they continue to support business operations whilst reducing carbon emissions and water footprint!

Naturally, if these organisations are going to achieve these ambitious targets, the “green” job market will need to grow accordingly. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops in the coming years!

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FEATURE

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME (OR A LIQUID HISTORY): HOW ANCIENT WATER SYSTEMS INSPIRED TODAY'S WATER TECHNOLOGIES Where there is water, there is life. The history of civilization is the history of water technologies. To thrive, society must engineer technologies to harness the essential resource: water. The life of civilization flows as the world explores ways to store, transport, and purify drinking water and smartly eliminate or recycle wastewater.

Water is the fountainhead of culture and innovation.

Z

Michael Stanley Gallisdorfer, Water Technology Expert

Civilizations face two main water problems: abundance and distribution.

Where there is too much water, the rule of survival is to stay above. But also, how do you survive when and where there is too little water?

Like in the ancient Fertile Crescent, the Middle East is watered by rain falling in Turkey’s mountains and northern Iraq. In Mesopotamia, the “land between two rivers,” the Tigris and the Euphrates, early civilizations capitalized on a gravity-fed system of irrigation canals. That was the first form of irrigation. It boosted food production, especially grain, which fermented a Sumerian innovation - beer.

As ancient fans of beer, the Egyptians also prioritized safe drinking water. In Khem, people used a gravity filter to pu-

The life of civilization flows as the world explores ways to store and purify drinking water and smartly eliminate or recycle wastewater 24

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Z Walid Khoury, Global Water Strategist

rify muddy water drawn from the Nile with alum. The coagulating effect of aluminum sulfate, Al2(SO4)3, causes suspended particles to clump. This speeds up filtration, making more water available. It is the first known chemical water treatment.

Another drinking water system was developed in ancient India and China. As ancient Hindu texts reveal, they used heat, sunlight, and copper to purify water. Filtration using cloth, sand, and charcoal was also used to capture other contaminants. Purified water is then stored in earthen vessels. This enriches it with minerals and increases its alkalinity, improving its bioavailability.

Storing water is the 'savings account' for civilization. The Nabateans saved water by using clay pots to limit evaporation when watering crops. Surviving dry times was possible in Istanbul, Turkey, mainly because of the Cisterna Basilica, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns. In Rajasthan, Northern India, Chand Baori provided water throughout the year.

In arid landscapes, water storage and flood protection go together. Dams and

diversion structures built nearly 6,000 years ago at Jawa, in modern Jordan, prove this. The Ma'rib Dam, built by the Sabaeans in Yemen, relied on natural drainage patterns to create an artificial lake, watering crops in their domain.

Ancient civilizations constructed water supply systems by applying two basic hydraulic principles- 'water flows downhill’ and ‘water finds its own level.’ Early

JOURNEY THROUGH TIME Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, one of the best-preserved elevated Roman Aqueducts Š suronin

Roman engineers supplied through their extensive hydraulic aqueduct system.

They used the inverted siphon, a hydraulic structure that creates a pressurized flow in a pipe, to overcome gravity and transport water across valleys. An efficient delivery system means that a civilization spends less time and energy transporting water, letting it grow and become more complex.

A more-effective water system means more free energy for a civilization. In mountainous landscapes, this means slowing water down, reducing its erosive power, and capturing it for irrigation. Terracing creates long, complex groundwater flow paths, giving crops’ root systems a chance to absorb water in dry mountain landscapes. In Lebanon, nearly 3000 years ago, the natives divid-

ed the terraced fields into small, shallow basins to irrigate the famous cedar forests for this reason. The ancient Chinese and Inca, in South America, similarly terraced their mountain fields. Today, the 'Djessure' irrigation technique in Tunisia is still widely used, allowing olive and other tree species to grow in areas where it rains less than 250 mm per year.

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FEATURE

Yerebatan Saray or Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, Turkey, capable of holding 80,000 m3 of water Š Luciano Mortula

Many of the great cities of the world suffer from the opposite problem: too much water. When and where there is too much

Today, 150 years after Dr Snow's work in spatial epidemiology, wastewater surveillance helps predict and forestall coronavirus outbreaks 26

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water, there are two main choices: work around the water or make the water work around you. The ancient inhabitants of the Beni savannah in the Upper Amazon basin in Bolivia built mounds and causeways to avert disaster by working around floods. Banks composed of earthenware fragments and charcoal were created as fertile green islands sustaining pockets of life in the floodplain matrix. As ecological engineers, the people of the Beni fostered the growth of the forest found there today.

Once a civilization has enough water, it has to learn how to get rid of it. Another testament to Roman engineering is the Cloaca Maxima. Began 2,600 years ago, it is one of the world’s most ancient and reliable sewage systems, operating to this day. This semi-artificial sewer, created by enclosing, canalizing, and augmenting natural streams, was later developed in London, Buffalo, New York, and other cities in the 19th century. Sewer systems protect a population from disease, keeping a civilization healthy. A prime

JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Some modern water technologies function like ancient ones. Clay earthen vessels naturally exchange ions with the water stored in them

example comes from mid-19th century England. During a cholera epidemic in London, in 1854, British scientist John Snow determined that a water pump contaminated by raw, cholera-bearing sewage was the source of the epidemic.

This paved the way for water disinfection when chlorine was first used in the late 19th century to combat typhus, cholera, and other water-borne pathogens.

Today, 150 years after Dr Snow's early work in spatial epidemiology, wastewater surveillance helps predict and forestall

coronavirus outbreaks. Idrica's GoAigua, a wastewater surveillance platform, uses GIS and AI/machine learning to track COVID-19 in Europe and the U.S. Sampling sewage allowed Eau de Paris to detect a change in the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 corresponding to the COVID-19 curve in the capital region. Using a similar approach, the University of Arizona was able to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from a dorm. Early detection of coronavirus in sewage flowing from that dorm led the university to test all 311 students living there. Two asymptomatic individuals were quickly identified and quarantined, preventing unnecessarily harsh and disruptive measures, like lockdowns.

Avoiding unnecessary disruptions keeps civilization humming. Many ancient water technologies could be catalysts for solving the world's water problems today. They could help deliver water to growing megacities, like Lima, Peru.

With over 10 million people in its metro region, Lima is the second-largest city in a desert, exceeded only by Cairo, Egypt.

Only 1 in 10 people living in Lima have access to potable water. By 2030, water demand is likely to outstrip supply there, leaving most people in Lima thirsty. That is why Aquafondo is restoring kilometres of amunas, a type of ancient, pre-Incan

water collection and delivery system.

Like Rajasthan's Chand Baori stepwell and water collection system, amunas provide water during the dry season and protect mountain soils. That's why the Peruvian government is investing $24 million in natural infrastructure.

But ancient water systems high in the Andes cannot deliver enough drinking water for a modern megacity like Lima.

That's why hybrid approaches combining modern engineering with ancient wisdom and nature-based solutions are increasingly popular. In the United States, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering with Nature initiative has investigated how mangroves and islands built from dredged sediment can protect coastlines from hurricanes and typhoons. Built using ancient principles, New York City's water supply system is a prime example of engineering with nature. Serving nine million people, the city's water is delivered by aqueducts and tunnels from up to 200 km away. Even more impressive, this water is so pure that only 10% requires filtration. Natural forest ecosystems surrounding NYC's reservoirs filter water naturally, keeping it pristine. Combined with smart water technologies, like robotic buoys monitoring water quality and computational models, NYC's system reliably delivers

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FEATURE

Civilizations face two water problems: abundance and distribution. Where there is too much water, the rule of survival is to stay above

water to nine million people. All it takes to make New York's water safe to drink is treating it in the world's largest ultraviolet germicidal irradiation plant, capable of disinfecting over eight billion litres of water each day. Ultraviolet irradiation is, of course, also a service naturally provided by the Sun. Solar water disinfection, or SODIS, is also a reliable way to disinfect water, as recommended by ancient Hindu texts and the World Health Organization, thousands of years apart.

These Ayurvedic texts also recommended storing water in copper and earthen vessels. Copper is still a practical point-of-use method for purifying drinking water. It remains an especially important tool for many people in the developing world. Natural copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) steals electrons from bacterial cell walls and membranes and inhibits

True data and accurate interpretation mean survival now, as in the past. A message that all leaders should hear, especially now 28

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intracellular processes responsible for energy production and DNA replication.

Recent research has even shown that copper and Cu2O can remove viruses and bacteriophages from drinking water, solving a modern problem with a bronze age technology.

Other modern water technologies also function much like ancient ones.

Earthen vessels made of clay naturally exchange ions with the water stored in them. Ion exchange is a process by which minerals and nutrients with an electric charge, positive cations, and negative anions bind to clay particles.

This adsorption, binding to the surface of a substance, is also a characteristic of carbon and modern ion-exchange resins. Today activated carbon and ion exchange resins perform the water purifying function of earthenware, replacing ancient charcoal filtration. Even more importantly, ion-exchange resins can selectively bind specific contaminants, including novel and emerging contaminants. This makes them a flexible and scalable tool for water purification.

Far less complicated than ion-exchange resins, clay pots also have the advantage of limiting evaporation and delivering irrigation water where it is needed. Like

the Nabataeans' water pot irrigation, the humble watering bag and modern drip irrigation systems are a low-tech way of saving water. AI could optimize this, but, just like the wheel, sometimes the original innovation is hard to improve on.

Even ancient civilizations collected data to manage their water systems.

Flow data collection and time-measurement is the earliest form of smart water technology. Song, dance, and ritual art was likely the first form of record-keeping for water. Songlines in Australia were used by the locals to record geospatial water data essential to their survival.

With ritual acting as a mnemonic device and by using star maps as a guide to the landscape, the aborigines navigated reliably across thousands of kilometres. Using this 40,000-year-old technique, they could reliably find water in the desert.

There are even stories that accurately record the sea level rise observed in Australia approximately 13,000 years ago, preserving high-fidelity data using only the human mind and natural features for over 400 generations.

The Wardaman people's oral tradition incorporates an annual cycle of "dreaming stories" oriented to the Southern Cross throughout the year. The yearly cycle is the basis for predicting weather patterns and water availability at different times. Having a calendar is necessary for managing water in civilization to provide for agriculture and specialized labour. What we know from Babylonian sources is that Sumerian astronomers observed the sky to develop a calendar to predict water availability. Using this calendar, they could determine approximately when the Tigris and Euphrates could be expected to flood. This information allowed farmers to prepare for flooding and plant crops, stabilizing Sumerian civilization and allowing it to persist for millennia. After the Australian aborigines’ songlines, the Sumerian calendar coupled with observations of the Tigris and Euphrates’ flow stage

JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Agricultural terraces on a cliff slope in the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu. Š Adriana Iacob

may be the second earliest example of predictive analytics for modelling water availability.

Instruments measuring a river’s flow stage were likely among the next significant innovations in smart water technology. In its various forms, the Nilometer was not just an instrument for describing the state of the Nile; it became a tool for predicting the economic implications of the great river's level. If the annual flood of the Nile was less than ideal, famine would likely ensue. If it were excessive, infrastructure would be washed away. In either case, this measurement was an early example of an attempt to predict and prepare for disaster. Hidden behind the mystique of the ancient Egyptian priesthood was the age-old adage: Be Prepared.

Later measurements of a river's stage in Europe told a similar story of feastor-famine. The Hunger Stones of central Europe were set in dry riverbeds as reminders of famine. One found in the Elbe river in the Czech Republic is inscribed "Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine.� meaning "When you see me, weep." These stones marked significantly lower water levels in European rivers, portending failed crops, starvation, and disaster. True data and accurate interpretation mean survival now, as in the past.

A message that all leaders should hear, especially in times like today.

Since Nilometers, hunger stones, calendars, and songlines, we have made tremendous progress towards accurately predicting water availability. For over

125 years, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has collected data on rivers in the US, collecting almost 250 million observations from 26,000 stream gauges. This high-resolution data collection capacity deployed across thousands of kilometres allows Americans to anticipate, predict, and sustain water stress. Digital water technologies today represent a refinement of this system scaled to ultra-local, ultra-high resolutions. It is truly amazing to think that we can now see a building as a watershed because our ancestors told sacred stories about how the stars would help us find water in the desert.

What will help us find "water in the desert" today? One of the earliest and most-influential technologies that we developed was the story. Going back to the beginnings of civilization, it starts with the stories we tell about water. How we live and work with it. How we share it. The circular economy is really about integrating externalities and closing the loop, especially for water. In the blue economy, value is created by managing water cyclically to save time, effort, and energy. And the economy is fundamentally a story we tell ourselves about how to share, live, and work together. Like the Australian aborigines, it is our stories that map our world and tell us how to survive. Our first water technologies are reflections of these stories. They provide the social, economic, and ecological foundation for sustainable water management now and in the future.

The question is, do we hear what those stories are telling us today?

The Egyptians prioritized safe drinking water. In Khem, people used a gravity filter to purify muddy water drawn from the Nile with alum

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WATER & NEWS - BUSINESS

VEOLIA CONFIRMS ITS INTENTION TO MAKE A PUBLIC TAKEOVER BID FOR SUEZ The confirmation will accelerate the proposed takeover bid once there is a favourable opinion from Suez’s Board of Directors

Veolia will make a public takeover bid for the entire share capital of Suez at a price of €18 per share (cum dividend) as soon as the Board of Directors of Suez issues an opinion in favour of this proposal and deactivates the inalienability mechanism applicable to the water business in France.

This information has the effect of accelerating the timetable for the proposed public takeover bid, which will now take place at the same time as an agreement is concluded with the Board of Directors of Suez. Veolia has devoted the weeks since its acquisition of 29.9% of Suez from Engie to a number of attempts to renew its dialogue with Suez, both with the company’s Chairman and with the members of its Board of Directors. Until now, the systematic response from Suez has been to turn down these approaches.

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Antoine Frérot, Veolia’s Chairman and CEO, said: "We are convinced that we will manage to persuade the Board of Directors of Suez, either in its current form or, failing that, after a General Meeting, of the relevance of our proposal. For this reason, we wish to further clarify our timetable and to undertake to make our bid as soon as the Board of Directors issues a favourable opinion. In summary: the only thing preventing all Suez shareholders from benefiting from a public takeover bid at €18 per share is the opposition from the Board of Directors of Suez in its current form".

In its press release dated October 5, 2020, Veolia confirmed its intention to take control of Suez following its acquisition of 29.9% of the company’s shares, and for that purpose, to make a volun-

tary public takeover bid for the balance of Suez’s shares.

Veolia states that it will make its public takeover bid at a price of €18 per share as soon as a combination agreement is concluded between Suez and Veolia, according to usual standards, confirming that the proposed bid is favourably received by the Board of Directors, effectively deactivating the inalienability mechanism of Suez Eau France and its subsidiaries and assets, including an undertaking to manage the Suez SA Group in the ordinary course of business without any asset disposals other than those necessary to obtain regulatory authorizations, and containing the usual cooperation clauses. The proposed public takeover bid will contain a suspensive condition relating to obtaining the authorizations applicable under the terms of the merger control regulations.

Until the date on which the bid is made, the other provisions of the notice of intention published by Veolia on October 5 will remain applicable, including the proposed bid price adjustment clauses. Suez shareholders will therefore have the benefit of a secure price when the combination agreement is concluded (subject to the mechanical adjustments usually found in public takeover bids, for example in the event of a dividend distribution).

If a combination agreement is not concluded as stated above, the notice of intention published by Veolia on October 5 will remain applicable.

FOUR COMPANIES SUBMIT BIDS FOR THE JUBAIL 3B INDEPENDENT WATER PROJECT A RO desalination plant, the Jubail 3B IWP will produce 570,000 m per day 3

On November 1 the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) received bids from four companies for the Jubail 3B independent water project (IWP), a reverse osmosis desalination plant which will have a capacity of 570,000 cubic metres per day, informed Energy & Utilities. Bids have been presented by the following companies/consortia: (i) Aqualia, AACO, Alfanar; (ii) Engie, Nesma, Alajlan; (iii) Utico; and (iv) Veolia, Aljomaih, AlKifah.

The initial RFP for the Jubail 3B IWP was issued in January of this year, with May 17 as the deadline for submission. Due to restrictions to travel stemming from the pandemic, the deadline was subsequently extended several times.

Earlier this year, the SWPC appointed a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s

ACWA Power as preferred bidder for the Jubail-3A IWP, a desalination facility with a capacity of 600,000 cubic metres per day. The ACWA Power consortium submitted the lowest levelised water tariff of SAR 1.54861 per cubic metre (USD 0.41 per cubic metre). Financial close was reached last September for the $650m Jubail 3A IWP, and the project is expected to be operational

by December 2022.

Ten companies and consortia were initially pre-qualified to bid for the projects to build the new desalination plants in Jubail. Synergy Consulting, from India, was appointed as lead and financial adviser for the planned Jubail 3A and 3B projects, while DLA Piper, a UK law firm, was appointed as legal adviser and Atkins, also from the UK, was to be the technical adviser.

ACCIONA PRESENTS ITS NEW "DESALINATION PLATFORM", A CUTTING-EDGE INITIATIVE FOR DESALINATION R&D The platform includes ten pilot plants to validate desalination developments ACCIONA has put its “Desalination Platform” into service, a space to demonstrate new R&D+I developments that lead to increased efficiency and sustainability in desalination processes.

This new research platform is located in the Seawater Desalination Plant at San Pedro del Pinatar II (Murcia), owned

by Mancomunidad de los Canales del Taibilla (MCT), an autonomous body.

It has more than ten permanent installations that cover all the stages of the desalination process, the main ones being: granular filtration, flotation-filtration (ACTIDAFF®), flotation, (ULTRADAF®), ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and membrane distillation. It also has a temporary area housing other pilot plants for trials of shorter duration.

The Desalination Platform evaluates how the new technologies and configurations function in a real setting, using the same catchment water as the desalination plant and operating 24/7. The lab allows a long-term evaluation of the performance of the new technologies developed.

As well, operating conditions are optimized to reduce energy and reagent consumption, and maximize water performance using technologies based on Big Data, Machine Learning and advanced sensors. The ultimate aim is to improve the sustainability of the seawater desalination process, reduce energy consumption, integrate desalination processes into the circular economy and validate new developments applicable to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of desalination plants.

