In 2019, the city of Prague set out a plan for becoming a carbon-neutral metropolis. Following the example of other leading European cities, Prague adopted a ground-breaking city council decision with a goal of reducing CO₂ emissions in the entire municipal area by 45% before 2030. It has been estimated that water-related energy use is equivalent to 13% of the nation’s electricity consumption. CO₂ embedded in the nation’s water is 5% of all carbon produced nationwide (an estimation based on research conducted in the USA). Pražské vodovody a kanalizace a.s. (PVK) as the largest water and waste-water utility in the Czech Republic supplies drinking water for Prague and part of the Central Bohemian Region. Together with Pražská vodohospodářská společnost a.s. (PVS), we are looking for ways to minimise impact on the environment and improve water management, with resilient water infrastructure, less water loss, and using wastewater and resource recovery.

Adapting to climate change

To improve water management and further adapt to climate change, Prague Water diversified its portfolio by investing in an extensive modernisation of one of its treatment plants (Podoli) which until 2018 only served as a substitute plant. The utility also included in their treatment process another layer of filtration through granular activated carbon which enhances the removal of pesticides and their metabolites to supply drinking water of the highest standards.

Drinking Water Production Facility Podolí Prague

Prague Water, in its pursuit of reducing water loss within the water distribution network, has implemented innovative technologies such as satellite leak detection or Enigma 3M – an advanced fault detection system that uses noise sensors. In 2021, Prague Water launched a new leak detection project which uses an extension of the SWIM (Smart Water Integrated Management) system. This system detects leakages using artificial intelligence. Thanks to this, Prague Water managed to reduce water loss from 34% in 2000 down to 12% in 2021.

The utility is committed to reducing water consumption and continues to explore other sources of water for non-portable use. We are currently working on an EU-funded project ‘Wider Uptake’ to evaluate opportunities for treated wastewater use for non-drinking purposes such as irrigation and maintenance of urban greenery, surface washing and cooling the capital territory during the hottest summer days.

The utility’s efforts to minimise its impact on the environment also include resource recovery. Currently, the most valuable resource recovered by Prague water is biogas generated from sludge in thermophilic anaerobic digesters, which is used to produce electricity and heat for the operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. However, studies are currently being carried out to evaluate other resource recovery opportunities, such as heat recovery from wastewater.

Mitigation

In 2022, Prague Water launched a company-wide project with the main goal of achieving net operational carbon neutrality by 2035.

To achieve this target, ISO Standard ČSN ISO 14064-1 was chosen as the most suitable method since the utility has been certified according to other ISO standards. Following this, Prague Water has developed the method for Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 (as defined by the GHG Protocol). These documents include a detailed description of data that need to be collected and methods of carbon footprint calculation. To ensure the most accurate results taking into consideration the local conditions, the utility has also set up a partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Product Ecology (DSPE) – under the University of Chemistry and Technology – to share knowledge on carbon footprint calculation.

Prague Water has identified several fields of operational activity with great potential for GHG emission reduction. A GHG emission reduction action plan to reduce the utility’s carbon footprint has been prepared. The utility recognised that the largest percentage of its emissions is represented by process emissions generated during wastewater treatment. We plan to launch a measurement campaign targeted at N2O escaping from biological lines into the atmosphere and by using mathematical modelling based on data to adjust the aeration regime and minimise emissions. GHG emissions related to electricity consumption from the grid ranked second. To minimise energy-related emissions, the utility will consider primary measures aimed at maximising energy efficiency. Currently, we are exploring the possibility of using energy stored in wastewater – residual heat from treated wastewater and blowers, energy recovery from digested sludge and screenings and maximisation of biogas yields. Prague water has also begun installing photovoltaic power plants in selected buildings. An additional step of Prague Water’s net zero journey is the reduction of the carbon footprint of its vehicle fleet; since 2017, Prague Water has been systematically transitioning to CNG vehicles with its goal to operate 122 CNG vehicles by 2025.

Communication with citizens

Prague water is committed to creating value for all their stakeholders by actively participating in sustainable urban projects of the city of Prague. Awareness and education are our core objectives. Activities such as guided tours for the public, regular open days of the water treatment plant, and competitions focused on water and the environment for schools are an important aspect of our awareness-raising campaigns.

As active contributors to conferences within the Czech Republic and internationally, Prague Water has been actively expressing its passion and vision for carbon neutrality and sharing ideas on how to calculate and mitigate its carbon footprint. We have published the first detailed data about operational carbon in the Czech Republic at local conferences and magazines.

