Water / Wastewater - What happens when Sydney’s drinking water demand exceeds supply? | Biocity Studio

Crisis Scenario Hypothesis

Wastewater: What happens when demand exceeds supply?

What happens when the amount of drinking water exceeds the possible supply levels from Sydney water?

Crisis Scenario

Source: Bureau of Meteorology 2005, Annual all-Australian mean rainfall.

Annual Rainfall for AustraliaTrend in Annual Total Rainfall: 1900-2004 (mm/10yrs)

Statistics

Sydney Avg. Rainfall Risen by 10mm Since 1900

Australia’s Avg rainfall in 2007 equals 500mm; Whilst Sydney Avg’s 1200mm

Hypothetical since 11.2001

Available water (GL)

% full all dams

1year change GL(%)

As is 1469 56.84396.00 (15.32)

100 ML/day 1677.5 64.91432.40 (16.73)

500 ML/day 2511.5 97.18578.00 (22.37)

500 ML/day when levels < 50%

1796 69.50527.00 (20.39)

“What does this show us? We can see that a 100 ML/day plant does not solve our water problems by itself. Such a plant would need to be run continuously and we would still be under water restrictions with such a plant, for it to work”

www.iliveinsydney.com/water/desalination_plant.php

www.iliveinsydney.com/water/desalination_plant.php

Hypothetical usage since 11.2001

Available water

% full all dams

1 year change GL(%)

20% More 830.9 32.15295.04 (11.42)

As is 1469 56.84 396.00 (15.32)

20% Less 2107.1 81.54496.96 (19.23)

50% Less 2584.3 100.00168.45(6.52)

As we can see in this diagram, if we were to use 20% more water than at present, Dam levels would fall to 32.15 Percent, whilst if we cut our usage to 50% Dam levels would rise to 100% Capacity.

Quick Facts

The city has consumed more water than its dams could provide for six out of the last ten years…

If there is no inflow into Sydney’s dams, the result will last only for another four years

Desalination strategies will supply only 7% of water to Sydney

Dam levels would still drop, even with a 500 Mega Litre Desalination plant. So in turn, various little strategies need to be done

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/18/1087245110315.html

http://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/uploadedImages/dam.jpg

Warragamba 1930’s

Since water restrictions have been put in place, water use has decreased by up to 52%

Two realistic major events which could trigger the onset of a lack of water within Sydney, is a severe drought, leading to the drying up of water storages in the three major dams within Sydney, which up until recently has been a major headline.

What are the events that could trigger the onset of a lack of water?

The other event which could realistically threaten water shortages is a contamination of drinking water sources. Recently a toxic plume inhabited Warragamba, and there was threat of contamination, however nothing amounted. What if this flume caused the closing down of one of Sydney’s major sources of water? Would this lead to devastating effects within the city?

Drought would cause detriment to the Agricultural industry, along would come the need to further find an alternate way of transporting imports, as a lack of water would lead to the need for more importing of goods, eventually leading to Sydney being unable to sustain itself, relying entirely on importing from other cities and countries.

Problems with the water supply system, and vulnerabilities within the system

Cost Vs Time,

Costs of building and operating the proposed Desalination plant versus the costs of

purchasing land around the primary and some secondary treatment facilities, and converting

them into tertiary treatment plants.

The current water supply system is to a certain degree successful at present. However there is room for improvement, 10% of all water pipes under the charge of Sydney Water are leaking. In terms of recycling, primary treatment plants do little to stem the tide of recycling water to a proper drinking standard; they need to be converted to tertiary treatment plants in order to properly account for the needs of Sydney. Whilst these two major points may seem simple, there are things which inhibit the growth and further expansion of the water network.

In terms of a lack of water within Sydney, the future remains uncertain, whilst desalination and recycling of waste remain viable options, the need to prevent such wastes of water remains a prevalent issue that needs to be investigated further.

Implications of a lack of water within Sydney

As a result of constant consumption, the lack of water

affects everything ranging from the cities energy, to agricultural growth

and the feeding of crops and animals, without water, these areas

would struggle to exist, in turn leading to a shortage of many facets of the Australian way of

living.

The city of Sydney is multilayered, with a vast array of services and products which it offers.

How does this shortfall affect the broader city, and the way things within the city function?

If there were to be a shortage of water, due to the aforementioned severe drought or a contamination of the water supply, the effects on almost all facets of Sydney living would certainly be affected.

For instance, with regards to agriculture, if water is not available to sustain crops, they simply would die leading to a shortfall within the agricultural industry.

Additionally, it is not just within agriculture that water has such a major influence on function and sustainability, other industries and products also rely on water, that is everything ranging from food products, which sustain us to live, along with energy and the way we use transport to import and export goods, along with traveling around in our daily lives.

Simply put, without water to sustain us, our lives would be a lot more different. Things we take for granted cannot be sustained

without the convenience of walking over to a tap and switching it on.www.sca.nsw.gov.au/education/hsc_chemistry/waterquality/lo/con_01/images/_viewer_/SCA_images-015.jpg

http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/education/hsc_chemistry/waterquality/lo/con_01/images/_viewer_/SCA_images-045.jpg

In terms of the immediate effects of a shortage of water within Sydney, they would extend to:

Immediate effects of a shortage of water

Agricultural Devastation -Demise of crops-Increase in costs-Less sustainability

Environmental effects-Importing Vs Oil Debate-Use of Finite resources

Loss of industry-Small Farm sustainability-Costs Vs Risk of Farming

Voluntary Restrictions commenced on 14 November 2002Introduced when Combined Water Storage Level reached 68 per cent.

www.sydneywater.com.au/AskSydneyWater

Level 1 Mandatory Restrictions - commenced 1 October 2003Introduced when storage level reached 59 per cent.

Level 2 Mandatory Restrictions - commenced 01 June 2004.Introduced when storage level reached 50 per cent.

Level 3 Mandatory Restrictions - commenced 01 June 2005.Introduced when storage level reached 40 per cent.

Long term effects of a shortage of water

Agriculture

-Much of Sydney’s food supply comes from Agricultural pastures at the base of the Blue Mountains, supporting Sydney with the majority of vegetables and chickens.

-Drought stricken land unable to be reclaimed

Economic

-In terms of the exporting of goods, water effected trades would find themselves unable to meet overseas quotas, forcing them into administration.

-Hence the effects water shortage would have on trade would be devastating.

Worse case scenario

http://www.abc.net.au/centralvic/stories/m477430.jpg

http://www.jennifermarohasy.com/blog/archives/NSW%20Riverina%20sheep%20stranded%20close%20up%20Jan2007%20blog%202.JPG

http://abc.net.au/news/features/img/20021107drought.jpg

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/agriculture-today/february-2007/?a=106093

Major aims for the future

Attempting to buy area surrounding treatment plants to extend the circuit and expand the system to house overflows and grow a system of water recycling

Changing public perceptions

Legislature changes

Changing our homes in order to achieve a sense of household recycling