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OPINION

EVA ARNAIZ COUNTRY MANAGER USA, AQUALIA

P3 AS A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR THE WATER SECTOR IN THE UNITED STATES Water is the foundation of life. It is a resource that we all need. P3s (Public-Private Partnerships) and concessions are the perfect Our rivers, lakes, and coasts must be protected because without tools for closing the investment gap and providing long-term water there is no life. In 2020, the planet has given us all a call, sustainable solutions. The private sector has the experience and and we need to answer with more sustainable solutions, thinking expertise to help the public sector in many ways. P3s can imin the long-term, focusing our efforts on the world we want to prove efficiency, optimize O&M, reduce water losses (6 billion leave to our kids and being aware water is one of the key ele- gallons/22,700 million litres of treated water lost every day), opments we need to look after. timize metering, billing, customer service and communication, Water consumption in the U.S. is the highest in the world with through technology and implementation of new management an average “family� consumption of more than 300 gallons processes.

(1,135 litres) per day, and each of the 50 states has its own regu- They can also provide fair value long-term and resilient solulation and licenses for water management. There are about 310 tions, not only focused on CAPEX but including OPEX and million people in the U.S. served by approximately 50,000 water other environmental and social factors in any sustainable project. utilities. 19% of them serve 93% of the total population while They can help consolidate systems and use the scale reduction only 7% of the population is served by about 40,000 small or factor. It is possible to go beyond the regulators and plan for the very small systems (<3,300 people future, including innovation, awareserved) that frequently lack both ness campaigns, and treating water "Water consumption in the economies of scale and financial, as a resource. The circular economy managerial, and technical capacity; can be introduced. Moreover, these U.S. is the highest in the world this can lead to problems to meet solutions can provide the equity and with an average family Safe Drinking Water Act standards. finance needed to accomplish proIn terms of wastewater, there are jects. consumption of more than nearly 175 million people in the In addition, P3s provide other bene300 gallons per day" U.S. served by almost 16,000 fits: expedited procurement processwastewater systems, similarly domes, optimized design and construcinated by small systems that make up 66% of wastewater fa- tion save time and money while providing a guaranteed water cilities, while the majority of the served population (85%) is rate throughout the term of the contract. There are no budget covered by large facilities (>10,000 people served). This makes a surprises, with guaranteed quality compliance and peace of mind very fragmented and diverse water sector. for citizens and administrators. There is also an intelligent allocaWe must also consider the country's infrastructure is ageing, tion of risks to the party best able to handle them. For example, with an estimated national average age of water pipes of 45 years, design, construction, financing, and O&M risks lie with the primany of them reaching their lifespan of 75 to 100 years, and an vate expert while regulatory approvals risks remain in the public estimated demand for new sewerage systems and facilities that sector. will grow more than 23% by 2032.

Ultimately, P3s enable the public sector to focus on its very core All of this should raise concerns for municipal water/wastewater competencies. While the private sector focuses on its expert proinfrastructure investment needs; however, the current amount of fessional activity, the public sector can focus on administration investment from the multiple State and Federal financing chan- and supervision. The time has come for a clear public-private nels continues to fall short, leaving municipalities alone to tackle partnership and Aqualia is ready to share its experience and to the problem (a current $81 billion funding gap). bring the circular economy to the water sector in the U.S.

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WATER TREATMENT

FEATURE

Globally, tourism is one of the fastest-growing and most profitable economic sectors. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism has not stopped growing since 1950, after World War II, when there were 25 million tourists. 68 years later, this number has increased by a factor of 56, to 1.4 billion international tourists per year.

International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) worldwide grew by 4% in 2019 to 1.5 billion, according to data reported by destinations around the world.

2019 was a year with significant growth, although somewhat slower compared to the exceptional figures in 2017 (+7%) and 2018 (+6%). Demand was slower mainly in the advanced economies, particularly in Europe.

All regions enjoyed an increase in arrivals. The Middle East (+8%) led the growth, followed by Asia and the Pacific (+5%). International arrivals in Europe and Africa (both +4%) increased in line with the world average, while the Americas recorded growth of 2%. In terms of major markets of origin, France recorded the largest increase in international tourism spending among the top ten markets, while the United States led growth in absolute terms.

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However, in 2020, tourism has been one of the sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2000, global travel and tourism revenues have tripled,

and the sector now contributes 10.4% of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gross domestic product (GDP), providing one in ten jobs worldwide. In mid-April 2020, international

ALMAR WATER SOLUTIONS

travel companies came to a standstill.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the travel industry could shrink by more than 30%

by 2020 and that 100 million jobs are at risk, with a global loss of up to $2.7 trillion. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 100% of tour-

ist destinations have some level of restrictions in place, and 72% of countries have been affected by international travel.

Despite this, historically, demand has always recovered after crises, although the recovery time may vary. The world will travel again, and the tourism sector will once again have tourists and consume water to carry out its activities.

Although tourism is not a large consumer of water (around 2%) compared to agriculture or industry, it is often centered in regions and areas where water scarcity is a reality, creating very specific problems in terms of water consumption: J Seasonal concentration: tourism peaks coincide with periods when water resources are scarce, especially the summer.

J Geographical concentration on coasts: which are characterized by the scarcity of local resources, especially on islands, and which are normally sensitive natural locations.

J Tourism offerings that are often based on installations that consume an excessive amount of water, with golf courses, swimming pools or water parks.

J Frequent use of undeclared wells: whether for watering lawns and green areas, maintenance of golf courses or other uses (cleaning of facilities, patios, etc.).

Desalination is an effective solution for markets like tourism, among others, that require high-quality service and complete reliability

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FEATURE These characteristics generate the need for additional infrastructure to transfer water from inland areas of countries or to increase the use of non-conventional water sources such as desalination and reuse.

Desalination is an effective solution for markets such as tourism that require high-quality service and complete reliability, and in which customers or governments can afford to pay for it. Tourism can also be a rich source of income for improving the water supply and sanitation systems of local populations, where there are also high concentrations of people, who demand quality 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The water use for tourism includes a multitude of activities: for rooms, laundry facilities, kitchens, swimming pools, gardens and lawns, cleaning of common areas and others. Water is therefore an essential resource for their daily activities and generates high costs if its consumption is not optimized.

Many tourist areas use seawater desalination plants to cover all of their demand, as is the case in Spain, Morocco and Egypt. In many cases they also have wastewater treatment plants to reduce the impact on the environment, allowing water to be reused for irrigation of landscaping, green areas and other uses.

Environmental impacts refer to the interactions between tourism activity and the environment, whose positive or negative effect, along with its intensity, depends on factors such as the volume of tourists, the regulation of the sector, the vulnerability of the environment and the activities carried out, among others. Part

Highly concentrated water demand for tourism can exceed the renewal rates, compromising the activityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s socio-economic and sustainability 36

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of the impact of tourism is associated with the effect on water resources, since tourism activity increases the demand for water, in addition to the production of wastewater. Water consumption related to tourism can sometimes exceed the demand of the local population, and some studies have found that water consumption per tourist per day is two to three times higher than the volume of water consumed per inhabitant per day.

Highly concentrated water demand for tourism can exceed the renewal rates of these resources and therefore compromise the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of this activity. In this scenario and in regard to the inten-

sive use of water resources, the study The water footprint of tourism in Spain indicated that sun and beach destinations are located in areas with scarce water resources, some of which already require intervention to avoid soil salinization.

As a result, the use of non-conventional resources such as desalination and wastewater reuse has become a necessary solution.

In addition, desalination has been proven to be the treatment process that best balances the quality of the water produced with the implementation and operating costs. Another reason for the widespread implementation of this system is its versatility in terms of produc-

ALMAR WATER SOLUTIONS tion flows; in other words, it is easier to expand its capacity if necessary, especially in coastal areas with variable tourism, where use is usually more intense in summer.

Today, there are more than 21,000 desalination plants around the world designed for different uses. With a CAPEX of 15.24 billion dollars and a contracted capacity of 5.42 million cubic meters/ day by 2020, desalination has become a mature technology that has managed to produce very high-quality drinking water on all five continents of the planet.

Almar Water Solutions, aware of the need for quality drinking water in tourism areas, recently signed, through the

Although tourism is not a large consumer of water, it is often centered in regions and areas where water scarcity is a reality joint venture created with Hassan Allam Utilities, the acquisition of the company Ridgewood Egypt, which has 58 desalination plants along the entire Egyptian coast. These plants mainly serve the tourism and business sectors, which are very widespread in the area, and where Almar Water Solutions intends to continue promoting its development with efficient operation and the creation of new water infrastructure projects.

The company has been committed from the very start to non-conventional water sources to provide quality water in sufficient quantities in all those areas that have a need for the resource, whether for municipal, agricultural, industrial or urban use. Several projects are currently under development, such as the Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant in Saudi Arabia, or are already in operation and are being maintained, like the Muharraq treatment plant in Bahrain.

Almar Water Solutions, aware of the need for quality drinking water in tourism areas, signed the acquisition of Ridgewood Egypt

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INTERVIEW

DR OLGA NAIDENKO VICE PRESIDENT OF SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS AT ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP

There is a growing awareness of the harms of PFAS exposure to human health and increased pressure on the government to take action The Environment Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States. Founded in 1993, it is dedicated to protecting human health and the environment.

Z Through research and advocacy, EWG works to educate consumers so they can make informed decisions about the products they buy. Dr Olga Naidenko leads EWG’s research on children’s environmental health. She formerly held a policy fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, working on climate change and water quality at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In this interview, we ask her about PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of toxic manmade substances that have been associated with adverse health effects and have been found in the drinking water of many communities across the United States.

What is the extent of the PFAS contamination crisis in the United States, and why has it not been properly addressed so far?

Contamination in the U.S. is widespread. EWG has identified more than 2,200 sites on our PFAS map. PFAS have been used for decades in a variety of industrial and consumer product applications. These chemicals do not break down in the environment and can build up in bodies.

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Cristina Novo Pérez

There are multiple reasons for the PFAS contamination crisis. The biggest reason is the lack of federal regulation to restrict and limit the production, use and discharge of PFAS. To make matters worse, the Environmental Protection Agency authorized the use of most chemicals on the market today with almost no safety testing data. Now we are learning that when PFOA and PFOS, used to make Teflon and Scotchgard, were removed from the market, they were replaced with chemicals that may not be any better.

The improper disposal of PFAS-containing industrial wastes that, also for decades, were simply discharged into waterways or stored in open landfills, has also contributed to the widespread contamination. Another source of

"Because of long-standing government inaction for controlling PFAS, these chemicals have not been classified as hazardous substances"

contamination is PFAS-containing firefighting foams. These foams were used for decades to fight fires, but also for various firefighting training exercises on military bases and airports. That’s a big reason for PFAS contamination of groundwater and soil near airports and military facilities.

Because of long-standing government inaction for controlling PFAS, these chemicals have not been classified as hazardous substances under our primary cleanup law or restricted under our clean air and water laws. Therefore, there have not been restrictions on discharges and cleanup has been slow. There is a growing awareness of the harms of PFAS exposure to human health and increased pressure on the government to take action.

Is PFAS contamination of drinking water a concern only in the U.S.? What is the scenario in other parts of the world?

Industrial and other sources of PFAS contamination have been reported all over the world, including at U.S. military installations abroad. PFAS contamination of drinking water has also been reported across the world.

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INTERVIEW Additionally, PFAS manufacturers have been changing the types of PFAS used for consumer and industrial products, shifting away from “traditional” PFAS, such as PFOA. Unfortunately, some of the shorter chain PFAS that are now introduced as replacements are more difficult and expensive to remove from drinking water.

PFAS have been referred to as “the most complex group of pollutants.”

Tracking them in the environment and assessing their potential harm is a monumental task. What are the research needs concerning PFAS in the environment?

PFAS present an enormous challenge because there are thousands of different PFAS with over 600 being used industrially in the U.S. at last count (EPA action plan reference). Greater transparency is needed with regards to PFAS use, releases and toxicity.

To this day, companies that manufacture PFAS and discharge them into the environment are not required to make public information about those releases or about the toxicity of the PFAS that they may be manufacturing. However, recent changes to the law require companies to start reporting about releases of some PFAS. New PFAS substances have been introduced into the marketplace, even though these compounds may have similar toxicity to PFAS that were phased out, such as PFOA. Health and safety data about these new PFAS must be made publicly available and companies should also have to report about their uses and the releases of these new PFAS chemicals.

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After that, the next greatest research need is finding methods for disposal and destruction of PFAS in a way that does not continue the cycle of PFAS contamination.

What steps do you propose to tackle PFAS contamination in drinking water supplies?

We must limit ongoing pollution into drinking water supplies and enact requirements to filter PFAS out of drinking water. Transparency is paramount. It is essential for all community water systems in the country to be tested for the full scope of detectable PFAS. While most large systems have been tested, and some states have conducted comprehensive testing of all water systems – we still don’t know the full scope of contamination.

Without this information, it is impossible to develop a comprehensive plan for protecting drinking water from PFAS and removing contamination wherever it may be. Based on available data for a handful of states, EWG scientists estimated that as many as 200 million Americans may have PFAS in their water.

The first priority should be preventing ongoing PFAS discharges, such as direct releases of PFAS into waterways that serve as sources of drinking water, as well as indirect releases, for example, releases of wastewater effluent that may have PFAS in it or deposition from PFAS emissions in the air. Non-essential uses of PFAS like food packaging, cosmetics and carpets should be banned to further limit discharges from production, use and disposal.

Congress should take additional steps to address PFAS in drinking water supplies including: (i) Designating PFAS as hazardous substances under our Superfund law; (ii) Setting health-protective limits on PFAS in drinking water; (iii) Placing a moratorium on the introduction of new PFAS chemicals; and (iv) Funding cleanup and drinking water treatment.

PFAS are useful chemicals. Do you think it will be challenging to phase

them out or ensure safe disposal wherever they are used?

With the growing realization of PFAS risks to human health and the environment, stakeholders from different countries have called for restrictions on PFAS use and treating all PFAS as a class. In this case, the European Union has taken the lead. Just recently (earlier in 2020), the European Commission adopted a new Chemicals Strategy that calls for phasing out of PFAS from uses that are not “proven essential for society”.

Safe disposal is essential, and EWG scientists have highlighted the disposal challenges for our recent study (Disposal of products and materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A cyclical problem) published in the journal Chemosphere. It is also important to ask whether PFAS are necessary in certain applications, or whether other types of substances can be used.

As EWG, together with other scientists, recently noted in another study (Scientific Basis for Managing PFAS as a Chemical Class, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters), getting industry and governments to eliminate non-essential uses of this entire class of concerning chemicals is the most effective way to protect health.

What are the barriers to take regulatory action to halt further PFAS release into the environment and establish drinking water standards?

In the past, the lack of publicly available information about the full extent of PFAS toxicity and PFAS contamination was one such barrier. Now, with the awareness of how widespread PFAS contamination is, states are starting to establish their own standards, which are also more stringent than the existing federal advisories. Ultimately, change is being driven by members of the public who let elected officials and government agencies know that PFAS contamination of their drinking water is not acceptable.

OLGA NAIDENKO regulating PFAS at both state and federal levels. Several states have already taken action on PFAS by setting health-protective drinking water standards and banning major uses of PFAS like food packaging and firefighting foam.

There is also significant bipartisan interest in this issue in Congress. Congress recently greatly expanded some reporting and monitoring requirements for PFAS and required the phase-out of military use of firefighting foam. Both Congress and the states will likely continue to legislate on this issue in the coming years.

To what extent do you think it will be possible to clean up existing PFAS pollution?

Technologies already exist to filter many PFAS compounds in drinking water, but there are no federal requirements to treat drinking water.

New technologies are also being developed to destroy PFAS, such as the application of electrochemical oxidation; advanced reduction processes; plasma-based technology; ultrasound-based sonolysis technologies; and UV-based treatment. While these advanced treatments successfully degrade PFAS in pilot studies, their effectiveness for complex wastes such as municipal trash and other types of contamination such as contaminated soils, sediments, and sewage sludge needs further research.

While these technologies are developed and implemented, it is critical that we as a society first focus on stopping ongoing contamination, so we don’t need to play constant “catch-up.”

What are your expectations in terms of this issue being addressed in the coming years? Do you think action will be delayed until there are significant litigation or serious consequences? What is the role of public awareness?

Public awareness has been essential in tackling the PFAS crisis. When communities discover that PFAS have contam-

inated their water – and that this contamination may have lasted years or even decades – they can and do turn to litigation or adapt new public health-protective policies and laws. But affected communities should not have to resort to litigation to have access to clean water.