Lessons learned

Carbon footprint mitigation is like any other new great challenge – the hardest part is the beginning. At the start of the project, Prague water did not have any idea of how to calculate the carbon footprint, where to start, what method to use, or mitigation measures. Through the knowledge gained from the IWA Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme, they have been able to develop and implement methodologies and strategies and we are happy to be able to share it with the community of water professionals in the Czech Republic and around the world. The planet is in a climate crisis, and it is our duty to act and motivate others to do the same.

For more information on this climate smart story, contact: Martin Srb

Useful Links and References

The Capital City of Prague. Prague 2030 Climate Plan. Prague’s mission towards zero emissions. [Online] 2021. [Citace: 14. 12 2021.] https://klima.praha.eu/en/the-climate-plan-at-a-glance.html.

Griffiths-Sattenspiel, Bevan a Wilson, Wendy. The Carbon Footprint of Water. Portland : River Network, 2009.

https://www.pvk.cz/vse-o-vode/pitna-voda/

https://www.pvk.cz/aktuality/voda-z-podolske-vodarny-opet-miri-do-verejne-site/

https://www.pvk.cz/

https://www.pvs.cz/

https://klima.praha.eu/en/

Submit your Utility Case Story

Feeling inspired by this story? Learn more about the IWA Climate Smart Utilities Initiative or contact us at climate@iwahq.org

The involvement of IWA’s Specialist Group on Sustainability in the Water Sector on the issue of Women in Water dates back to IWA’s 2018 World Water Congress & Exhibition in Tokyo, when our SG co-hosted a workshop that addressed workforce issues such as staff training and retention.  After the workshop, two young female attendees told me that they appreciated the good ideas they had heard, but that since they were women and worked for men who were not interested in hearing the opinions of women, they probably would not be able to put the information they had learned in the workshop to effective use.  

This story may seem to support the idea that the issue of women in the water sector should be primarily viewed through an equity lens.  But our Specialist Group addresses the topic more broadly.  Given the massive challenges confronting the water industry today, incomplete use and development of the skills and talents are not only unfair to women, but a disservice to everyone – male co-workers who do not get the benefit of women’s knowledge and skills, communities and businesses the water industry should serve, and the ecosystems that we all should protect.  Building on over 30 years of experience as a Manager at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission which provides water, wastewater, and power services to the San Francisco Bay Area, I know that our work is complicated and requires all our contributions.  Experience has also taught me that men as well as women have questions about how we can work together more effectively.  

The webinars and workshop our Specialist Group has provided on Women in Water throughout the years (an international webinar on Women’s Day in 2021, a webinar focused on Spanish speakers on Women’s Day in 2022, and a workshop at the IWA World Water Congress in Copenhagen in 2022), have focused on how we can work together to help women optimise their contributions to the water industry.  

 Our Specialist Group has worked collaboratively with the African Water Association (AfWA) on many issues, including the role of utilities in Africa in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals, the digital worker, and women in water.  On Women’s Day this year, AfWA and IWA will co-host a webinar to empower women in water with enriching perspectives and experiences from the African region.  

Speakers include:  

Maha Salah Khalla, GIZ Nile Delta Water Management Programme, Egypt

Chataigne Djuma, IWA YWP Steering Committee, Congo

Geraldine Mpoum,a Logmo, CAMWATER, Cameroon

Maggie Momba, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

Leunita Sumba, WIWAS, Kenya

Topics discussed will include:  

• Advancing in the water industry;  
• Providing and receiving mentoring;  
• Effective responses to disrespectful and discriminatory behaviour; 
• Multiple life/work responsibilities; 
• Age discrimination; and 
• Self-confidence and self-presentation.   

 Our goal is to help both men and women develop a greater understanding of the challenges they face in the water sector, so that they can work better together and untap their full potential.  

In our webinars we speak plainly and clearly about issues that affect all of us in the water industry, so we hope you will join us for our webinar on Women in Water, which will be held at 15:00 GMT on 8 March 2023. You can register to attend the webinar free of charge, and let us know about the questions and topics that are of most interest to you.

