An Australian-led research project has mapped out the future of purified recycled water worldwide, with predictions that it will be consumed by more than 55 million people over the next 25 years.
The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) led the first-of-its-kind project, which followed more than two years of research and consultation with the water sector worldwide.
It shows that more than 100 cities could be using purified recycled water as part of their drinking water supplies by 2050, and the number of people consuming it is also expected to double.
The new findings come as several Australian states and cities across the country are exploring future water sources in the face of growing populations, variable rainfall brought on by a changing climate, and the comparative cost of new water sources.
Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) Manager of Customer and Policy Danielle Francis said a series of interactive online maps had been developed to chart the global growth of purified recycled water systems.
“Even though the technology has been proven for decades, purified recycled water schemes are only now starting to be rolled out at scale,” Francis said. “There were a handful of operating systems in use worldwide before the 2000s, but we’ve seen that number steadily increase over the past two decades.”
“Now there are about 35 cities or locations where schemes operate, providing clean and safe water to more than 30 million people. Based on the number, location and types of systems being built and planned, you can expect to see that number almost double to around 55 million people consuming purified recycled water as part of their drinking water supplies,” she said.
Places like California, Texas, and Virginia in the US are already using recycled water to augment their drinking water supplies. Other major cities and regions, such as Singapore, Essex in the UK, Barcelona in Spain, and Oland in Sweden, are also using purified recycled water sources.
California and South Africa emerge as two major regions where the number of purified recycled water systems is set to substantially increase over the coming decades.
However, other major cities and regions, including Florida and Arizona, Bangalore in India, Leon in Mexico, and Hampshire in the UK, are also set to embrace the technology at scale.
Closer to home, Perth has an operating purified recycled water scheme supplying groundwater sources, while a scheme in South East Queensland is available as part of the region’s drought plan.
Sydney has built a demonstration plant for a significant community education campaign. Auckland has followed a citizen’s assembly that backed purified recycled water as its preferred new future water source.
The WateReuse Association is a US-based professional association dedicated to advancing water recycling. Its Executive Director Patricia Sinicropi said the research project provided the most comprehensive view yet of potable water reuse worldwide.
“It is a valuable resource for communicating that water reuse is proven and broadly accepted,” Sinicropi said.
Francis said purified recycled water should be embraced as cities in Australia and around the world grappled with water security in the face of unreliable rainfalls and growing populations.
“The technology used to make purified recycled water clean and safe to drink is well and truly proven,” she said.
“It’s overseen by numerous health regulators and water authorities around the world. It uses multiple barrier treatment systems and advanced purification technology to add water to drinking water supplies.”
“But at heart, it’s simple – using technology to speed up what happens already in nature. Lastly, it is often a more cost-effective and secure water source than other technologies.”
The interactive maps chart the use of purified recycled water from the early 1960s out to 2050.
They can be viewed on the Water Services Association of Australia website at https://water360.com.au/map/
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