Again, recently there has been real momentum on this issue, with interest for

"The next greatest research need is methods for disposal and destruction of PFAS in a way that does not continue contamination"

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OPINION

CHRISTOS CHARISIADIS R&D ENGINEER, LENNTECH BV

A big part of the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) argument is turity and claim a piece of the market. Technologies like electhe treatment of high salinity (>60,000 mg/L) brines. Brine tro-membrane processes, new novel RO configurations and treatment is a low volume market but with an exciting pros- chemical water extraction are getting traction by claiming referpect. Mainly due to a) the push from stricter environmental ences and finding the right niche applications to help them grow. legislations, b) higher wastewater discharge fees, c) restricted These innovative membrane technologies have invested in regroundwater withdrawal and d) local drought problems, in- ducing the impact of sparingly soluble salts during concentrating dustries worldwide search for more innovative solutions to re- brines. Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes scale with usual sususe their brine streams. pects as silica and calcium sulphate which drop out of the soluThe biggest part of the ZLD market (USD 257 m, 6.7% CA- tion as the stream starts concentrating. Solutions to this problem GR) is solidly dominated by thermal processes. Thermal pro- vary from softening the feedwater and increasing the pH in the cesses utilize heat transfer to a boiling liquid with the intent to second filtration pass, creating new membrane coatings and reconcentrate a non-volatile solute from a solvent, which is usually placing the membranes at a faster pace, reversing flow to decrease water, by boiling off the solvent. The usual process chain is to use scale formation or even introducing brine from later stages into an Evaporator (15-20 kWh/m3) that concentrates the stream up the permeate stages to reduce the osmotic pressure required. to 20% TDS and then a Crystallizer The S(mart) approach to do the (50-90 kWh/m3) that concentrates latter has been proved by not trying "As water professionals know, the salts up to saturation levels. to compare themselves to RO as they Due to the fact that thermal can never beat it for basic desalinathere’s no panacea for all the processes have to deal with a high tion. RO currently resides at 40-43% wastewater streams. Every corrosive environment from hot recovery and 2.9 kWh/m3 specific brines and complex phase change energy demand (with an aspect to case scenario is formulated operations, they have very high drive it down to 2 kWh/m3 in the with different aspects" capital and operational expenses. future). Most innovative processes That fact along with the previously have a hard replacing also the Crysmentioned drivers have pushed for innovative solutions which tallization unit as there isn’t yet a membrane process that can have to attune to the market characteristics. dry out the salts in a brine stream. So we have the 6%-20+% ZLD large scale operations are few and far between. Most TDS range to deal with. project opportunities for brine streams are about 10-100 m3/d As the water professionals know well there’s no panacea for which provide for a more consistent demand and come with a all the wastewater streams. Every case scenario is formulated variety of case characteristics. Especially for mid-sized Evapo- with different aspects when it comes to contaminants, availarators the CAPEX skyrockets to 100-500 KUSD/m3 brine as ble budget/energy resources/timeline, and the local conditions the traditional cheaper Falling Film Evaporators are viable only pressing the end client to find a solution to their high salinity for >100 m3/d. streams. Personally, I’d simplify every case to a CAPEX+OPEX A lot of effort has been put into producing more effective vs ROI in order to see the wider picture. What should we do to membranes (new materials and coatings) in order to reduce the decrease both terms and help the innovative technologies get a brine volume. Although successful at lab scale, these efforts will better foothold in the water market? need time to produce a reliable and affordable manufacturing First and foremost we need to understand that going all the process. That time is used by other technologies to reach ma- way to ZLD isn’t always the way. Minimum Liquid Discharge

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(MLD) sometimes makes more financial sense since removing oilfield chemicals. Magnesium is the third most common metal the final 5 to 10% of liquid can prove horrendously costly. In in construction, and its production with conventional methods order to understand if a certain case is appropriate for MLD is energy and greenhouse gas intensive. Increased concentration the first question is if water reuse is needed. If it is so, then the alone though is not the only parameter that will make the sepMLD approach could be what is needed. If local legislations aration more attractive economically, so we are still in search of need to be met concerning effluent discharge, then MLD can improved recovery methods. be a part of the solution which might include ZLD/evaporaAnother topic to be aware of is the right exploitation of the tion ponds/groundwater injection. available energy resources as with every case come different opThe next step is to identify your waste streams in terms of flow, portunities and restrictions. Availability for example of waste their contaminants and their respective concentrations. Not every heat, vapor streams and/or renewable energy resources make case requires the same treatment. By checking the waste streams, sometimes innovative technologies that are lower on the comwe can calculate a more economical and sustainable approach to mercial maturity scale stronger contenders for a brine treatment each case. For example, condensate and stormwater require very solution. In other cases, the absence of the above leads us to little treatment, while waste streams with high concentrations of work on solutions with a minimal intake from the local energy organic compounds, salts, metals grid. Innovative RO configurations and suspended solids are more likely have managed to drop the energy "The S(mart) approach for the to require extensive treatment. demand on the latter cases as much On the topic of contaminants as 8 kWh/m3 for the treatment of innovative brine concentration of the wastewater streams and a 7% TDS brine up to 20% TDS. technologies is a wider their respective concentrations, we Last but not least is the use of should always be aware of potenchemicals and their customization. range of options to adjust tial water mining of valuable salts There are a lot of different ways curto every case scenario" and rare earth minerals that might rent innovative membrane configuback up our technology proposal rations try to get rid of the sparingly and sometimes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be dried up in order to lead to soluble salts. The wise use though of speciality antiscalants may valuable products. This way the recovered materials could be allow for higher concentrations to be achieved. In some cases, sold and thus raise the profits of the treatment process. Alter- they can even turn the brine into a food-grade product allowing natively, the recovered materials could be used within the in- for its use and thus ZLD can be reached without reaching high dustrial facility using the desalination process and so reduce the brine concentrations. operation cost. The feasibility of the material recovery process The S(mart) approach to a better future for the innovative from brine depends on the technical limitations of the available brine concentration technologies is a wide range of available technologies and their energy and cost considerations, but also options in order to adjust to the peculiarities of every case sceon the market fluctuations for the materials that are recovered. nario. I strongly believe that every process has its niche place in Examples of water mining are elements like bromine, mag- the market and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a matter of time to find it or wait for nesium, potassium, rubidium and lithium, for which the main the right commercial opportunity to appear. The way forward production is concentrated in very few countries. The bromine is full of hurdles for innovation but if we concentrate on optimarket is taking off due to the elementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uses in products like mization and the mining of valuable contaminants then we can a) flame retardants, b) synthetic chemistry, c) biocides and d) make a difference in the commercial market.

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FEATURE

INSTALLATION OF SUPPLY NETWORK, PERNIK, BULGARIA Molecor, a leading Spanish company in pipe manufacturing and technology, recently completed a major project in record time: a new pipeline to relieve water shortages in the Bulgarian city of Pernik.

Introduction Installed pipes are one of the most important elements of the water network, therefore, the importance of the choice of the material to be used. At this point, it is very important to take into account the quality of the material, its durability and of course, its contribution to the environment. The environmental impact of a pipe system depends on its composition and on the application for which it is intended. The type of raw material used, the production process, the finish of the product, and its useful life are the main factors that determine efficiency and sustainability throughout its life cycle.

Among environmental management actions, water management should be based on the guarantee of its availability and quality, its efficient management, the enhancement of reclamation and reuse formulas, the creation of new resources, the modernization of water networks, and the incorporation of new technologies into productive processes.

Targets should be set to promote savings and improve efficiency in water use as well as technology transfer to the pipeline sector; the use of alternative water

Among the environmental management actions, water management should be based on the guarantee of its availability and quality 44

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Development of the works of the pipeline Sofia Pernik

MOLECOR resources is also necessary. In short, sustainable and environmentally friendly water networks must be built.

The project Within the context of extreme drought, absence of rain and a very low water level in the dam that supplied the city, Molecor completed a major project: that of supplying the Bulgarian city of Pernik

with drinking water. This city suffered extreme drought since November 2019.

This absence of rain and the very low water level in the Studena dam, with 25 million cubic meters of capacity, threatened to leave a population of 100,000 people without potable water.

In addition to the scarcity of flow from the Struma river that supplies the Studena dam, there were also enormous loss-

es of water from the currently installed pipes, estimated in more than 75% by the Water and Sewerage Systems of the city. That is, until the installation of the new line with the TOMÂŽ PVC-O pipes of Molecor, three-quarters of the water extracted from the dam did not reach the inhabitants of Pernik. This situation, which put Pernik into the spotlight of all the Bulgarian national media and many international media, led the city authorities to implement extraordinary measures to ensure the supply to the population, which was already suffering severe daily water cuts, with 6 hours of water a day and 18 hours without supply.

These measures implied the installation in record time of a new drinking water supply line of 12,5 km in length, which would connect and reinforce, with a capacity of 300 l/sec, the supply of Pernik.

After making the necessary calculations, it was confirmed that the city could be supplied from the Belmeken dam, which supplies the capital of the country, Sofia, which could absorb these needs while maintaining its water balance.

The commitment of the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, was to execute the project in record time. With that objective, the material selected by the technical managers was a Class 500 Oriented PVC pipe from the Spanish manufacturer Molecor TecnologĂ­a, with a diameter of 630 mm and a pressure range of 16, 20 and 25 bar.

The project officially started on the 29th of January, 2020. At a rate of installation of several kilometers a day and with the technical assistance of Molecor at all times, the project ended in record time,

Molecor provided technical assistance during the design and installation phases with its local staff and HTI Bulgaria

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FEATURE and on March 13 the supply line from Sofia to Pernik was already installed.

From a technical point of view and taking into account the urgency of the installation, the Molecor Oriented PVC TOM® pipes met with the very high requirements of this project, which included the manufacturing and supply capacity, at the required rate of five teams’ simultaneous installation, to complete the works in the indicated time of 37 days.

Trucks with 630 mm diameter pipes, to be installed onsite by Montagi AD, were progressively sent from Molecor's facilities, up to a total of 300, which satisfactorily met the project needs. The pipes should also be easy to handle, store, distribute and assemble onsite; characteristics such as the lightness of the Molecor TOM® pipes were essential during the development of the project.

This same lightness contributed to the connection system of the pipes, which is carried out by inserting the male end of the pipe into the socket of another in which an elastic joint is placed, and to a fast and effective installation, with minimal possibilities of failures during their connection. In addition, the Molecor connection system guaranteed total tightness of the joints, thanks to this elastic joint, made up of a polypropylene ring and a synthetic rubber lip that became an integral part of the pipe, preventing it from moving or from being rolled up during installation, thus eliminating losses from the former Pernik supply network, estimated at over 75%.

On the other hand, the installed pipeline, thanks to its higher hydraulic capacity, between 15% and 40% com-

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pared to pipes of other materials with the same external diameter, is capable of transporting a higher flow with optimal hydraulic behavior and a minimum pressure drop that leads to significant energy savings during pumping. This pumping, on the Sofia - Pernik line, involved transport from the catchment to a tank located at a height of 160 m; a tank from which the main connection to the supply network to Pernik is supplied by gravity.

The TOM® Oriented PVC pipes should also have excellent behavior in case of water hammer, sudden variations in flow and pressure, reducing and almost eliminating the possibility of breaks in the openings and closings of the network and in the starts of the supply, something that contributes to protecting all the elements of the network in a highly efficient way.

The absence of maintenance costs was also an important point in the new supply line to the city of Pernik, a characteristic that TOM® pipes also comply with. The long service life of the TOM® PVC-O pipes in the long term, over 75 years, implies enormous resource savings in the long term, thus optimizing the investment made. In addition, these pipes, certified in more than 10 countries and with several health certificates, guarantee the total quality of the transported water for consumption by the population of Pernik.

Molecor also provided technical assistance during the design and installation phases with its local staff and with Bulgaria's leading distribution partner, HTI Bulgaria, in addition to providing a very competitive final cost of installed pipe compared to alternative solutions.

Once the installation of the new supply line was completed, on March 13, and after having carried out all the necessary tests, the project was officially inaugurated by the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, on March 23, 2020. A project that has, once again demonstrated, that Molecor’s TOM® PVC-O pipes are the best solution for the conveyance of water under pressure.

Conclusions The preservation of scarce natural water resources requires, among other actions, the avoidance of losses of piped water and the optimization of system hydraulics.

Both their modernization and the choice of the material to be used in such pipelines are key factors for ensuring these challenges. Molecular Oriented pipes are increasingly used in pressure water pipeline works, being currently the highest efficiency solution for the management of hydraulic resources that demand modern infrastructure and those that have the best environmental performance.

The environmental impact of a piping system depends on its composition and application thereof. The factors determining the efficiency over the entire life cycle of a pipe are mainly: the type of raw material used, the production process, the product finish and its useful life.

PVC-O pipes are the most ecological solution due to their better contribution

MOLECOR to the correct sustainable development of the planet, demonstrated by different worldwide studies, among which we can highlight: “Estimación del consumo energético y de la emisión de CO2 asociado a la producción, USO y disposición final de tuberías de PVC, PEHD, PP, Fundición y Hormigón” (Polytechnic University of Catalunya) and the study “PVC-O Environmental Product Declaration” TEPPFA (The European Plastics Pipes and Fittings Association).

Efficiency in natural resources Oil: Only 43% of the PVC composition depends on oil, so a higher efficiency is obtained compared to polyolefin pipes that are 100% made of oil.

Raw material: Oriented PVC (PVC-O) pipes are manufactured with a conventional extrusion process and subsequent molecular orientation, which significantly improves the mechanical properties of the product while keeping intact its

From a technical perspective and its urgent installation, the Molecor Oriented PVC TOM® pipes met the high requirements of the project chemical properties. Thus, with less raw material, pipes with better performance are obtained.

Energy: lower energy consumption during raw material extraction, the manufacturing process of the pipe, and the use of the networks.

Development of the works of the pipeline Sofia Pernik

Efficiency in Waste Management PVC is a 100% recyclable material that can be reused for the manufacture of other plastic applications with lower technical requirements. In this way, the consumption of raw materials and the volume of waste generated is reduced.

Thanks to the excellent mechanical properties, these pipes are very resistant, thus significantly minimizing breakages during handling and installation onsite, and also remaining unchanged for years, reducing the substitution of damaged or deteriorated pipes in the network, thereby saving economic resources. This resistance is particularly noticeable at low temperatures, compared to other materials that are very fragile.

Thanks to the molecular orientation, PVC-O pipes include advantages applicable to both the quality of the product and its mechanical properties, as well as to an increased installation, performance and the minimization of energy costs during operation, achieving in this way very high-cost efficiency in the implementation of water networks.

They offer a better behavior in terms of respect for the environment, with a smaller environmental footprint than other materials, improving the contribution to the global sustainable development of the planet, and optimizing the consumption of natural resources.

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INTERVIEW

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STOCKHOLM JUNIOR WATER PRIZE

TAKUMA MIYAKI &

HIROKI MATSUHASHI STOCKHOLM JUNIOR WATER PRIZE AWARD WINNERS

“Young people can propose new ideas to solve water problems” Awarded annually since 1997 during the World Water Week, in 2020 the Stockholm Junior Water Prize went to Hiroki Matsuhashi and Takuma Miyaki from Japan, for a creative solution to combat soil erosion.

Z The Stockholm Junior Water Prize recognizes the achievements of students aged 15 to 20, who compete with school projects that can solve some of the world’s water problems. The jury praised this year’s winners for proving that simple local solutions can solve water problems in a global context. Hiroki Matsuhashi and Takuma Miyaki combined scientific knowledge and experimentation to revolutionize the way water is collected, used, and conserved for agriculture in arid regions. In this interview we talk with Hiroki and Takuma, students from Aomori Prefectural Nakui Agricultural High School, to learn more about the meth-

"We used a traditional solidification technique called Sanwa soil, used in Japan to solidify the soil and increase its strength"

Cristina Novo Pérez

od they designed to control soil runoff, and to hear their thoughts on the role of young people in addressing water issues worldwide.

What does it mean for you to receive the Stockholm Water Prize?

Hiroki Matsuhashi: I think the award at this competition rewarded me for the efforts I made in my experiments and also practicing my presentation. Also, by participating in the competition, I was able to refocus my attention on water issues, and I think that my awareness about these issues that must be resolved has increased.

Takuma Miyaki: I didn't expect we would win the award. However, this competition will help to make our Japanese technology known, as well as raise awareness about current environmental problems in the world and what measures can be taken to improve them. I was involved in the research because I thought it was an opportunity.

Now I think that effort has paid off.

What inspired you to address agricultural water and soil conservation problems?

H. The reason why I decided to tackle these problems was that senior students were also doing research to solve environmental problems in developing countries. I saw the activities of my seniors and wanted to contribute to the solution as well.

T. It was triggered by a school lesson.

Our school is an agricultural high school where you learn about agriculture. I learned about world agriculture when I was in the first grade. Also, at that time, I witnessed that senior students partic-

"By adding fertilizer to Sanwa soil, nutrients can be supplied to the crops, and that can lead to sustainable agriculture" - MAGAZINE

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INTERVIEW

ipated in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, although they won second place.

At that time, we also wanted to do this kind of research and help the world.

Can you tell us about the traditional Japanese method to solidify soils known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;tatakiâ&#x20AC;?, and its applications in water collection and soil conservation in agricultural land?

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H. The conventional water collection system uses what is called a "Zai pit system" that involves digging a hole. But because it is made of soil, it will be destroyed by rain. Therefore, we used a traditional solidification technique called Sanwa soil, used in Japan to solidify the soil and increase its strength. The Sanwa soil water collection system can collect more water than ever before and reduce soil erosion. In addition, by adding fertilizer to Sanwa soil, nutrients can be supplied to the crops, and that can lead to sustainable agriculture.

T. Sanwa soil is a technique to harden the soil. It uses soil, sand, and slaked lime (or ashed vegetation) to knead and harden the soil. I think it can be applied to various places. We were aiming for the Zai farming technique, but there are many farming methods in the world that have

similar problems. It is not strong because it is done in soil. However, we believe that Sanwa soil, which can be made by blending any soil in the world, can contribute to solving the problem of soil erosion all over the world.

How would you like to see your project move forward? Do you have any other ideas for future research?

H. I would like to actually use it after the end of COVID-19. To that end, first of all, I would like you to know that our research is posted on the school homepage.

Also, if possible, in the future, I would like to disseminate this research so it reaches people in developing countries.

T. I would like this project to be used locally first. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been in contact with

STOCKHOLM JUNIOR WATER PRIZE

If possible, in the future, I would like to disseminate this research so it reaches people in developing countries

T. I think the project of the American participant was also great. The content of her P.E.N.G.U.I.N.S. project was very nice. Also, the introductory video was bright and it conveyed feelings very well.

She, unfortunately, came in second place, but I think her research and presentations were probably just as good as ours.

people from India and Malaysia online.

However, the pandemic made it impossible to experiment. Therefore, I think that it is best to post the production manual on the school's website so that people will know about it now. In the future, in addition to this technology, I would like to provide guidance to junior students and create new technologies, and I am making efforts in this regard.

What other projects did you find interesting from the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition?

H. I was interested in research projects from other countries. I found particularly interesting a study on the production of toxic substances in lakes in Hungary.

Also, the idea of developing a biosensor was interesting; we did not think of that.

Do you think young people are aware of water issues? To what extent do you think young people across the world can play a role to help solve water resource problems?

H: Japan is rich in water resources, so I don't think there is so much of a problem here, and therefore, awareness of water issues is low. However, damage such as that caused by typhoons is increasing in Japan as well. Therefore, I think young people can propose new ideas to solve water problems; it is important to have human resources who can contribute to problem-solving.

T: I think that few young people are aware of water problems. Worldwide aridity and water scarcity are a problem.

However, I think that few people know about it or want to know how to improve it. I think it will be important how much young people can get to know. Young people always come up with new ideas.

We want to do our best.

You are at the very beginning of your career, with an impressive debut.

Where do you see yourselves in the coming years?