Workplaces often reflect societal stereotypes, and the water and sanitation workforce is no exception. Women continue to be an underrepresented group. Research also shows that women are often under-represented in relevant government agencies handling water and sanitation, and in private enterprises. In water utilities, they comprise only 18 per cent of the sector’s paid workforce. Such statistics are jarring alongside the well-known facts that women and girls play a critical role in water-related tasks, possessing intimate knowledge of water resources, and issues of water quality and quantity. Moreover, they can experience systematic exclusion from sanitation access, along with people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

Women (in all their diversity, including sexual and gender minorities and women with disabilities) experience barriers at each stage of their career cycle. They are also more likely to leave the water and sanitation workforce at a higher rate than men. Common reasons include discriminatory recruitment policies with a bias towards able-bodied men and inflexible work arrangements that conflict with care responsibilities. Further reasons include violence or harassment at work, unspoken responsibility put on women to take on the ‘emotional load’ for the team, discriminatory laws related to maternity leave, unequal wages and lack of basic facilities such as hygienic and menstrual friendly toilets. Most of these are applicable to sexual and gender minorities as well, who may additionally face discrimination in relation to gender-specific dress codes, access to toilets and lack of procedures around gender transitioning.

The situation isn’t entirely grim! There are many initiatives and tools developed by utilities, government departments, civil society organisations and the private sector. These efforts are challenging the status quo and shifting norms in a positive direction. A recently developed database makes these easily accessible.

Examples are many. Gender-sensitive curriculum and apprenticeship programmes can support a diversity of people to choose a career in the water and sanitation sector. Use of anonymous recruitment procedures can reduce the covert biases at the hiring stage. Diversity and inclusion policies can support people who are gender transitioning, focusing both on the employee and a conducive work environment.

Accessibility can be addressed also. Embedding the Universal Design Guidelines into workplaces, and consulting people with disabilities in WASH infrastructure planning, implementation and monitoring is an important step toward ensuring accessible workplaces.

Attention to care roles is fundamental. Diverse family-friendly policies, practices and facilities in the workplace such as paid maternity and paternity leave are a starting point. Beyond this, ensuring that parental leave policies recognise sexual and gender minorities and all types of families/parenting situations is also needed. Other strategies include on-site clean, private and comfortable lactation rooms and flexible work arrangements for all caregivers. These can support redistributing care responsibilities, and contribute to promoting a gender sensitive work culture and also address wider societal norms.

Lastly, to support advancement to leadership roles, formal or informal networks of WASH women professionals can provide a supportive space to share experiences and challenges. They provide the confidence women may need to overcome their inhibitions in pursuing career advancement opportunities, and enable them to see themselves in leadership and decision-making roles.

Key issues and practical ways forward will be explored in detail at the workshop session ‘Gender Equality, Leadership, and Inclusion in the WASH Sector’ at the upcoming IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, on 13 September 2022.

Leaders, managers, technical staff members and researchers all have a role to play. The workshop will share real-life challenges and experiences of leading organisations and professionals to improve gender and inclusion in their workplaces, and offer the chance for participants to exchange and learn.  This and other efforts can help the water and sanitation sector turn the mirror on itself and ask ourselves to what extent our own organisations are inclusive and diverse, as well as the programmes we deliver. Together we can ensure water and sanitation workplaces are supported to foster an environment where diverse individuals can thrive.

One of the challenges shaping the water sector is the discussion around the vital role that women play. Even though the water sector recognises that gender matters for water and that women are critical to achieving sustainability, the engagement and involvement of women face a series of barriers that result in their under-representation in diverse areas linked to the water sector.

To mark International Women’s Day 2022, IWA is hosting a webinar focused on empowering women in the water sector in partnership with the Management Committee of IWA’s Specialist Group on Sustainability in the Water Sector. Following on from last year’s webinar, which featured speakers from Liberia, Malaysia, Albania, Ecuador, South Africa and Australia and was viewed by almost 700 participants, this webinar will highlight perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. The webinar will address the gender gap in the water sector and advance the discussion, setting out specific proposals to increase and support women’s representation in the water industry. It will be held on 8 March at 15:00 GMT and registrations are now open. The webinar will have live Spanish translation to ensure a wider outreach and participation from the Latin American region.

The list of speakers ranges from younger to senior women professionals working in different areas of the water sector in Central and South America, providing their experience, insights and suggestions to empower, attract and retain more women in water. The webinar will be moderated by Diana Ulloa and Norhayati Abdullah. Diana Ulloa works as a consultant and part of the Coordinating Group of Red Agua Ecuador, she is also a member of the Governing Council of IWA Ecuador. Norhayati is Associate Director at the UTM International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The webinar will have Blanca Jiménez, Martha Orta Zambrano, Sharon Archie, Juanita Ayala and Malena Galmarini among its panellists. When questioned about the  importance  of discussing the role of women in the water sector, Blanca Jiménez, Mexico’s Ambassador to France and a well-known professional in the water sector, replied that water has an intrinsic gender perspective. According to Blanca, “we need to create better strategies to reduce the labour inequality gap and generate inclusion and non-discrimination in the sector”. Furthermore Malena Galmarini, Pesident of the Argentine Water and Sanitation Company (AYSA), adds that the discussion around water and women raises issues of equity and equality since women represent half of the world’s population and “there is no possibility that this world or the water sector will be more egalitarian if women are not included”.

