Ian B Law - Urban Water Security Research · PDF fileIan B Law. IBL Solutions & AWRCE. [email protected]. UWSRA Science Forum. Brisbane, 19 ‐ 20 June 2012

Ian B LawIBL Solutions & AWRCE

[email protected]

UWSRA Science ForumBrisbane, 19‐20 June 2012

Setting the Scene

Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling have been in  place since May 2008. Includes Potable Reuse;

WSAA July 2010. Report states that all waters must be  considered in securing future supplies;

NWC November 2010. Report states that risks of  recycling to drinking water supplies can be managed; 

Water Sensitive Cities – all waters must be considered – concept also supported by National Water 

Commission;

Recent legislation passed in October 2010 in California 

requires regulations for IPR to be drawn up AND for  DPR to be evaluated.

ALL waters should be considered

Conclusions about Water Reuse  (Davis 2010)

Cost  ‐

serious hurdle to viability

Regulations need to be harmonised

Dual reticulation (‘purple pipe’

systems) is (are)  too expensive/risky

Direct potable reuse should be considered on its  merit

Champions/advocates needed

First consumers need to buy in voluntarily

Why not Direct Potable Reuse ?  (Davis 2010)

Simpler system to set up and manage

No problems with distance – hook into existing 

mains

No on‐going audit or cross‐connection issues

Affordable ‐

Sydney and Brisbane could now  implement very easily since AWTPs are already in 

place

National Water Commission ‐

‘Using  Recycled Water for Drinking’

(June 2007)

Highlights the cost impost of transport in any IPR  scheme;

Presents  a Hypothetical Case Study comparing IPR  and seawater desal, concluding that both have 

similar costs if transport is included (100km for IPR  and 20km for Desal)…but what happens if  we 

expand this to include DPR ?

Cost of Water vs Pumping Distance  (data from NWC Report, June 2007)

Supply Supply OptionOption

Transport Transport Distance Distance

(km)(km)

Cost of Cost of Water Water

(AUD$/ML)(AUD$/ML)

Energy Energy Usage Usage

(kWh/kL)(kWh/kL)

IPRIPRSeawater Seawater DesalinationDesalination

1001002020

1,3001,3001,4001,400

1.91.94.34.3

Direct Direct Potable Potable ReuseReuse

2020 800800 1.51.5

(G Leslie 2008)

So …. what are the Barriers ?

I suggest that there are three main barriers:

Political WillPublic perceptionsPrice structures and policies

Lack of Political Will stems mainly from politicians  taking advice based on sensationalised media 

reports and/or perceptions of community concerns

The Western Corridor decision in 2008 is a classic  example of this !

Public Perceptions

There is a clear need to focus on community 

outreach and education programs – a ‘bottom‐up’ approach to increase Political Will;

It was Mahatma Ghandi who said “If the people  lead, the leaders follow”

Goal 3 –

Reclaimed  water is viewed as an  acceptable ‘alternative  water’

for augmenting 

drinking water  supplies.

DELIVERABLE : The development of a National Demonstration, Education & Engagement Program (NDEEP)

International Links

Research Team

MediaMedia

ConsultantsConsultants

UtilitiesUtilities

School KidsSchool Kids

Moms and DadsMoms and DadsTeachersTeachers

MedicsMedics

RegulatorsRegulators

AdvisorsAdvisors

ProfessorsProfessors

Social MediaSocial MediaNDEEP

PoliticiansPoliticians

StudentsStudents

NDEEP

What could the NDEEP include – building on contemporary research ?

• Interpretative Centre(s)• Multi-media experiences• Links to operational AWTPs

and Experts• Curriculum resources• Apps and e-learning

Have we learnt anything over the last few years ??

Explaining the water cycle  does makes a difference 

and generates more acceptance of potable 

reuse – as well as  showing an acceptance of 

DPR

A slideshow presentation by the creator of Thirst explained the  concept that pure, untouched water is a marketing myth, that  all water is recycled and how technology plays a role in the 

water cycle

Many  downstream 

users

The Toowoomba experience  could be viewed as a milestone in 

the debate over PR in Australia.

‘Unplanned’

potable reuse was  never openly discussed until the 

mid 2000s – article in Sydney’s  Sun Herald of 2 July 2006 refers.

We then saw articles on Adelaide  drinking wastes form Canberra, 

downstream rural towns drinking  the wastes from upstream towns. 

SMH, 8 May 2012: “Yuck factor of  recycled sewage may not be such  a big obstacle”

Which water would you most prefer

to  drink?

Sydney, Australia

Loudoun County, VirginiaLas Vegas,

Nevada

Hillsboro, Oregon

Quotes from the Focus Groups indicate the influence of terminology

Mr. M said:

“My decision [for safest water] was number four and it’s solely based on the terminology, you saying that water from a purification plant produces water that meets or

exceeds drinking water standards. So based on that, I said that scenario four because you have potentially water going

into the city that exceeds drinking water standards. […] And probably the least is […] is number one because there is no purification plant. But I did say in other issues that if the purification plant did not exceed the standards then

it’d probably be completely all different answers.”

Quotes from the Focus Groups indicate the influence of terminology

Mr. M said:

“My decision [for safest water] was number four and it’s solely based on the terminology, you saying that water from a purification plant produces water that meets or

exceeds drinking water standards. So based on that, I said that scenario four because you have potentially water going

into the city that exceeds drinking water standards. […] And probably the least is […] is number one because there is no purification plant. But I did say in other issues that if the purification plant did not exceed the standards then

it’d probably be completely all different answers.”

Pricing Structures & Policies

Preliminary findings  on pricing arrangements are 

that current arrangements have the potential to  impede investment in potable recycling.

Prices do not reflect a commercial return on (existing) 

sunk assets;

Tariffs are inefficient;

Case studies will be carried out to further develop an  understanding of how to ‘level the playing field’

for all 

water supply alternatives, with results being an input  to NDEEP.

OurOur Other Other Challenge Challenge –– The The  HydroHydro‐‐illogical Cycle illogical Cycle 

TheHydro‐illogical

Cycle