H. Throughout this competition, my experience working on projects that value and use water effectively has raised awareness of water. I think it will be the cornerstone of sustainable technology development in the future. And if I have the opportunity, I would like to go to developing countries and make it known to the people there.

T. I think the impact of this prize will be huge. I have been invited to Stockholm next year, so I would love to go there next year to talk about the technology. Also, in the near future or when I become a senior, I would like to do my best to participate in volunteer activities overseas and use the skills I have acquired during this time.

"In the near future I would like to do my best to participate in volunteer activities overseas and use the skills I have acquired"

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FEATURE

4 LESSONS FROM CREATING A DUTCH CIRCULAR FACE SCRUB On the surface, beauty products and water treatment are worlds apart. After all, the glitz and glamour of cosmetics and utility-scale operations don't often mix.

Z Gerard van den Berg, Team Manager Innovation and Valorisation at KWR Water Research Institute A collaboration in the Netherlands, however, is proving these two businesses are more closely aligned than you may think.

A circular skincare product was borne out of a partnership between AquaMinerals, who has teamed up together with utilities Waternet & WML, and skincare company, NaĂŻf.

While the face scrub is one product embodying a circular economy in action, the history of the country's circular efforts goes back much further. And looking back over this development can reveal four lessons to help achieve a circular economy.

1) Start with the economics It was over 25 years ago that a group of Dutch water utilities came together to address how to best treat their solid wastes. Produced sludges and other solid wastewater from multiple utilities were collected to be transformed into, both fi-

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nancially and environmentally, valuable materials for industries and the agricultural sector.

What originally started as a collective way to save costs, eventually evolved into helping to reimagine waste as a resource.

AquaMinerals looked for market needs as a starting point for the specifications of the residuals which are in the water.

Today, the company reclaims and resells circular products for over 10 different sectors, including lime, removed during the drinking water softening process. Next to the circular face scrub, the resource is also sold as pellets for gardening and glass bottles.

2) Focus on the business models and value chain While we have the technology today to extract resources from a single water treatment plant at a local level, this does not constitute a circular economy. There needs to be a link between the resources and the market. For this to happen, you need to have markets and innovative business models.

As part of its role as a nationwide brokerage company, AquaMinerals collects the valuable resources from utilities in the Netherlands and one in Flanders and then delivers the materials to the market. This includes taking care of the

quantities and moving materials around to where they are needed to guarantee contract values.

However, business profitability depends on market needs and the availability of competitive resources. After all, a positive sales value doesn't always mean that all the costs (transport, processing, storage, certification) are covered. For some residuals, the business is profitable, and for others, not (yet).

Luckily, a lot of the costs the organisation incurs are covered by the founding drinking water companies, which in turn, benefit from the revenue streams of the organisation's overall portfolio.

3) Lead with a market-first approach Another lesson to share from the experience is to lead with a market-first approach. Previously, organisations would extract resources from water and then look for opportunities to sell the product.

Instead, AquaMinerals found out which resources were needed first, in effect defining the demand before providing the supply. As a result, re-

KWR sources are recovered from water utilities' treatment plants to the specifications required.

A market-first approach is a different way of thinking, but upon reflection, a necessity to ensure there are end markets for the supply.

4) Create economies of scale However, a market alone is not enough for a circular approach to work; there needs to be scale.

For example, if individual utilities collected and recovered their resources to sell on the market, in the case of the Netherlands, they would only have a 10 per cent share. Even with materials such as iron, calcium and salts, which are very cheap, you cannot compete with the big market of cheap chemicals.

For a circular economy to be successful across Europe and elsewhere, it's not just about the technology â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you need to able to organise at scale to make it profitable.

There is also a need for clearer, more straightforward and aligned legislation on the European level. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not suggest-

ing this to be less strict, but it would certainly enable more businesses to reclaim and reuse waste streams.

While politicians can be ambitious, lawmakers and enforcement agencies can provide further challenges still.

Reusing waste requires knowledge about legislation and compliance, which can be expensive and too complicated for a commercial company to pursue.

To conclude: while on the surface, the face scrub seems a relatively simple cosmetics product, it reveals a deeper Dutch circular journey. Achieving a circular economy will not be easy, but knowledge sharing and learning from such experiences will be essential.

As part of its role as a nationwide brokerage company, AquaMinerals collects the valuable resources from utilities in the Netherlands

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WATER & NEWS - WATER TREATMENT

SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHES THE WATER TRANSMISSION AND TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY (WTTCO) Announced the establishment of a new company for the management and maintenance of water transmission and technologies

The Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdul-Rahman bin Abdul-Mohsen Al-Fadhli, announced the establishment of the Water Transmission and Technologies Company (WTTCO). The arrival of WTTCO was enacted by the Council of Ministers and is one outcome of the Privatization Program in the Kingdom’s water sector.

WTTCO’s launch marks a major step

by The Supervisory Committee for the Privatization of the Environment, Water, and Agriculture Sector towards restructuring the Kingdom's water sector.

WTTCO will manage and maintain water transmission, distribution and storage systems that span over more than 8,400 Km and transmit more than 7 million m3 per day of desalinated water across the country. The company will work to achieve higher efficiency

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and impact for the sector, while driving innovation in water technology and research. Closely aligned with the Saudi 2030 vision, WTTCO's arrival is one of the most important transformations seen in the water sector to date.

The new company – owned by the government – represents a quantum leap in the integration of the water sector as WTTCO will operate commercially to maximize the use of assets and achieve greater spending efficiency, while also decreasing supply chain costs.

Al-Fadhli considers the establishment of WTTCO to be a historic step in enhancing the efficiency and organization of the water sector while contributing to a prosperous future for the Kingdom's economy. The water sector will do so by attracting more than SAR 60 billion in investment in water transmission and

strategic storage systems, through the private sector's participation in funding future projects.

Eng. Abdullah Bin Ibrahim Al-Abdlkareem, SWCC Governor and WTTCO’s Chairman of the Board, reiterated that the establishment of the company contributes to the development of the water sector supply chain.

He also reaffirmed the importance of WTTCO’s role in managing, constructing, developing and maintaining water transmission, storage and dispatch systems, while adding more than 3,500 Km of new transmission lines. These lines will distribute more than 4 million m3 per day of desalinated water to communities and businesses.

His Excellency continued by stating that the company will work with its partners in the water sector to reach further milestones in the quality of water services provided — guaranteeing that reliability and sustainability are maintained for all stakeholders. WTTCO will ultimately help to enhance Saudi Arabia’s water security and contribute to social and economic growth, therefore creating new opportunities for sector progress alongside additional gains in efficiency and further cost reductions. This will be achieved through various avenues, including partnerships with the private sector and the self-funding of projects.

The company will work to develop and train local Saudi talent, who today make up more than 97 per cent of WTTCO’s workforce. Employees will be provided with the necessary expertise and skills.

BIRMINGHAM-LED RESEARCH PROMISES WATER BOOST FOR FARMERS IN INDIA Researchers from the University of Birmingham develop a high-efficiency means of purifying water in India’s rural communities University of Birmingham water experts have designed a low-energy, high-efficiency means of purifying water in India’s rural farming communities, which could allow farmers to safely use high-saline groundwater and wastewater to grow crops.

Working in the Gujarat region of India, scientists in the Birmingham-led INDIA-H20 project have used emerging membrane technologies that allow saline groundwater and domestic/industrial wastewaters to be safely and efficiently recycled.

Based on field work in the village of Lodhwa, which confirmed the poor quality and availability of water in the region, scientists have now designed a system that can recover 80% of the unusable groundwater fed into it - producing usable water with low energy consumption.

They are also developing ways of growing special crops using the brine solution produced from desalination, as well as progressing plant-based treatments to recycle domestic wastewater and developing solar-energy to break down pollutants in industrial wastewater.

Groundwater is a major source of water across India, with 85% of the population dependent on it. Much of this groundwater, however, is of poor quality and water below 60% of India’s countryside is too saline for human consumption or conventional agriculture. Over-extraction and pollution of groundwater are also making it more difficult to access clean water.

Philip Davies, Professor of Water Technology at the University of Bir-

mingham, said: “INDIA-H2O is developing, designing and demonstrating low-cost water treatment systems for saline groundwater and for domestic and industrial wastewaters in Gujarat, where over-extraction and pollution of groundwater makes it more and more difficult to access clean water.

“Combining novel engineering solutions with new reverse- and forward-osmosis membrane technologies should substantially reduce energy consumption - allowing efficient operation of these systems in rural India using solar energy. They should increase the amount of drinking water extracted from groundwater by 50%.”

The new technology should also enable cultivation of halophytic crops salt-tolerant plants usually found in areas such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs and sea-

shores. Some species are high yield and nutritious, with important potential to supplement diet.

“Novel use of halophytic plants in an integrated water management system to eliminate harmful brine discharges and produce commercial crops will represent progress in water management in India.”

Over the next decade, the number of people affected by severe water shortages is expected to increase fourfold. Of the 2,700 billion m3 hike in water demand forecast for 2030, some 468 billion m3 (17%) is expected to occur in India.

Desalination of brackish water and recycling of wastewater hold potential to fill the widening gap, but the cost of energy and the investment in equipment required for desalination and recycling has limited implementation of these technologies so far.

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WATER & NEWS - WATER TREATMENT

TURNING WASTEWATER NUTRIENTS INTO FERTILIZER The NPHarvest process allows the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater and transforms these nutrients so they can be used as fertiliser Wastewater contains large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are valuable nutrients. NPHarvest is a process developed by Aalto University researchers that allows for the recovery of these nutrients in a way that produces a clean ammonium sulphate solution, which can be used as fertiliser, and a slurry rich in phosphorus and calcium.

Using the NPHarvest process to produce recycled fertiliser can save both energy and natural resources, as it reduces nutrient discharges into waterways and cuts the amount of energy and chemicals consumed by aeration and wastewater treatment processes.

The NPHarvest process begins with the chemical coagulation of wastewater with lime dust, an industrial by-product. Coagulation allows for the harvesting of the

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phosphorus in the water. The separation of nitrogen in ammonium form is based on the use of a gas-permeable membrane.

A biogas plant could achieve savings by using the NPHarvest process to treat its reject water on-site and turning it into fertiliser instead of conveying the water to a wastewater treatment plant and paying an increased wastewater charge.

“The process works even in challenging environments, like in the treatment of reject water from sludge digestion or leachate from a landfill”, said Professor of Practice Anna Mikola.

The strength of the NPHarvest process is that different end products can be produced from wastewater according to need. Nitrogen can be used as a general fertiliser in an ammonium phosphate form.

WASTEWATER REQUIRES ADDITIONAL TREATMENT TO REDUCE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS Israeli scientists warn wastewater must be further treated to minimize risks Wastewater must be further treated to minimize the risk of dissemination and infection of coronavirus, according to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers, who found coronavirus RNA in samples from Israeli water treatment plants.

Published on medRxiv in advance of peer review, this is the first research on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in water treatment stages. Sewage originating from areas facing COVID-19 outbreaks carry SARS-CoV-2 to wastewater treatment plants in urine and faeces shed by those who are infected. The BGU research team analysed wastewater samples at several treatment stages collected during the April lockdown and a second wave in July.

“If we do not want recurring waves of outbreaks, we must reduce the infection and neutralize wastewater treatment as well,” says co-lead researcher Dr Oded Nir of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research.

While most of the sewage in the United States, Israel and other developed countries undergoes biological treatment before release to the environment or reuse, the researchers found that existing processes were inadequate to reduce the virus concentration to undetectable levels. In countries and areas where water is left untreated, it can be a conduit for infection of people and animals.

When treated with chlorine, the virus was no longer detectable. While chlorination was found to be effective in removing the virus, determining the proper levels will be required to ensure complete removal of SARS-CoV-2 traces.

DIGITAL

FEATURE

For wastewater treatment plants to be more sustainable, efficient and cost-effective, beyond just applying the latest technologies, it is essential to use processes that allow measuring and improving the operational value of the plant in real time and continuously, such as the one developed by Schneider Electric.

Reducing operating costs while improving operational and energy efficiency at the same time is one of the challenges faced by the water sector, and specifically, wastewater treatment plants. Installing new automation systems is a great start, but it is not enough. Using effective processes, designed to measure and improve operational value in real time, is also essential. To this effect, Schneider Electric has developed a process that is simple, yet highly effective, to maximise the operational value through plant automation and control.

Taking into account the operational value as a real time measure of factors such as a reduction in energy or material costs, which affect the value of a plant, in this article we will evaluate the process through which these factors can be improved, with a direct impact on the operational value in real time.

In this context, we should take into account that in a typical wastewater treatment plant, electrical energy represents more than 35% of operational costs. Up

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to 65% of that energy is used in aeration processes. Experience shows that energy costs can be reduced by 3% to 5% of the expected thanks to plant automation and control. In addition, effective application of instrument and control systems can help increase the capacity of a wastewater treatment plant from 15% to 30%, thereby helping avoid capital costs of more than one million euros.

Measuring, empowering and improving The process developed by Schneider Electric is based on three steps: measuring, empowering and improving. It might seem obvious, but the two first steps are practically unused in automation and control projects in wastewater treatment plants. Usually, the business value is not measured in a way that allows identifying improvements in processes, and thus it hampers projects that generate a measurable impact on the plant.

The first step of the process proposed

by Schneider Electric, measuring, focuses on finding measures of operational value in real time for the whole plant. This way we will have a system that will compile data in real time at the level of process unit or subunit, based on the equipment installed in the plant and the business variables. With all of that, we will obtain a real time accounting system (RTA).

Once the RTA system has been developed, installed and executed, we move on to the phase where we empower the

staff, that is, the data obtained are used to make better informed decisions. In this regard, panels to control performance in real time are created, using RTA measurements to guide any person in their daily activities. This type of feedback provides one of the most effective opportunities to improve the performance of wastewater treatment plant operations.

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

Finally, in the third step of the process, improving, specific improvement initiatives are developed to encourage a progressive operational value. The operation must identify and implement improvements that generate value and include training of operators, redesigning control strategies, advanced control of processes, dynamic optimisation of processes, etc.

The result will be quantifiable, and it will be possible to show clearly the exact value of each initiative. This is one of the most important steps for Schneider Electric.

A CI process to optimise the performance of wastewater treatment plants At Schneider Electric, from the Field Services business unit, we apply a differential

Effective application of instrument and control systems can help increase the capacity of a wastewater treatment plant from 15% to 30%

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FEATURE

continuous improvement (CI) process that allows improving both the project and the day-to-day work, establishing effective performance measures. We don't just offer the technology, but also a pro-

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cess that has been proven to help wastewater treatment plants be more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective.

To improve the projects, once the RTA measurements have been obtained, they can be applied to a CI process for projects, using the metrics as the basis for improvements in the performance of operations. Thus, after analysing the operations and their historical issues, potential solutions and their cost-benefit ratio will be determined. If several solutions are proposed, they are prioritised based on the estimated cost and the potential benefits of each one. Hence, the highest

priority solution will be implemented first, analysing the value generated and seeking the approval of those responsible. Next, the remaining solutions will be implemented in order of priority, thereby increasing the value of the operations with each improvement.

Combining technology with CI, both in projects and processes and in day-today work, provides wastewater treatment plants with the opportunity to maximise the overall operational value.

This process is not just a theoretical action plan, it is a process we have applied in some of the water treatment plants where

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

At Schneider Electric we have numerous successful cases where our solutions and services have been applied to the water sector

we work. One of the cases where we have incorporated a digital energy solution linked to efficiency and sustainability is in Colombia. As Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, explains in his blog, Schneider and Microsoft have worked in a co-innovation process, with the purpose of creating a solution in Azure to improve the management of water and wastewater throughout the cycle. Thanks to smart water technology, services and devices, we were able to optimise operations and increase business security and sustainability. Within this working framework, seeking continuous improvement, both

companies have been involved in the Salitre II wastewater treatment plant in Bogota. With this project, we were able to improve the quality of the water that is discharged back to the Bogota river, improving the environmental conditions for more than eight million people.

Technological innovation has also improved the activity of a substation of a water company in the United States. In that case, a smart solution was needed to let the administrators know when an increase in humidity levels would trigger the circuit breakers. This predictive maintenance technology has enabled

avoiding such failures, mitigating the impact on people and system security, improving significantly all maintenance indicators, and providing a return on investment in the first year.

Thanks to smart water technology, services and devices, we were able to optimise operations and increase business security and sustainability

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ON THE COVER

MANUEL

PARRA

VICE PRESIDENT OF PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AT XYLEM

Z

Alejandro Maceira -

G

Shane Michael Colella

“If anyone doubted the need for digital transformation before, 2020 has created the environment to make it a reality” Dedicated to “solving water” through the creation of cutting-edge and smart technology solutions, Xylem is a leading expert in digitalization for the world’s water, wastewater and energy companies.

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Manuel Parra has developed his career over the last fifteen years around the areas of water, wastewater, software and data, performing various roles ranging from product management to business development and general manager of smart water software. As a result, he has worked with water and wastewater utilities all over the world to address a wide range of challenges, such as reducing non-revenue water through data analysis, simplifying engineering and planning work by using digital twins, and facilitating the work of field teams by applying mobile workforce solutions, to name a few.

Parra enjoys seeing the positive impact that every project has in helping communities get safe and reliable service, which makes him consider each of them as a milestone in itself.

In addition to his work as Vice President of Practice Management at Xylem Inc., he was one of the co-founders of the Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN), an organization in which he enjoys "working with other water and wastewater leaders to create the space where utilities, vendors, academia, and other professionals can come together to find ways to help our industry."

In this fifth issue of Smart Water Magazine Monthly, we talk with Manuel Parra about digital transformation in the water sector and the approaches a leader like Xylem applies to solve the challenges of water resources management.

We have been talking about the digital transformation of water companies for a long time, but perhaps 2020 can be remembered as the year in which, in some areas, we went from words to actions. How has the pandemic affected the perception and application of digital technologies for water supply and treatment?

The overall perception of digital solutions has evolved significantly over the last ten years. Initially, we saw a â&#x20AC;&#x153;wait-and-seeâ&#x20AC;? approach to the incorporation of new technologies by water and wastewater utilities, today it is very common to see terms such as machine learning, digital twins and artificial intelligence forming a part of the water and wastewater language.