According to Martha Orta, “today’s women, with their dedication and passion, have demonstrated their knowledge, leadership and resilience is a key part of the change that humanity is experiencing, within a framework of sustainability and innovation”. Finally Juanita Ayala, a Young Water Professional, adds that “pressing challenges such as achieving SDG6, implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation actions, and strengthening WASH governance are not gender-neutral issues. We experience the impacts of these wicked problems differently, making us key agents of change at all managerial and advocacy levels. Purposefully including women in addressing these issues is a win-win situation”.

Besides the webinar, IWA and the Management Committee of IWA’s Specialist Group on Sustainability in the Water Sector launched a survey on this topic, underlining the Association’s commitment to gender issues and its desire to expand its outreach in the LAC region. The survey is available here. Complete the short survey and contribute to the discussion! Responses will form a key part of the 8^th March webinar. We look forward to reading your responses and we hope to see many of you at the webinar!

Technological solutions and innovations are essential to secure a water-wise future. Water Tech Spotlight is a monthly blog which aims to highlight the latest technology developments in the water industry globally. Scroll down to find out more.

1. TOWARDS CARBON NEUTRALITY: NOVEL MEMBRANE FOR CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE

Achieving net zero requires great efforts to improve carbon capture and storage, membranes can help with this. In a new study published in Membranes, a research team from Japan has developed a novel method of synthesizing a pure Si-CHA membrane on a silica substrate for the first time, demonstrating superior CO₂ separation performance. This new method paves the way for the widespread use of improved membrane to remove CO₂ from industrial emissions. Read more…

2. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR BETTER SEWER PERFORMANCE  

The University of Sheffield and Yorkshire Water in partnership with Siemens have successfully completed a pilot addressing the issues of network blockages, and are now expanding it to a network of over 2000 combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The new solution integrates sensing, communication, analytics and reporting technology by using sensors to feed water level data into a blockage predictor, analysing the performance of the sewer network in real time and predicting network problems thanks to AI technology. Read more…

3. USA’S LARGEST ION EXCHANGE PFAS TREATMENT FACILITY

The PFAS treatment facility located at the existing YLWD headquarters in Placentia. Image courtesy of Yorba Linda Water District

Due to their adverse impact on humans, PFAS (also known as ‘forever chemicals’) are constantly being detected and removed in water sources in the United States. In December 2021, The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and the Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD) began operating the nation’s largest ion exchange (IX) treatment system, made of highly porous resin acting like powerful magnets, to remove PFAS from local well water. Read more…

4. USING MOBILE BASE STATIONS AS RAINFALL SENSORS

 Antennas on a rooftop StartHub mobile base station. Image courtesy of StarHub

The Hydroinformatics Institute (H2i) is teaming up with StarHub to develop an accurate yet cost-effective rainfall prediction and flood management system in a PUB-endorsed pilot. By using mobile base stations as rainfall sensors and correlating variations in mobile signal strength with rain data, the H2i-StarHub team will be piloting the solution for the first time in Singapore, allowing for a better management of intense rain across the island. Read more… 

5. REALISING WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS

Wastewater treatment system design using MFCs and upsized cell developed by Kurita. Image courtesy of Kurita

Kurita is working to improve the performance of microbial power generation cells. In collaboration with Nisshinbo Holdings, Kurita has successfully developed an upsized cell and achieved the world’s highest level of COD_Cr removal rate of 20kg/m³/d and output of 200W/m³. Moving forward, Kurita will begin evaluating potential applications for the cells in actual wastewater and improve the cell’s performance further for more practical use. Read more…

Disclaimer

The International Water Association (IWA) is not liable for any damages arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use WaterTech Spotlight or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using it. The contents of WaterTech Spotlight do not comprise the IWA’s views; they do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should consult your professional adviser for legal or other advice.  IWA is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link in a linked site. IWA is not responsible for any transmission received from any linked site. The links are provided to assist readers and the inclusion of a link does not imply that IWA endorses or has approved the linked site.

Contact: Sophie.Su@iwahq.org

Tech solutions and innovations are the mainstays towards a water-wise world. IWA’s Water Tech Spotlight is a monthly blog that aims to highlight worldwide the latest technology developments in the water industry. Scroll down to find out more.