If anyone doubted the need for digital transformation before, 2020 has created the environment to make this transformation a reality. The speed at

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Xylem has strengthened its digital capabilities over the years by adding technology to our portfolio and expertise to our teams

ON THE COVER

which water and wastewater organizations across the globe have had to react to the pandemic has made evident that the technology used may not be optional and, very importantly, that good, actionable data, is one of the most important allies a utility can have to navigate current challenges and future uncertainties.

Water services have, in general, had an excellent response to the pandemic throughout the world, guaranteeing access to water and sanitation to citizens in circumstances as complicated as home confinement. What kind of technologies have been most decisive in achieving this?

Before we talk about technologies, we must thank every single water and wastewater professional for the job they do every day and how, beyond the use of any technology, they have been key in keeping our water and wastewater services up and running in this very complex situation.

As far as technologies are concerned, automation and control technologies are having a pivotal role in managing this situation by providing direct relief for the stress generated by having to manage water and wastewater services with reduced resources. The ability to control and analyse critical equipment and processes remotely, in real-time has definitely made a difference, especially when dealing with new or aggravated problems, such as the increase in the number of clogging events or changes in usage patterns resulting from changes in our day to day routines, for example.

What is Xylem's strategy to be one of the leading actors in digitization?

Xylem understood early on that the application of digital and data-driven technologies should not be treated as a separate topic but as one of the fundamental pillars that brings value to our customers.

Xylem has strengthened its digital capabilities over the years by adding technology to our portfolio and expertise to our teams. This means that whenever we work with our customers on finding answers to their questions, we always look at data as another asset that they can use to gain insights that can help them achieve their goals while maximizing their expected outcomes.

This data-as-an-asset approach has, for example, saved some of our utility customers millions

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ON THE COVER

of dollars when dealing with combined sewer overflows, by allowing them to maximize the capacity of wastewater networks rather than having to build new infrastructure. In other cases, we are helping customers optimize their capital improvement plans by incorporating data analytics so that they can focus their efforts and resources on their most critical and risky parts of their water distribution systems, therefore increasing the impact and rate of return of every expenditure.

A company with Xylem's global presence is one of the best thermometers to know the situation of the industry. How would you evaluate the moment we are in and, specifically, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? Which markets and geographic areas show more dynamism?

It is clear that almost everywhere budgets have changed, resources have been impacted and priorities are focused on managing the uncertainties associated with keeping essential water and wastewater services up and running in the current situation.

While I think it is still too early to determine the permanent effects of the pandemic on our industry, we have seen an increased interest in the use of data analytics, and in particular how it can be used to gain insights into operations to support managing operational and financial priorities in an unknown environment.

In this context, I expect to see a growth in technologies that will help prioritize Capex and Opex to help cope with the short and mid-term impacts of the pandemic. I can also see how this situation has made the benefits related to decision support systems evident and, as such, there will be more interest in this type of technologies.

Wastewater treatment has proven to be an excellent tool for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Do you think this is a new market niche that can be consolidated in the coming years?

In my opinion, the growing trends around water and wastewater reuse and recycling will call for a closer look at the quality factor and, as such, the importance of water and wastewater quality monitoring, control and prediction technologies will become more prevalent in the future.

A subset of this market surely will be linked to new types of analysis focused on public health

and safety. I believe we are just scratching the surface of the possibilities in this area, where detection will be accompanied by prediction and early warning analysis.

"GOOD AND ACTIONABLE DATA IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ALLIES A UTILITY CAN HAVE TO NAVIGATE CURRENT CHALLENGES AND FUTURE UNCERTAINTIES"

"THE ABILITY TO CONTROL AND ANALYSE CRITICAL EQUIPMENT AND PROCESSES REMOTELY, IN REAL TIME HAS DEFINITELY MADE A DIFFERENCE"

Beyond COVID-19, many other challenges are still on the table. One of the most important is climate change adaptation and mitigation. How do Xylem's solutions help in this area and how do you see the water sector evolving in terms of energy efficiency and prevention of extreme events such as floods or droughts?

It is important to understand that there is no silver bullet to solve these issues or a “onesize-fits-all” approach. Each community has its unique characteristics, strengths, and challenges, as a result, we will need to work locally with partners and customers to understand the specific effect climate change is having on their communities. I expect to see technologies evolving beyond mere mitigation and towards predicting the short term and long term impacts of these events to allow faster response and better planning.

In regards to Xylem, addressing these challenges and working closely with our customers and partners to provide solutions that fit each situation is at the core of what we do as an organization.

For example, to help the state of Madhya Pradesh in India conserve water and address its drought, Xylem is providing a smart irrigation system that includes data analytics, controls, and IoT devices to provide water efficiently to 175,000 farmers while increasing agricultural production across 5,150 square kilometres.

We dealt with a totally different situation when Hurricane Dorian left many communities without safe drinking water. In this case, Xylem deployed people with expertise and technologies to accelerate pumping and support urgent disaster response efforts locally.

Regarding energy efficiency, there are multiple examples where Xylem furthers our customers’ efforts. For example, Beijing’s new Daxing airport uses Xylem’s energy-efficient pumping solutions, which include a ground-source heat pump system that in turn generates 10% of the renewable energy used in the entire airport.

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ON THE COVER

Let's talk about talent. How is the profile of workers in the water industry changing? What skills are most in demand? What would you say to young professionals that are looking at getting into this industry?

Although it is true that younger generations are quicker to adopt data-driven technologies, it is definitely not unique to them. In my experience, there is a clear trend towards using data and information to back up individual knowledge, and those professionals open to embracing this trend will be more successful, regardless of whether they are new to the industry or if they have been here for a long time.

For those young professionals looking to pursue a career in water and wastewater, I would tell them that there is no better way to make a real difference, locally and globally, than working in this industry. There are still challenges to be solved, solutions to be discovered and, more than anything, there are still millions of people that can benefit from their drive, passion, and innovation. So I encourage them to reach out to their local utilities, to water and wastewater agencies or companies invested in water like Xylem.

Finally, how do you see the post-pandemic future for the water industry? Where are we headed?

Although the technical barriers associated to data analytics are decreasing, if we truly want to make data-driven solutions accessible to everyone, we also need to consider alternate financial and business models that help ease access and implementation.

Moving forward, I would like to see the industry and other external stakeholders work together towards the democratization of these technologies by finding solutions to these questions, getting to a situation where the use of data analytics is not restricted only to large organizations but it also becomes a normal practice in small and medium communities.

Getting to this stage is key because, as it has become evident over the last several months, these technologies are a fundamental pillar to build the resiliency levels required to address well-known problems as well as new challenges, so water and wastewater organizations can continue providing a safe, reliable and affordable service.

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ON THE COVER

While it is too early to determine the effects of COVID-19 on our industry, there is an increased interest in the use of data analytics We will need to work locally with partners and customers to understand the specific effect climate change is having on their communities

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WATER & NEWS - DIGITAL

THE BENEFITS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION FOR WATER UTILITIES The pandemic has proved that digital solutions are not only a nice-to-have, but a must-have for global water utilities Now more than ever it is vital to remotely monitor and operate assets, optimize operating costs in the face of unexpected events, manage emergency situations, rationalize resources and efficiently manage fieldwork. For all this to happen, cybersecurity must be an inherent component of the process.

As the need for connectivity deepens and water utilities get more comfortable with the technology, greater levels of digitalization will occur.

Data is translated into actionable information: The evolution of water meters, in relation to their data collection capabilities and communication systems, has led to unprecedented streams of information, which utility managers can use to make critical decisions proactively. However, today utilities only thoroughly analyse, on average, about 10 percent of the data they collect.

When conveniently used, AMI can help utilities take their digital transformation to the next level. Data collection is just the first step. For it to be useful, large data streams must be translated into actionable information via powerful analytical engines, allowing end users to rapidly understand and act. This means that utilities should move from a data-siloed organization to a data-centric one, having full transparency and interoperability.

Managers can make better decisions for a resilient future: as consumer behaviours change and climate change accelerates, there is a growing need for long-term planning to drive business

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decisions, but also for making accurate short-term decisions.

Water utilities must build for resilience, identifying potential impacts and developing adaptation plans. To build a sustainable water future it is necessary not only to have adequate infrastructure, but also to control in advance what is going to happen and why.

In this context, Digital Twins open a new paradigm for water supply and distribution networks management. By combining simulation modelling with artificial intelligence methods, they facilitate remote work and improve the ability to anticipate problems, even during emergency situations, and to take measures to avoid or minimize their consequences. Digital Twins are a valuable tool for contingency plans and they also serve as an operatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; training

system, by facing simulated scenarios in the control room using historical data.

Utilities can move towards a customer-centric approach: The achievement of the UNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SDG 6 of universal access to drinking water and sanitation by 2030 requires that water resources are supplied sustainably, using digital frameworks to connect with customers and respond to their needs.

Thanks to technological innovations related to water meters, utilities can now become proactive in customer management. IoT, as an enabler behind the transformation of many companies, provides enhanced detail of client information which, used properly, provides added value services to customers, reduces complaints and can support industrial customers to optimize the use of water intake in their processes.

BENTLEY SYSTEMS EXPANDS MICROSOFT ALLIANCE TO ACCELERATE INFRASTRUCTURE DIGITAL TWIN INNOVATIONS The companies’ strategic alliance focuses on infrastructure for smart cities Bentley Systems and Microsoft Corp. have announced an expansion of a strategic alliance focused on advancing infrastructure for smart city urban planning and smart construction.

The alliance will combine Microsoft’s Azure IoT Digital Twins and Azure Maps with Bentley Systems’ iTwins platform, enabling engineers, architects, constructors and city planners to work within a comprehensive city-scale digital twin, empowering better decision-making, optimizing operational

efficiency, reducing costs and improving collaboration.

Microsoft and Bentley Systems, a leader in engineering software for professionals to design, build, operate and maintain critical infrastructure such as road and rail networks, and public works and utilities, will collaborate to develop new smart city solutions. The companies will explore opportunities for digital twins in urban planning and citizen engagement for cities around the world. The collaboration will enable improved decision-making

and increased productivity through Microsoft Teams for infrastructure engineers.

“At Bentley we believe that infrastructure digital twins can empower engineers, constructors and owner-operators to design, build and operate infrastructure assets that are more cost-effective, more resilient and more sustainable,” said Greg Bentley, CEO, Bentley Systems. “With Azure as the foundation of our cloud services, our offerings are more broadly scaled and differentiated by the further integrations of Microsoft technologies.”

IVAPPS PREPARES TO UNVEIL A NEW PIPELINE PORTAL THAT WILL REVOLUTIONISE THE WATER INDUSTRY The solution can be serviced without pipeline shut downs or road excavations Already being trialled in Europe, the Middle East and parts of the UK, the invention from North Wales-based iVapps is creating waves in the sector and will be launched into the global market next year.

The marine-grade stainless steel portal features the world’s first smart cartridge valve complete with inflow technology sensors, enabling the user - from water companies to the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries and more - to digitise their pipelines and control and

monitor temperature, flow, pressure, turbidity and quality.

This will enable the user to identify and resolve issues in a number of areas, including contamination, bursts, and leakages, allowing them to move quickly to prevent further environmental and financial damage and reduce the loss of our most valuable resource - water.

Nigel Roberts, National Business Manager for the UK and Europe, said the St Asaph-based firm has big plans for the future. “The response and support we’ve had

has been positive, from water companies to governments and large manufacturing organisations across the UK and Europe.”

“The industry in general now accepts that digitisation of the pipeline networks is critical for their future sustainability.”

20% of the nation’s supply and 234 million litres a day more than a decade ago – are lost due to leaking pipes in England and Wales. The iVapps portal solution has AI capabilities which can be serviced without having to shut down pipelines or excavate roads, causing major disruption.

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OPINION

STEVE LURIE DIGITAL MARKETING LEAD AT IOTEROP

HOW GLOBAL STANDARDS SUPPORT SMART WATER METERING ADOPTION? By 2027, Australia, the driest inhabited continent and home to an urbanized population of approximately 25 million will deploy nearly ten million smart water meters on Narrow-Band IoT networks (NB-IoT), up from under 50,000 today. Most people understand the role of smart water meters. Less understood is the role global standards are playing in Australia's water management market.

Low-power wide-area networks (LPWAs) provide the bi-directional connectivity needed to operate smart water meter solutions.

There are many LPWAs, each with a unique value proposition.

Australia is an interesting use-case because the vast majority of smart water meters will use NB-IoT. NB-IoT is the only LPWA based on a global, homogenized standard. According to research from the Global Mobile Suppliers Association's (GSMA) there are 140 operators in 69 countries.

Qualcomm, have worked tirelessly to create a standard that addresses smart metering challenges. Smart meters are not easy to build, requiring much forethought and optimization. An early focus on costs, some obvious, some less so, including energy-efficiency and field-service costs, are key to success.

Cost effectively supporting millions of remote, constrained objects requires device management services that limit human interventions, privileging virtual interventions. LwM2M 1.1 provides everything needed to commission, deploy, and operate devices securely with just a mouse. What happens when a device arrives from the factory or behaves atypically? Competent organizations will replace the security credentials. With LwM2M 1.1, changing security credentials, like firmware updates, another requirement, is done remotely. Standardized data models assure interoperability, future-proofing investments. Sev"Smart meters are not easy to enty objects exist for the water industry, with others for device manbuild. An early focus on costs, agement. Any LwM2M compliant including energy-efficiency device or server will work with another. Think IoT plug-and-play. and field-service costs,

NB-IoT’s Global Role Globally available, NB-IoT meets smart water metering's technical and strategic requirements. Smart water meters have ten plus year lifespans, use batteries, and are is key to success" adapted to specific networks. NBConclusion: Global Standards EnIoT operated by multinational telesure Value and Risk Management coms best addresses questions of risk and perennity. Transparent, Smart water meters perform better and cost just a fraction of decreasing connectivity costs increases the ability of businesses mechanical water meters from a generation ago. Although costs to forecast costs. Australia has two NB-IoT operators enhanc- are decreasing, deployments still represent significant investing competition and quality-of-service. Finally, behind NB-IoT ments. Standards like NB-IoT and LwM2M 1.1 provide needed deployments are massive economies-of-scale. ABI Research pre- functionality while addressing the strategic issues of openness dicts, modules, the building blocks of smart water meters, will and interoperability. The market and analysts are taking note. drop in price to $1.98 by 2024.

Technology analyst Gartner in their June 2020 report Hype Cycle for IoT Standards and Protocols says, "NB-IoT is an ideEnter Lightweight M2M al use case for LightweightM2M…LwM2M is important for NB-IoT checks the right boxes, but in Australia, another global simplifying IoT cellular application development…Investing standard, Lightweight M2M 1.1 (LwM2M), is also at work. in NB-IoT is a low-risk strategy.” In Australia, the vast majority LwM2M 1.1 is a device management standard proposed by the of smart water tenders now mandate NB-IoT and LwM2M to Open Mobile Alliance. OMA SpecWorks board members, in- assure deployments meet functional, operational, and strategic cluding ARM, AT&T, Ericsson, IoTerop, Itron, T-Mobile, and requirements today and into the future.

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SDGs

INTERVIEW

BEN HARVEY UNHCR WATER AND SANITATION REAL-TIME MONITORING PROJECT MANAGER

“Smart City IoT technologies have the potential to radically change the way humanitarian organisations monitor refugee operations” The UN Refugee Agency is dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, displaced communities and stateless people. UNHCR works with partners to provide WASH services to about 8 million refugees in 30 countries.

Z The WASH response of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in emergency settings ensures immediate survival, dignity and the prevention of disease. While supplying safe drinking water to emergency settlements is a must, delivering water by truck is expensive and difficult to monitor. A UNHCR team of engineers in charge of WASH operations came up with a solution that has received a prestigious award from the European Innovation Council. We hear from Ben Harvey, lead engineer on this project, about the use of new technology to improve water service delivery and reduce shortages in refugee settlements.

What does it mean for you and your team to win the European Innovation

The COVID-19 lockdowns have shown us that UNHCR needs solutions to monitor that refugees are receiving their rights to water" 76

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Cristina Novo Pérez

Council Horizon Prize on Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid? This is a huge honour for UNHCR and we are delighted to have been chosen as the winners of the €1 million ($1.18 million) EIC Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid Prize for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene category. We are extremely grateful to the European Innovation Council as it would be impossible for UNHCR to innovate with new technologies in humanitarian settings without their generous support.

Can you tell us how the project to develop and implement novel technology to monitor water delivery and consumption in refugee settlements came about?

This technology mainly came out of response to the complex humanitarian situation in 2017/2018 where almost a million South Sudanese refugees crossed into northern Uganda. At this height of this crisis over 600 water trucks were providing water to half a million refugees. The reality is that UNHCR manages many large water supply operations for millions of refugees worldwide. In some rapid-onset com-

plex emergencies, UNHCR can quickly find itself having to scale up to meet the needs of refugees. Monitoring emergency water provision in these difficult contexts can be very challenging. The recent COVID-19 lockdowns have also shown us that UNHCR needs solutions to monitor that refugees are receiving their rights to water during times of limited access.

What does the technology consist of, and where has it been applied so far?

Do you think it can be applied in other types of emergency scenarios?

UNHCR reviewed the IOT technology landscape (Sigfox, LoRaWAN, NB-IOT, LTE, 3G, 4G, Satellite) for real-time monitoring of water systems and identified LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, typically applied in Smart Cities, as a potential game-changer for humanitarian settings. Our pilots in Uganda and Northern Iraq showed us the technology was mature and we were amazed to see the LoRaWAN water sensors sending data to the Gateway over 25 km away. To date, we have installed

BEN HARVEY

Ben Harvey. Water truck monitoring in Uganda

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INTERVIEW

UNHCR has found that many Smart Cities technologies are better suited to refugee settings than built-up urban environments ten (10) LoRaWAN Gateways in Refugee Camps and are currently installing four (4) Gateways to cover 1 million refugees in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh in collaboration with our partners. In terms of sensors, we have installed LoRaWAN ultrasonic water level in water reservoirs, LoRaWAN flow meters, LoRaWAN borehole groundwater level sensors and are working with Veolia Foundation to install real-time chlorine and turbidity sensors. We also have a strong policy of solarization of water pumping and plan to install LoRaWAN pulse readers and LoRaWAN weather stations, equipped with solar irradiation sensors, to help us monitor efficiency.

To what extent are the solutions you have developed helping to deliver WASH services in these settlements and beyond?

These solutions are helping us ensure visibility and transparency that refugees are receiving their rights to adequate services of water and sanitation during times of limited access. This information is critical for UNHCR to fulfil its mandate and ensure accountability to our persons of concern. In addition, optimizing the delivery of water, results in cost savings, thereby increasing cost-effectiveness and maximizing the impact

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of humanitarian aid. By monitoring our water networks, we have been able to minimize water leakage, identify and adjust under-sized and over-sized elements of the system, and address irregularities in system operation.

UNHCR has found that Smart City Internet of Things technologies have the potential to radically change the way humanitarian organisations monitor refugee operations. UNHCR has found that many Smart Cities technologies are better suited to refugee settings than built-up urban environments. UNHCR’s piloting of this technology has impacts not just for real-time monitoring of Water Infrastructure but practically all humanitarian sectors (Health, Shelter, Energy and Environment). With many refugee settings still in lockdown with COVID-19, the importance of real-time remote-monitoring has never been greater.

The EIC Horizon Prize entails €1,000,000 in prize money. What are the plans so far to invest that amount?

Currently, we have a strategy to use the prize money that has four (4) components. The first is to support existing refugee operations (Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Rwanda, Iraq) where we have already started real-time water monitoring. The second is to expand to

new refugee operations. The third is to improve our information visualisation platforms, for example, to provide clear alerts when pumps have stopped, water reservoirs are empty, water quality levels fall below norms (we received funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs via Dutch Surge Support to create a free to use, open-source visualisation platform for humanitarian NGOs that leverages the open-source platform The Things Network). The final aspect is to do a better job of sharing our experience with the humanitarian water and sanitation community and produce clear guidance, lessons learned documents, video training and webinars. We are also hop-

BEN HARVEY ing to expand beyond water monitoring and look at smart monitoring technologies for sanitation and faecal sludge operations.

Can you tell us about further hightech development initiatives within the UNHCR? What challenges are you hoping to address in the near future?

At the moment we are particularly interested in technologies that allow humanitarian actors to monitor efficiency, detect leaks, monitor water quality, monitor energy and protect the environment.

Currently, we are very interested in developments around smart water dispensers (e.g. using RFID tags to dispense set

quantities of water at public water points â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with the aim of introducing cost recover). Smart water technology is advancing so much that we are continuously looking at what technology works well and can be applied to the humanitarian scope. We are also particularly interested in any solutions that can help our water systems reduce costs, become more efficient, become more accountable (to donors, partners and the refugees themselves) and become more environmentally friendly. We are also particularly interested in technologies that are simple, robust, low-cost and can be handed over to local government service providers at some stage down the line.

Do you think COVID-19 could accelerate the provision of water services in refugee camps?

Absolutely, regretfully we had three installation trips planned just when COVID-19 started that had to be postponed. If we had managed to get the remote monitoring equipment installed before the COVID-19 lockdowns we would have had a very clear picture of the water situation in various refugee camps before we lost physical access to the sites because of lock-down. We understand with the additional demand for increased water for handwashing that our limited services are being stretched.

There has never been a more important time for real-time monitoring.

Refugee settlement in Uganda

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FEATURE

Z

We The People of Detroit Community Research Collective

Water insecurity poses a significant challenge to both health and economic development throughout the world. Two thirds of the world’s population experience water scarcity and 2.5 billion lack access to basic sanitation. In the U.S., the issue is growing more severe as water costs rise and the number of people living in poverty grows. In Detroit, Michigan nearly 100,000 residents have been disconnected from the city’s water system for lack of payment, with most living in the area’s poorest neighborhoods. These same areas of the city have been some of the hardest hit by COVID-19 this year.

For example, people over the age of 60 represent 42% of all COVID-19 cases and 82% of deaths in Detroit. A majority of residents over 65 live in the zip codes experiencing the highest water shutoff rates in the city. Though we know the virus spreads more easily in shared living facilities, including nursing homes, our research shows that in these zip codes, the majority of cases were transmitted by community spread. The data is clear – the poorest residents of Detroit are experiencing the highest level

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of water shutoffs and the largest impact of COVID-19.

In September, the Journal of Public Health published new research showing water insecurity has a significant effect on psychological distress. The paper, based on a case study of the emotional toll of water insecurity on Detroit residents, is the first in the country to quantify the effect of unaffordable water rates on mental health. Written by my colleagues and I, including We the People of Detroit Community Research Collective’s Dr. Nadia Gaber, the results are a culmination of years of community engagement and grassroots support, thousands of volunteer hours, and six months of survey design and research.

While the physical and economic impacts of water insecurity are well documented, the emotional and social tolls are less well understood. Our study is the first to examine the relationship between water insecurity and psychosocial distress in the U.S. For our study, we had to design a scale of water insecurity relevant to the local community. We examined five issues related to water insecurity: current water supply status; cost of monthly water bills; perceived water affordability; incidence of sewer flooding; and economic trade-offs attributable to the cost of water.

Data was collected through participant observation at community meetings, informal interviews at Detroit Water and Sewage Department customer service centers, and semi-structured interviews

with residents. To measure psychological distress we used ten self-assessment questions relating to anxiety and depression based on the well-validated Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.

PEOPLE OF DETROIT

We found a substantial, statistically significant effect of water insecurity on psychological distress. For example, receiving a water shutoff notice was associated with a 2.31 increase in the 5-point psychological

distress scale. Focusing on the residents of the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit, we found a significant relationship between three of our measures of water insecurity and psychological distress.

We The People of Detroit distributes bottled water

The mental health effects experienced

by Detroit residents during the growing water crisis – surely exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic -- provides an essential component to understanding the long-term impacts of escalating water costs in the U.S. COVID-19 increases the urgency in our response to end it.

Our study is also the first of its kind to demonstrate the mental health impacts of widespread water disconnections in an urban U.S. city and as such, speaks to the value of community-based participatory research. Access to these highly vulnerable communities was greatly facilitated during our research by the inclusion of local leaders who garner community trust.

A United Nations report in 2014 found Detroit’s water shutoffs violate international human rights, but the cutoffs have persisted. Though temporary restarts have been instituted during a global pandemic, there are many areas of the country without any protection from shutoffs even during this health emergency. Around the world, COVID-19 has shown a spotlight on the link between public health and access to water – and the U.S. is no exception. Our recent case study was written well before COVID-19 became a global pandemic, but activists in Michigan have long been warning of the potential for infectious diseases to spread rapidly among the poor because of water shutoffs. We are continuing to draw on the power of community to study the spread of the virus in our city, paying attention to where it hits hardest, and why. We are also continuing to deliver emergency water to those in need through our Water Rights Hotline, knowing that this is essential to protecting peoples’ physical and mental health throughout this pandemic. The effects of COVID-19 only make the issue clearer – access to affordable water and sanitation is a human right, and shutoffs must end immediately to protect public health in Detroit and across the country.

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OPINION

LESLEY PORIES MANAGER, SECTOR STRATEGY AT WATER.ORG

While those of us engaged in water innately understand how it permeates other fields, the havoc that COVID-19 continues to wreak upon the global community serves as the explanatory illustration that we needed to galvanize more and better investment in water supply and sanitation, underpinning healthy people, stable economies and resilient ecosystems.

Economy Because WASH is so closely associated with health, the impact that water and sanitation have upon incomes and economies was grossly overlooked – until now. The Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR’s) VoxEU.org analysts summarized: “The Covid-19 pandemic is a global shock ‘like no other’, involving simultaneous disruptions to both supply and demand in an inHealth terconnected world economy. On the supply side, infections reProfessionals engaged in water, sanitation, health and hygiene duce labour supply and productivity, while lockdowns, business (WASH) are often trained in schools of public health, which would closures, and social distancing also cause supply disruptions. On suggest a natural overlap with other health fields. However, WASH the demand side, layoffs and the loss of income (from morbidity, challenges persist more dramatically in developing countries than quarantines, and unemployment) and worsened economic prosdeveloped, keeping them separate from popular discourse, and pects reduce household consumption and firms’ investment.” addressing foundational WASH needs is seen as distinct from Unhealthy workforces miss out on wages when they a) cannot high-profile medical advances. As a work due to illness, b) have to care result, WASH priorities seldom infor a sick family member or tend "Policymakers seem more aware tegrate into the larger health sector. to a child’s schooling, or c) because COVID-19 upended that dithey (often females) have to collect that access is not only a public chotomy and brought fundamental water and/or travel to defecate in health issue, but also a WASH issues to the forefront of the private. Those forgone wages stand health conversation. Handwashing in addition to medical costs required fundamental component is acknowledged as one of the prito treat a water or sanitation-related of a healthy economy" mary defences against the virus, and illness. Now, people and policymakhandwashing requires a reliable waers seem more aware that access is ter supply. Meanwhile, the observation of social distancing is in- not only a public health issue, but also a fundamental component herently more difficult if you lack facilities like a toilet at home. of a healthy and vital economy that they need to help address.

Therefore it is no surprise that the slogan “Water is PPE” has resonated deeply with audiences who are normally less attuned Climate and water resource management to the plight of the 2.2 billion people (six times the population of The impacts of water and sanitation upon health and economy have the United States) that the WHO estimates live without a house- also, perhaps most interestingly, started to help unite the WASH hold water connection, the 2 billion people (one in three) that sector with the Water Resource Management (WRM) sector. the WHO estimates lack access to a toilet, or the three billion WRM has long focused more of its energy on landscape preserpeople (40% of the world's population) that UNICEF estimates vation, ecosystems, water conservation, biodiversity. Perhaps the as not having a handwashing facility with soap and water at difference can be broken down by the prominence of people in the home. Water, sanitation and handwashing have risen in visibili- two fields: WASH is primarily concerned with ensuring that every ty, and more actors are reaching out to experts such as UNICEF person has access to safe water, sanitation, health and hygiene. and the Sanitation and Water for All Partnership to understand The field measures its success in terms of people – how many do how they can contribute to addressing this global crisis. or don’t have access. By contrast, while there is a large “people”

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component of WRM, people are one stakeholder amongst several that stand to lose from degraded environmental conditions, not the sole focus. Metrics of success might be more in the preservation of threatened species, natural habitats, levels of contaminants in water, etc. This difference in orientation may help explain why the groups have tended to keep their respectful distance from one another. However, the impacts of climate change â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the need to elevate water in that conversation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; were already starting to motivate these two sub-sectors to start talking to each other.

merly occupied spaces inhabitable. This has and will continue to affect where people live, with implications upon the landscapes where they settle. You cannot talk about climate change without talking about water. The ability of people and ecosystems to adapt and be resilient in the face of a changing climate requires a coordinated focus on addressing water systems.

A way forward A positive outcome amidst the chaos that COVID-19 has thrust upon our lives has been a forced simultaneous reckoning with water Most of it was just talk, however, until COVID-19. and sanitation, water resources, health and economy: the realization Since the global pandemic appeared, I have observed WRM or- that all must be considered en masse to ensure a resilient future. ganizations proactively reaching out to WASH organizations and This recognition is at once propelling a conversation between a looking for opportunities to partner. From my vantage point as a more diverse spectrum of players while also catalysing the political player within the WASH communiwill that is necessary to develop the ty, the recent visibility of WASH has comprehensive solutions we need.

"The impacts of water and resonated with WRM priorities on This broader conversation crewatershed health. ates the opportunity for innovative sanitation upon health and Anecdotal evidence of this shift: technology to help us predict and economy have started to unite my organization has been invited steward water resources, ensuring into conversations with a WRM continued and often improved acthe WASH and the Water Resource organization seeking to develop colcess for people around the world.

Management sectors" laborative, holistic WRM-WASH A greater popular understanding of interventions. The lead of this initithese issues may also embolden govative frankly acknowledged to me that while he personally had ernment actors to take long-needed but historically unpopular been interested in partnering with WASH actors for some time, actions in terms of utility and agricultural management (e.g. institutional buy-in to do so at their organization would have water pricing and tariffs, agricultural water consumption, etc.). been unlikely if not for COVID. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think this is a one-off Finally, actors are starting to make a concerted effort to look occurrence; I believe it is the beginning of a trend. critically at how our evolving global ecosystem sustains itself Just as the pandemic forced actors to recognize the inter-re- financially. For more than a decade, Water.org has been focused lated nature of WASH in health and the economy, there seems on harnessing credit to facilitate household access to WASH, to have been a new understanding that you cannot look at wa- but has gradually been broadening this scope to consider, in tershed health independent of the people who depend upon its partnership with others, the larger systemic changes that need resources. It could also be related to the growing momentum to be implemented to ensure any solutions implemented today around bringing water into the climate change conversation: the can be financially sustained over time. The convergence of more impacts of climate change are inevitably experienced most visi- actors willing to dedicate their attention to this critical but ofbly through water: off-season, more intense droughts and floods ten overlooked facet of the challenge leaves me with more hope alongside hurricanes and sea-level rise are rendering many for- for faster solutions at scale than I had before.

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OPINION

ROSIE WHEEN WATERAID AUSTRALIA CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Everyone everywhere has the right to safe and accessible sani- itation perpetuates a vicious cycle of disease and poverty betation. In fact, the United Nations Sustainable Development cause when communities do not have access to decent toilets Goal 6 states that we must “ensure access to water and sanita- and clean water, disease spreads fast. Good sanitation services tion for all.” Much of WaterAid’s work focuses on providing are disaster-resilient. access to clean water, however with World Toilet Day celeThe worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the brated this month on November 19, 2020, I am going to talk importance of working towards SDG (Sustainable Developabout the often-under-acknowledged importance of sanita- ment Goal) 6 and ensuring everyone has access to basic resourction. Right now, two billion people do not have access to a es, such as clean water, to wash hands and stop the spread of decent toilet at home. disease. Climate change is a growing global crisis that must be Where decent toilets are lacking, human faeces can contam- factored into the approaches we take to achieve SDG 6, and deinate the groundwater or end up in rivers and lakes, polluting cent toilets are a vital resource that can help protect vulnerable what is often the only supply of water for drinking, cooking, people from its impact. and cleaning. Children play on ground rife with pathogens and Safely managed and resilient sanitation is one of the first as a result of faecal contamination, whole communities can lines of defence against climate change and disease outbreaks, contract diarrhoeal diseases. and we need to act now to save Further, inadequate sanitation in lives. Living without access to a "There is an answer. There are healthcare centres increases the risk decent toilet has a direct impact of them becoming the epicentres on the health, education and liveliways that sanitation systems can of epidemics. One in 10 healthcare hoods of billions of people around be adapted to become climate facilities have no sanitation at all the world, and certain groups and 1.8 billion people have no basic – such as women and girls – are change-resilient and help water services at their local facilities. more affected by poor or non-exto achieve SDG 6" Poor sanitation is linked to the istent sanitation facilities. Women transmission of deadly, preventable and girls are disproportionately illnesses, such as cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery. Tragically, impacted by the sanitation crisis, and lack of access to demore than 310,000 children under five – that is one child every cent toilets makes it extremely difficult for them to manage two minutes – die every year of diarrhoeal diseases as a result of their periods with the dignity and privacy they deserve both lack of access to decent toilets and also clean water. Inadequate at home and school. sanitation is also a main factor in the transmission of neglected The needs of disabled people and those with limited mobility tropical diseases, such as trachoma and intestinal worms. are also often overlooked when it comes to providing sanitation The world’s sanitation crisis is nothing short of a global services. People with disabilities face multiple barriers when usdisgrace, and now climate change threatens to escalate it. Be- ing facilities, such as steps leading to toilets and narrow doortween 2030 and 2050, a quarter of a million additional deaths ways. A lack of inclusive facilities means disabled people often per year are predicted due to climate change – many of these have to perform dangerous and unhygienic practises, for examdeaths will be related to preventable diseases linked to poor ple, wheelchair users are forced to crawl on the floor of latrines. sanitation. Frequent, extreme weather events – such as severe If we are to achieve SDG 6, it means everyone, everywhere cyclones, heavy rainfall and rising sea levels – often cause dam- has to have access safely managed sanitation, but progress on age to already weak sanitation infrastructure. Inadequate san- achieving inclusivity in this goal is still very slow.

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Despite commitments by governments and international donors Strengthening services to complement appropriate technolto improve sanitation, little is being done to ensure this human ogies and robust infrastructures. Establishing effective sanitaright becomes a reality. As I write, 9% of the world’s popula- tion services is critical to disaster preparedness; the running tion– that is a staggering 673 million people – have no choice and maintaining of services need to be climate-resilient. For but to defecate outside due to lack of access to a toilet. Women instance, regularly emptying pits and septic tanks to reduce the and girls, in particular, can be exposed to gender-based violence, level of contamination triggered by heavy rainfall and flooding. including sexual assault, when open defecation is their only opUrgent action is needed to ensure everyone has access to detion. Human faeces contaminate water sources, exposing vul- cent toilets to help prevent the spread of diseases and protect nerable communities to harmful bacteria and viruses that lead to communities from the impacts of climate change. To tackle this fatal illnesses – such as cholera – placing more pressure on over- issue, we will need to see: stretched healthcare services. At current rates of progress, every- J Investment: Lack of decent toilets contributes to the spread one in sub-Saharan Africa will not have access to safely managed of deadly diseases, placing a strain on fragile healthcare services. sanitation until 2403, well beyond the SDG 6 timeline, and in Governments must commit more money to the sanitation secsome countries, the proportion of the population without access tor, so everyone has access to decent sanitation services that are to a decent toilet is increasing. safe, reliable and inclusive.

But there is an answer. There JGovernment action: Govern"Governments need to roll are ways that sanitation systems ments need to factor sanitation can be adapted to become cliservices into national climate adapout appropriate sanitation mate change-resilient and help to tation plans. Climate change has led infrastructure to help achieve SDG 6. to severe weather events destroying Appropriate technologies that sanitation infrastructure. Governcommunities become resilient ensure sanitation infrastructures ments need to plan and roll out apto extreme weather events" are resilient to extreme weather epipropriate sanitation infrastructure, sodes. For instance, building raised to help communities become more toilets with ramps for accessibility can prevent floods from dam- resilient to extreme weather events. aging the structure and waste spilling into the environment.

J People: Ensuring everyone, everywhere has access to a Early warning systems that signal the arrival of extreme decent toilet and delivering climate- resilient sanitation inweather events can enable households and sanitation workers frastructure will require a considerable workforce – including to take precautions to protect toilets and sanitation systems. more sanitation workers. Safely managed sanitation must acInvesting in human resources to ensure that the delivery and company a safe and dignified working environment for sanirunning of sanitation services are uninterrupted by extreme tation workers. Governments need to ensure decent working weather. More sanitation workers and specialists are required conditions through legislation, monitoring and enforcement. to respond to this challenge and need to be offered training and Planning for sanitation services must include the participadecent working conditions. tion and requirements of women, girls and disabled commuIdentifying areas vulnerable to climate-related weather epi- nities to ensure toilets are inclusive and safe. Climate change sodes and prioritising those areas for climate-resilient sanita- adaption must be holistic, ensuring that there is sufficient tion investments. For instance, authorities should avoid setting expertise and resource at every level of sanitation services up sewage treatment facilities in areas prone to flooding. planning.

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FEATURE

SANITATION AND WATER FOR ALL HOSTS THE 2020 FINANCE MINISTERS MEETINGS The partners of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) work to increase political will and financial prioritization for water and sanitation services through multi-stakeholder collaboration. The ultimate aim is to improve access to these services without discrimination.

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Z

Cristina Novo PĂŠrez

Since 2009, the SWA partnership has been organising regular high-level meetings of ministers and other representatives of SWA partners to encourage political dialogue. This year, SWA is convening three Finance Ministersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Meetings (FMMs) for each of three regions: Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific.

They are live streamed, virtual meetings, held in November and December. Why the ministers of finance? Because they are key decision-makers, who can ensure

SWA that smart investments in water, sanitation and hygiene are integrated into the economic recovery from the pandemic.

The discussions can deal with the political and institutional changes required to use better the existing financing and attract additional funds to the water sector in order to achieve the SDGs. Two of SWA’s global partners, UNICEF and the World Bank Water Global Practice, as well as regional partners, including regional development banks and organisations, co-convene the meetings. The meetings are an opportunity for dialogue and strengthening part-

nerships, including ministers and development agencies, but also civil society, private sector, UN agencies, research and learning institutions. The purpose is to exchange lessons learned and to discuss how can all stakeholders work together to deliver on SDG 6.

The preparatory process and the Handbook for Finance Ministers In September and October of this year, SWA partners have been involved in a preparatory process to make the most of the ministers’ participation at the FMMs. The process intends to build Niger, 2020. Soraya, 10, washing her hands in the first day of school after the COVID-19 closing. © UNICEF/Haro.

SWA offers insights to ministers and showcase examples from several countries of financial strategies that have proven to be successful political will and engagement amongst decision-makers.

The main deliverable of the 2020 preparatory process in each country is a Country Overview, a document that summarises economic opportunities for investments in the WASH sector, and economic and social development. It also contains commitments by government and partners and is used to brief finance ministers attending the FMMs. In addition, last September SWA launched a publication titled “Water & Sanitation: How to Make Public Investment Work - A Handbook for Finance Ministers”. With this document, SWA wants to offer insights to ministers, and showcase examples from several countries of financial strategies that have proven to be successful.

The handbook makes the case for country investments in water and sanitation, as they provide strong returns: a four-fold return for every dollar invested. Meanwhile, the economic losses associated with inadequate services amount to an annual loss of 1.5% of the global GDP. Furthermore, most of the targets of SDG 6 link with other targets across the 2030 Agenda. But the sector is far from reaching universal coverage, suffering from under-investment and a record of poor-performance that discourages further investment in a vicious cycle.

However, lack of funding is not the only cause of the problems of the water and sanitation sector. The decisions and the policies by ministries of finance can have a significant impact, and the case

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FEATURE WASH service delivery as part of any post-COVID-19 recovery plans.

The sector is far from reaching universal coverage, suffering from underinvestment and poor-performance that discourages investment studies in the handbook illustrate this point. The document outlines critical intervention areas that have the potential to mobilise resources into the water and sanitation sector. It maintains that attracting investment depends on a country’s ability to address key elements such as the regulatory environment, the governance structure, the performance of service providers, and the perception of risk by investors.

Water, sanitation and hygiene services in Africa Data from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene indicate that in Sub-Saharan Africa only 61% of the total population of more than 1 billion live in households with at least basic drinking water services. The data is from 2017, the last year for which data is available. The JMP defines basic drinking water services as “drinking water from an improved source, pro-

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vided collection time is not more than 30 minutes for a roundtrip including queuing”.

Concerning sanitation, only 31% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa have at least basic sanitation services at home. In this case, basic services are defined as “improved facilities which are not shared with other households”.

What about hygiene? Only 25% of households in the region have basic services, meaning a handwashing facility on premises with soap and water. The figures for service levels in Northern Africa and Western Asia are much higher, but there is work to be done to reach universal coverage: 92% of a population of 500 million have at least basic drinking services, while 88% have at least basic sanitation services, and 77% have access to basic hygiene.

What is the situation currently? Even though the coronavirus pandemic has not had as severe an impact in Africa as in other continents, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) warns that more than 40% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa don’t have access to clean water to wash their hands to stop the virus from spreading. In fact, other diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A are widespread wherever access to WASH services is limited. The AfDB calls member states and development partners to prioritise

SWA Africa Ministers’ Meeting The Africa Ministers’ Meeting has been the first of the three regional Finance Ministers’ Meetings organised by SWA, held as a virtual event on November 4.

Catarina de Albuquerque, Chief Executive Officer of SWA, introduced the event, followed by some opening remarks from high officials from UNICEF, the WHO, and the World Bank. After that the Hon. Kevin Rudd, High-Level Chair of SWA and former prime minUganda, 2019. Louse Joseph, a plumber, opens the water and gate valve at Nabilatuk H/C IV, Kaabong District. © UNICEF/Abdul.

SWA ister of Australia, set the global political context, making the social, political and economic case for investment in water, sanitation and hygiene, highlighting the role of the ministers of finance.

Next, Wambui Gichuri, Acting Vice president for Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the Africa Development Bank, provided a regional context for Africa, including the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on water, sanitation and hygiene services in the continent. The ensuing panel discussion offered an opportunity to hear about noteworthy

practices from different countries, moderated by Dr Canisius Kanangire, Executive Secretary at the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), with the participation of ministers from Zimbabwe, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Liberia, and Eritrea, as well as John Barsa, Acting Administrator of USAID. Afterwards, Catarina de Albuquerque introduced a session where representatives from SWA’s private sector constituency, research and learning constituency, and civil society constituency had the chance to present messages to ministers

of finance, and offer them their support. Subsequently, Ms de Albuquerque brought the discussion to a close and handed the floor to the Hon Cecilia Dapaah, Vice President (West Africa), AMCOW and Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ghana, for some concluding remarks. Finally, Patrick Moriarty, Chair of the SWA Steering Committee, thanked all participants and closed the meeting.

The following are some take-home messages from the event: J There are creative ways to finance WASH services: now there is a political opportunity to ensure a good response to the COVID-19 crisis, while creating jobs and small business, at the same time that future economic losses due to inadequate services are prevented.

J We have to find a way to show progress in the WASH sector, communicating with WASH indicators. The WASH sector offers the opportunity to address waterborne diseases with a preventive approach, rather than a curative approach.

J The sector is in need of strong, high-level, visionary political leadership.

We must find ways to make the sector investable. Creating strong and investable WASH systems and mobilise the necessary finance to do it is at the heart of SWA. What’s next? The Latin America and the Caribbean regional meeting was held on November 18 and the third and final regional meeting (Asia and the Pacific) will be held on December 2. You can find further information and the recorded sessions of past meetings on the website of Sanitation and Water for All.

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COVID-19 STRESSES THE NEED TO TRANSFORM AFRICA’S WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE SERVICES SECTOR There is a need for Africa’s Ministers of Finance to place more focus on and increase investments for water, sanitation and hygiene

Alarming headlines that announced the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic in Africa in March 2020 have given way to stories of chin-stroking scientists wondering about the reasons for the relatively mild impact – compared to other continents – which COVID-19 has had on Africa.

More than 41,000 Africans have died, and at least 1.7 million people are infected with coronavirus, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While one death is one too many, these figures are a far cry from the dire predictions of doom for the continent made by scientists and pundits prior to the arrival of the disease.

But the battle against the pandemic is far from over. Governments and their development partners need to fortify their defences against the disease by providing greater access to water, sanitation

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and hygiene (WASH) services to protect their people from COVID-19 and water-borne diseases.

After all, more than 40% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa does not have access to clean water and cannot follow the advice of health experts to wash their hands as a primary way to stop the spread of the virus.

Preventing infection remains out of reach for 400 million people on the continent who lack access to an improved water supply. Diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, skin diseases, and other diseases are prevalent in many areas where access to WASH services is limited.

The coronavirus pandemic is a wake-up call to all of us – member states, development partners and allies in Africa and beyond – to prioritize WASH service delivery, in the presence of competing needs.

Access to WASH is crucial to boost resilience to multiple threats, including current and future pandemics – especially for the poorest people in Africa. Helping water utilities deliver clean and reliable water, provide sanitation to those who need it most, and promote effective handwashing practices helps to protect people short term, and prevents future outbreaks.

The African Development Bank’s partnerships with African governments to provide WASH services have taken various dimensions, from small village water schemes, through large urban sanitation infrastructure projects, to national integrated WASH programs.

The Bank’s investment of an estimated $6.4 billion in strengthening core WASH infrastructure systems over the last decade has provided an estimated 52 million more people access to improved water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as increased disease prevention preparedness.

The Bank’s WASH interventions support African governments in their COVID-19 emergency responses and preparedness. The success of multifaceted, transnational interventions such as the Lake Victoria project has attracted more development partners into the African WASH sector, and increasingly, private investors.

Despite the multiple benefits that access to WASH services delivers, this sector is chronically underfunded. Access to WASH provides improved pandemic resilience.

UN-WATER ADDS WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION AS PARTNER UN-Water adds the Water Environment Federation as an official partner. WEF looks forward to continue to advance progress on SDG 6 The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is now an official partner of UN-Water, which coordinates the efforts of United Nations (UN) entities and international organizations working on water and sanitation issues.

The designation comes as WEF continues to focus on its role as a global water organization, with members in 78 countries, Member Associations and Corresponding Associations representing 36 countries, and partnering organizations on every continent (except Antarctica).

Last year the WEF Board of Trustees unanimously approved a position statement in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Water professionals have a direct role in meeting SDG 6, which calls for sustainable, universal access to water and sanitation. Some of the targets associated with SDG 6 include water-reuse volumes, reductions in untreated wastewater, and water-supply resilience, which WEF members help address every day.

“WEF is honoured and excited to become a partner of UN-Water, working alongside the world’s most influential and prestigious water organizations,” said WEF President Lynn Broaddus.

“This designation recognizes the critical work that WEF and its members do to advance global access to water and sanitation. We look forward to collaborating with UN-Water and its partners, and continuing to advance progress on SDG 6 as well as the many other health, education, and security goals that tie to it”.

There is no single UN entity dedicated exclusively to water issues. Over 30

UN organizations carry out water and sanitation programs, reflecting the fact that water issues run through all of the UN’s main focus areas. UN-Water’s role is to coordinate so that the UN family delivers a unified response to water-related challenges. The overarching focus of members and partners, like WEF, is to support UN Member States to sustainably manage water and sanitation.

UN-Water’s members and partners have helped place water and sanitation at the heart of recent milestone agreements such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 2015-2030 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, and the 2015 Paris Agreement within the UN Convention Framework on Climate Change.

UN-Water’s consolidated technical advice from UN entities and external organizations helped shape Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” As a result, SDG 6 and its various targets take the entire water and sanitation cycle into account.

International organizations, professional unions, associations or other civil-society groups that are actively involved in water, international in structure and membership are Partners of UN-Water. Partners include Green Climate Fund, Human Rights to Water & Sanitation, Sanitation and Water for All and AquaFed, to mention a few. All activities outlined in the UN-Water Work Programme are primarily implemented through its partners.

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A COALITION OF STAKEHOLDERS CALL ON EU TO ENSHRINE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION Numerous organizations representing the water sector have called on the European Union to enshrine the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in EU law A coalition of 26 organisations, including ACCIONA, which represents the whole water supply and sanitation value chain, have called on the EU institutions to enshrine the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in EU law.

The signatory stakeholders call on European policy-makers to secure better access to the 10 million people who still lack access to safe sanitation services in the EU, stressing that universal access to decent and safe sanitation services is a fundamental need and a human right.

The United Nations General Assembly recognised in 2010 the Human Right to Water and Sanitation, and in 2015 the Right to Sanitation as a standalone right. Sustainable Development Goal 6 aims to secure access to clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. And

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SDG target 6.2 calls specifically for adequate and equitable sanitation for all.

In addition, the current health crisis caused by COVID-19, has highlighted the vital importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene to protect human health during pandemics.

The new Drinking Water Directive has rightly introduced an article promoting access to water, especially to the most vulnerable people, requiring Member States to identify populations lacking access to drinking water and find remedies.

Likewise, an article promoting access to sanitation should be included in the new Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

All are fully committed to promoting and achieving Human Rights to Water and Sanitation, and SDG 6, reiterating their message on World Toilet Day.

DUAL-FLUSH TOILETS FOUND TO BE MORE PRONE TO LEAKS Modern dual-flush toilets intended to save water actually waste more water Dual-flush toilets, designed to save water, are more prone to leaks, so they end up wasting more water than they conserve.

Dual-flush toilets have been in use for years as an efficient alternative to help lower domestic water consumption.

However, according to Andre Tucker, water efficiency manager at Thames Water, the water losses from toilets that continuously flow through the day and night exceed the amount of water that the dual-flush devices are intended to save. It is a growing problem as more people install this type of toilets when they retrofit old bathrooms.

The UK nonprofit NGO Waterwise estimates a leaking toilet could waste up to 400 litres of clean water every day.

That would amount to a total of 400 million litres of water from UK toilets as a whole every day. They calculate that between 5% and 8% of all toilets leak, and most of those are toilets with a dual-flush mechanism.

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) has admitted that the drop valve system used by most dual-flush toilets is more prone to leaks than the traditional siphon when not maintained.

Confusing flush buttons are also blamed for dual-flush toilets not achieving the water efficiency they are meant to.

In fact, a survey done by Thames Water in 2019 revealed widespread confusion, with more than 75% of people getting one toilet’s flush function the wrong way around. “In many cases, what seems to be the obvious option for a shorter flush actually uses the most water”, said Tucker.

CLIMATE CHANGE

FEATURE

SOLVING INCREASING FLOODING AND DROUGHT As more greenhouse gases are released, the Earth’s atmosphere warms which in turn affects the distribution of water on the planet. While the planet’s average surface temperature has risen approximately 1.14 degrees Celsius (2.05 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 19th century, more records of extreme rainfall and the acute lack of it are being recorded around the globe.

Z

By Olivia Tempest

Global warming leads to more precipitation, driven mostly by more water vapour in the atmosphere. Across the United States alone, NASA shows heavy rainfall events have increased in the north-eastern states by 55 per cent, midwestern states by 42 per cent, and south-eastern states by 27 per cent between 1958 to 2016. In Northern Europe, a similar trend can be observed. Since the 1960s, the intensity of heavy precipitation has increased in northern and north-eastern Europe and the whole of Europe; a study has shown that the number of days with very heavy precipitation over Europe has

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increased on average by about 45%, according to the European Environment Agency. This is also the case in Northeast Asia, where the Tokyo Metropolitan University recently showed that monsoons are getting wetter.

But torrential rainfall and severe flooding are not the only extreme weather event produced by a warming climate. While some regions are forecasted to get wetter, others will become much more depleted. This is the case of parts of Africa, where the number of record-setting dry months increased by nearly 50 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa from 1980 to 2013. According to NASA, climate change started affecting global patterns of drought in the early 20th century.

Severe precipitation and long dry spells take a toll on countless people around the world, causing significant damage to a country or community’s economic growth, increasing food insecurity, as well as creating unrest and prompting migration.

The repeated impacts of climatic extremes have a more significant and damaging influence than temperature extremes on a country’s economic growth showed a study by the European Commission. It also demonstrated that a 1% increase in the area affected by drought can slow a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth by 2.7% per year and a 1% increase in the area experiencing extreme rainfall can reduce GDP growth by 1.8%. There are also longer-term economic impacts. In the case of flooding, infrastructure and houses can be destroyed or swept away, leading to a possible rise of diseases.

Tropical storms bringing heavy showers also cause havoc. In 2018 alone, the global provider of reinsurance, Munich Re, said that these types of extreme weather events caused $51 billion in losses worldwide, much higher than the long-term annual average of $34 billion.

Climate change from fossil fuel greenhouse gases is disturbing rainfall

FLOODING AND DROUGHT

patterns and will continue to do so in following decades, especially if the Paris Agreement goals, including limiting global temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius, are not reached in the long term. Particularly vulnerable to these climate risks are large cities.

Growing agglomerations of people can stress drinking water supplies, while urbanization can reduce the ability of the land to soak up the rainfall and recharge groundwater supplies. This is why numerous cities, but also communities and countries victims to more intense storms, megadroughts or chronic flooding have decided to take things into their hands and have come up with innovative and fruitful strategies to increase their water security.

Storing water underground For centuries, groundwater reservoirs also known as aquifers, which are underground layers of permeable rock, gravel and sand, have been used as a

drinking and irrigation source. But what if these aquifers could be managed and recharged for later use, particularly when there are strong precipitations?

This idea is called managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and allows water to be banked for later usage. Although this idea is becoming increasingly attractive because of growing volatility of supply, the fundamental idea behind better groundwater management emerged from the Middle East during the 1st millennium BC, explains Geohydrologist Gaathier Mahed.

This practice has many advantages including minimizing the impact of evaporation, meaning that water can also be recycled from various sources, instead of being wasted, says Mahed. It also offers an alternative to damming rivers to create surface reservoirs. A solution that is frowned upon by many environmental organizations, among others, as dams can disrupt local ecosystems and lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions.

Another benefit MAR provides is the possibility of replenishing overdrawn and overstressed groundwater aquifers. An issue that already affects over half of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major aquifers, according to a 2015 NASA study. In many areas, stormwater runs off into surface water instead of replenishing aquifers due greatly to urbanization, whereby wetlands have been drained and rivers have been cut off from floodplains.

The world is now home to various types of managed aquifer recharge projects.

According to Gaathier Mahed, just in the United States, these schemes have increased from three well-fields in 1985 to

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FEATURE approximately 72 in 2005, many of which are in various stages of development.

One state that is looking into magnifying this mitigation strategy is California. Presently, groundwater plays a decisive role in sustaining agriculture in many parts of the golden state. However, groundwater storage has been declining in the territory over the last several decades. Besides, prolonged periods of dry and hot weather are also melting one of California’s most important water sources: the Sierra Nevada Snowpack. Driven by the California Department of Water Resources, researchers and water experts are investigating the best locations to store water from intensifying water storms underground and to use it during the driest months of the year.

Recently, a team of researchers published a study in AGU on the potential benefit of MAR in California’s Central Valley. They found that overall, this mitigation strategy could recover historical overdraft in less depleted locations. In areas with severe depletion, the team said that transferring excess floodwaters could be a good solution and the project also significantly reduced flood risk.

Looking for buried water Qatar is possibly one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. Its high rates of water consumption (430 litres of water per day on average) along with its scarcity of natural renewable water resources and its erratic rainfall and lack of rivers, make it overdependent on groundwater aquifers. According to research analyst Haweya Ismail, the country currently gets at least 50 per cent of

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The OASIS study project seeks to establish a mission that would find and examine those aquifers. © NASA

its water supply by desalination, 36 per cent from groundwater and 14 per cent from recycled wastewater.

The monarchy has two main groundwater resources: the Rus and Umm er Rhaduma aquifers. However, Ismail notes that water withdrawal from these sources far exceeds their recharge rates and has led to the rapid lowering of the water table, causing the deterioration of water quality and increasing saline intrusion.

Furthermore, Qatar is no stranger to the effects of climate change. The region is already witnessing sea level rise, higher temperatures, ocean acidification, intensifying sandstorms and increased desertification.

In an attempt to get a better understanding of aquifers in arid landscapes as well as how climate change will affect them in the future, the Qatar Foundation and NASA have come together to design

a mission to learn about underground aquifers in arid areas and how climate change will affect them in the future.

The project will put a satellite in Earth orbit to map the distribution of shallow aquifers beneath the desert's surface in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. According to James Graf, director for Earth Science and Technology at JPL in Southern California, “OASIS (that stands for Orbiting Arid Subsurfaces and Ice Sheet Sounder) would be the first spaceborne radar specifically designed to detect directly subsurface water on Earth”.

The satellite’s radar instrument will be used to learn how the underground aquifers originated and how groundwater moves beneath the deserts through a complex system of subsurface fractures, that spread out like a spiderweb between aquifers. In a press release, NASA said

FLOODING AND DROUGHT

The start-up Seawater Solutions began an experiment using seawater to grow food in Scotland, building an artificial saltmarsh

that the data collected in the process would help with aquifer management.

"Warm and cold deserts are responding to climatic changes by expanding and shrinking, respectively," said Essam Heggy, the OASIS principal investigator and chief scientist and research program director of the Earth Science Program at QEERI. "Studying the forces driving these transformations will give us insight into the evolution of deserts on Earth."

Could seawater be used to grow food?

The last solution we will analyse in this article also tackles the growing challenges of water scarcity but is specifically for the agriculture sector. With a growing world population that is expected to escalate to over 10 billion by 2050, the global food production will need to expand by approximately 70 per cent by 2050, warns The World

Bank. Yet in some parts of the world, traditional agriculture is facing increasing water scarcity as a result of the climate crisis.

In search of a resource that could replace freshwater, the start-up Seawater Solutions began an experiment using seawater to grow food on a farm on the west coast of Scotland.

The scheme involves building an artificial saltmarsh by pumping seawater onto degraded farmland or land affected by flooding, to then grow halophytes, plants that thrive in water or soil with high salinity. The plants produced can either be eaten or used as a raw material for cosmetics, biofuels, and animal fodder.

The saltmarshes also provide ecosystem services says the start-up. They protect the coastline from floods and erosion and sequester up to 30 times more carbon as rainforests. Farmers, according to Seawater Solutions, could therefore monetise carbon storage on their land by selling carbon credits, at about â&#x201A;Ź2,600 per hectare per year.

This groundbreaking solution is also being tested in The Netherlands, where Salt Farm Foundation has been analysing the salt tolerance of conventional crops, such as potatoes or cabbage, finding that some varieties can thrive with brackish water.

Nevertheless, the idea of replacing freshwater with seawater does not seem very appealing to farmers for the moment. As both the Salt Farm Foundation and Seawater Solutions have admitted they have found it difficult to find farmers willing to try their solutions. They both hint that since western Europe still has abundant rainfall, the interest in seawater or brackish water irrigation is low. But that may change as climate change impacts Europe further.

Conclusion With climate change projected to increase the surface water supplies and variation in precipitation, as well as reducing snowpacks and glaciers, communities will have to keep on looking and implementing creative ideas and strategies to mitigate the devastating effects of global warming.

Communities will have to keep on looking and implementing creative ideas and strategies to mitigate the effects of global warming

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WHAT CITIES FACE THE MOST ALARMING RISE IN WATER RISKS? The Water Risk Filter highlights the risks facing the economy, helping public and private actors plan for climate and water resilience

With water crises already plaguing many of the world’s cities, WWF’s new water risk scenarios estimate that hundreds of millions of people in cities across the globe could face increased water risks – unless urgent action is taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

According to the scenarios in the WWF Water Risk Filter, the 100 cities that are expected to suffer the greatest rise in water risk by 2050 are home to at least 350 million people.

Globally, the population from areas of high-water risk could rise from 17% in 2020 to 51% by 2050.

The list includes cities as Beijing, Jakarta, Jaipur, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Mecca and Rio de Janeiro. China accounts for almost half the cities. “Cities can avoid the worst-case

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scenario not only by supporting greater global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, but critically by also investing in Nature-based Solutions that build resilience to water risks at the river basin level. Enhancing the health of watersheds, river basins and wetlands strengthens cities’ resilience and helps to ensure urban economies can withstand and bounce back from these scenarios,” said Alexis Morgan, WWF Global Water Stewardship Lead.

While improving urban water infrastructure and cutting water consumption will help reduce water risks, Nature-based Solutions – such as restoring degraded watersheds, reconnecting rivers to their floodplains, and restoring or creating wetlands – are critical to avoiding the worst-case scenario and to safeguarding economies.

Public funds will be needed in some cases, but bankable water solutions also offer ways to invest in projects that can enhance the health of freshwater ecosystems, reduce water risk and generate returns.

Private sector companies and financial institutions also have a vital role to play in reducing water risk to their operations and assets as well as cities, which are the main engines of sustainable economic growth. By working together with cities, they can collectively distribute the load of enhancing basin level resilience.

Launched in October, the new climate and socio-economic pathway-based scenarios for 2030 and 2050 are available in the WWF Water Risk Filter – the leading online tool for assessing, valuing and responding to water risk. The scenarios are aligned to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) recommendations and can help companies, and cities, better understand future water risks and drive more effective corporate action on climate and water resilience.

“Companies, cities, and investors – even ministries of finance are finally waking up to the growing water risks facing the economy and the need to take urgent action to reduce their risks and tackle shared water challenges,” said Morgan. “By harnessing the new scenarios in the Water Risk Filter, companies, cities and investors can better assess, respond and plan for climate and water resilience – helping to reduce water risks to their own operations as well as cities.”

GLOBALISED ECONOMY MAKING WATER, ENERGY AND LAND INSECURITY WORSE: STUDY Countries with large economies are potentially more at risk of resource insecurity due to the volume of international trade The first study of the risks that countries face from dependence on water, energy and land resources has found that globalisation may be decreasing, rather than increasing, the security of global supply chains.

Countries meet their needs for goods and services through domestic production and international trade. As a result, countries place pressures on natural resources both within and beyond their borders.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge used macroeconomic data to quantify these pressures. They found that the vast majority of countries and industrial sectors are highly exposed both directly, via domestic production, and indirectly, via imports, to over-exploited and insecure water, energy and land resources. However, the researchers found that the greatest resource risk is due to international trade, mainly from remote countries.

The researchers are calling for an urgent enquiry into the scale and source of consumed goods and services, both in individual countries and globally, as economies seek to rebuild in the wake of COVID-19. Their study, published in the journal Global Environmental Change, also invites critical reflection on whether globalisation is compatible with achieving sustainable and resilient supply chains.

Over the past several decades, the worldwide economy has become highly interconnected through globalisation. It allows companies to make their products almost anywhere in the world in order to keep costs down.

Many mainstream economists argue this offers countries a source of competitive advantage and growth potential. However, many nations impose demands on already stressed resources in other countries in order to satisfy their own high levels of consumption.

This interconnectedness also increases the amount of risk at each step of a global supply chain. For example, the UK imports 50% of its food. A severe weather event in another country puts these food imports at risk.

The researchers have quantified the global water, land and energy use of 189 countries and shown that those highly dependent on trade are potentially more at risk from resource insecurity, especially as climate change continues to accelerate and severe weather events such as droughts and floods become more common.

“We found that the role of trade has been massively underplayed as a source of resource insecurity – it’s actually a bigger source of risk than domestic production,” said Dr Oliver Taherzadeh, who led the research while a PhD student in Cambridge’s Department of Geography.

“COVID-19 has shown just how poorly-prepared governments and businesses are for a global crisis,” said Taherzadeh.

“But however bad the direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19 have been, climate breakdown, biodiversity collapse and resource insecurity are far less predictable problems to manage – and the potential consequences are far more severe. If the ‘green economic recovery’ is to respond to these challenges, we need radically rethink the scale and source of consumption.”

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FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND SURFACE WATER ATLAS BRINGS TOGETHER 35 YEARS OF SATELLITE DATA A project by JRC scientists maps the history of surface water on our planet

The Atlas of Global Surface Water Dynamics illustrates the changes in the Earth’s lakes, rivers and wetlands over time. It provides a better understanding of the consequences of climate change and human actions have for the planet’s surface water resources.

It is impossible to overstate the critical importance of water in our daily lives.

Surface water bodies – including lakes, ponds and rivers – are particularly important as sources of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use.

As the Earth’s surface water is intensely dynamic, our knowledge about where waterbodies can be found has not always been accurate. Waterbodies move, whole lakes dry up and new rivers and lakes form, which makes mapping these moving targets difficult.

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Building on a project that combined thousands of years of computer time with millions of satellite images, the JRC’s Atlas of Global Surface Water Dynamics describes the important role that surface water plays for our planet’s climate and biodiversity, as well as virtually every aspect of our daily lives.

The Atlas documents the science behind a set of truly unique maps, which include time, and illustrates the changes in surface water resources over the past 35 years.

The scientists believe that the Atlas can improve our understanding of the consequences of climate change and human action on surface water resources, and that clearer understanding can help decision-makers to plan environmental actions and design effective policies.

A POTENTIAL ROLE FOR SEAWATER IN FOOD PRODUCTION Seawater and brackish water irrigation are being trialled to cultivate plants Traditional agriculture faces increasing water scarcity as a result of climate change, and yet global food production must increase to feed a growing world population, while water demand for other uses is on the rise too.

Even rainy regions such as the UK could face water scarcity in the future. Could saltwater be used to grow food instead of freshwater? A farm in Scotland, led by the start-up Seawater Solutions, is giving it a try, informs Euronews. The scheme involves using an artificial saltmarsh to grow halophytes, plants that thrive in water or soil with high salinity. The plants produced can either be eaten or used as a raw material for cosmetics, biofuels, and animal fodder.

Furthermore, the saltmarshes provide ecosystem services: they protect the coastline from floods and erosion and sequester carbon. That is why Seawater Solutions believes farmers could monetise carbon storage on their land by selling carbon credits, at about €2,600 per hectare per year.

Meanwhile in the Netherlands, the Salt Farm Foundation has been testing the salt tolerance of conventional crops such as potatoes or cabbage, finding that some varieties can thrive with brackish water.

However, both the Salt Farm Foundation and Seawater Solutions have found it challenging to find farmers willing to try their solutions. They both hint that since western Europe still has abundant rainfall, the interest in seawater or brackish water irrigation is low. But that may change as climate change impacts Europe further.

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

MOSE SYSTEM: PREVENTING A HISTORIC CITY FROM FLOODING

Š Magistrato alle Acque di Venezia

Designed in the 1980s but constructed from 2003 onwards, the Modulo Sperimentale Elecctromeccanico (MOSE) project is a complex system of 78 mobile floodgates that can be raised to protect the city of Venice, in Italy, from high tides of up to 4.2 feet (1.2 meters). The system is located at the inlets of Lido, Malamocco and Chioggia, the three gates of the coastal cordon through which the tide spreads from the Adriatic Sea into the Lagoon.

The floodgates normally lie completely invisible and full of water when they are inactive. However, when tides reach more than 3 feet (90 cm), also known as acqua alta (high water) that occurs in the northern Adriatic Sea, the barriers are activated by introducing compressed air into the sluices which empties them of the water. As the water exits the sluice gates, rotating around the axis of the hinges, they emerge and block the flow of

the incoming tide in the lagoon. The floodgates remain elevated only while the high tide lasts. When the high water lowers and the lagoon and the sea reach the same level, the sluice gates are once again filled with water and sink back into the sea.

Flooding in Venice is common with residents used to dealing with acqua alta. While the city is practically not affected by a tide of 3 feet (90 cm) above sea level, tides reaching more than 4.5 feet (140 cm), considered exceptional, have been increasingly more common in the past 20 years. In November 2019, the city recorded the highest levels of flooding in the past fifty years peaking at 1.87 meters, flooding more than 85 per cent of Venice.

This year, the 1.5 km (one mile) MOSE system was finally ready to be tested and successfully stopped flooding for the first time at the beginning of October.

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SPEAKERS' CORNER

“WHEN WE BRING IN CLEAN WATER, WE SEE IT TRANSFORM ENTIRE COMMUNITIES” Dr Greg Allgood, Vice President of Water, World Vision U.S. Access to clean water not only restores health but also opens doors to educational opportunities and a promising future. In this interview, we hear about water communications from within World Vision, an NGO with more than five decades of work in water, sanitation and hygiene.

As part of his role as VP of Water, our interviewee Dr Greg Allgood directs the communication into the organisation’s water efforts.

Z

Cristina Novo Pérez

How do you think communication in relation to water and development has evolved in recent years?

Awareness has increased dramatically in the early 2000s following several major natural disasters, including the Southeast Asia tsunami and the Haiti earthquake and subsequent cholera outbreak.

With each of these disasters, water was a critical need, and so it was thrust into America’s psyche. This has been supported by significant, measurable progress. In the last 20 years, more than 2 billion people have been reached with clean water. World Vision has been a part of this effort as the number one non-governmental provider of clean water, reaching one person with clean water every 10 seconds.

Why do you think it is important to communicate about water?

It’s one of the most powerful things you can do to save a life

as far as cost-effectiveness. Every day nearly 1,000 children die from diarrhoea caused by contaminated water, poor sanitation and unsafe hygiene practices. And the search for clean water is robbing women and girls of their futures.

Women and children in the developing world walk a combined 200 million miles a day.

When we bring in clean water, we see it transform entire communities.

What are the most challenging aspects of communicating about World Vision’s work?

WASH involves not only clean water, but also handwashing education and sanitation. However, it’s often hard to get people to understand the importance of that part. But the onset of the coronavirus changed things dramatically. Now handwashing for disease prevention is being talked about constantly by our public

health officials, in PSAs and on posters. This has allowed us to make significant progress in this area in a short time. For example, we’re partnering with the government of Rwanda to install handwashing stations in 49 hospitals, 250 health care centres, 250 schools, and 209 places of worship.

Could you highlight one of your organization’s communication success stories?

We had committed to bringing water to 800 facilities in the next three years. This all happened prior to the coronavirus pandemic. When the pandemic hit and the focus turned to frontline healthcare workers, we were able to show through our research that in rural areas where we work, half of the healthcare facilities didn’t have access to water on premises, and 84 percent didn’t have soap and water for basic handwashing to protect them and their

patients. This really resonated with people and with the support of foundations and individual donors, we’ve already completed more than 80 percent of our goal.

Who or what organization inspires you when it comes to ways of communicating?

Studies show one of the biggest barriers to people giving to international development is that donors feel like they can’t make a difference because the problem is too big and intractable. The government of Rwanda was able to turn this on its head. They’ve been working in partnership from the national government all the way down to the local mayors telling people about the importance of water and helping to make it sustainable. Their work has allowed us to commit to bringing clean water to everyone, everywhere we work in Rwanda within the next two years.

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

APOCALYPSE NEVER Is climate change not our most serious environmental problem?

As a lifelong environmental activist, Michael Shellenberger decided to write this book to separate what he believed science from fiction concerning climate change. Although the book has become a bestseller in the U.S., certain experts believe that Shellenberger relies on outdated or cherry-picked sources to portray a climate crisis that exists, but that will never be catastrophic.

SOMETHING TO WATCH...

BRAVE BLUE WORLD Re-thinking how water is managed Brave Blue World is a documentary that aims to drive positive change in water. Narrated by world-renowned Liam Neeson and featuring actors and activists Matt Damon and Jaden Smith, the documentary makers met with pioneers and innovators who are addressing global water and sanitation challenges. The documentary was made in association with various big water players.

SOMETHING TO ENJOY...

HELL AND HIGH WATER A catchy duet Hell and High Water is an upbeat pop song by Major Lazer and Alessia Cara released in October and part of the recently launched album Music Is The Weapon. The group Major Lazor formed

by Diplo, Ape Drums and Walshy Fire have already recorded three albums and as the band explains, they make music to combat social differences, especially through dancing.

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Water challenges are escalating around the globe, placing people and communities, our environment, and our very future at risk.

By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity. We are a Fortune 1000 global water technology provider with one mission: to help our customers solve water through the power of technology and expertise.

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#LetsSolveWater

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ULTRASONIC FLOWMETER Advanced consumption analysis Direct access to temporary records

Data logger

Alarms management

Assets management Different levels of security and privacy

Communications included Accuracy

R400 / R800

Starting flow rate Battery life www.hidroconta.com

1 l/h +12 years