1. PILOTING A REAL-TIME INNOVATIVE SYSTEM FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE OPTIMIZATION

WaterStart and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) have partnered with Xylem to pilot an optimization solution embracing operational systems, GIS, and sensor-supported hydraulic modeling. This digital collaboration will help water utilities augment operational efficiency, cost management, assessment of water infrastructure condition as well as improve water demand forecasting and perform real-time water quality optimization. Read more…

2. REINVENTING TOILETS FOR THE FUTURE

Urine-separation toilet ‘save!’ by Laufen was awarded the Design Prize Switzerland 2021.

This future-proof toilet is the result of a collaboration between Laufen Bathrooms, Austrian design studio EOOS, and the Swiss water research institute Eawag. Based on source-separation technology, this toilet separates urine from other waste streams through a channel inside the toilet pan by leveraging sophisticate interior geometry and surface tension. It is a promising innovation for achieving SDGs by allowing different waste streams to be processed efficiently and valuable nutrients to be recovered sustainably. Read more…

3. HIGHLY SELECTIVE MEMBRANES SEPARATE NANOPARTICLES

Filtering sub-10 nm sized particles and molecules remains a cross-sectoral challenge for existing membrane separation techniques, due to lack of membranes with highly tunable pore size and designed functionality.  However, researchers from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Center in Germany have fabricated well-structured hybrid organic-inorganic-organic isoporous membranes for energy-efficient separation, published in Advanced Materials. These functionalised membranes comprise self-assembled block copolymers with metal oxide, showing promising results in separating 1–2 nm organic molecules. Read more…

Right: Membrane manufacturing process – growth of metals within the membrane channels in a precise way that controls their size, and then creating a response to obtain a membrane with a unique physical property. Left: Sectional view of the membrane showing a combination of the metal oxides on top of the block-copolymer membranes, Image courtesy of Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.

4. AN ATTEMPT TO SECURE MACAO`S WATER SUPPLY FOR THE NEXT DECADE

Macao Water has commissioned its fourth water treatment plant (WTP) – Seac Pai Van Water Treatment Plant – to increase its daily water supply capacity from the existing 390,000 m³ to 520,000 m³. This plant is harmonious with Macao’s landscape and employs SUEZ’s chartered technologies to remove micropollutants. In addition, it comes with solar-powered streetlights, an efficient pumping system, and water reuse systems, aiming at significant energy savings and carbon footprint reduction. This project will raise Macao’s global profile as a leader in sustainable development. Read more… 

5. AI-SUPPORTED INNOVATIVE PILOT FOR LEAK DETECTION

In a running battle to eliminate leakages in water distribution networks, United Utilities has teamed up with Sensat to trial an AI-supported solution to predict the locations of leaks. Thanks to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) technology and high-resolution photogrammetry, a probability-based algorithm is developed to automatically identify potential leak locations and greatly reduce manual inspections. Read more…

Algorithm assesses thermal imaging and high-resolution photogrammetry visualised in Sensat to predict where water leakage is present, Image courtesy of Sensat.

6. NEW PARTNERSHIP EXPLORING TECHNOLOGIES FOR MICROPOLLUTANTS AND PHOSPHOROUS REMOVAL

Under the support of five Dutch water authorities and the Belgian Aquafin, Brightwork is working on a pilot to remove micropollutants as well as phosphorus. The core technology lies in the use of a granular activated carbon (GAC)-enabled continuous aerated filter with integrated adsorption and biodegradation processes, allowing enhanced activated carbon saturation and endurability. Read more…

Disclaimer: The International Water Association (IWA) is not liable for any damages arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use WaterTech Spotlight or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using it. The contents of WaterTech Spotlight do not comprise the IWA’s views; they do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should consult your professional adviser for legal or other advice.  IWA is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link in a linked site. IWA is not responsible for any transmission received from any linked site. The links are provided to assist readers and the inclusion of a link does not imply that IWA endorses or has approved the linked site.

Cover image courtesy of EAWAG 

Throughout the pandemic, the water sector has played its regular vital role in ensuring essential services keep running. It has also helped through the emerging area of wastewater surveillance, with the pandemic providing an enormous opportunity for use of Wastewater-based Epidemiology (WBE).

Even before COVID-19, the water industry was used to addressing enteric pathogens including viruses in water supply and sanitation. For this reason, there was a high level of confidence from early on that SARS-CoV-2 did not present a major threat for drinking water supplies. As the pandemic gathered pace, the water science community responded at speed to provide knowledge to help fill in the gaps on the new pathogen, SARS-CoV-2. This does have its own unique characteristics, and the community worked to fill gaps in areas such as risks of faecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the survival of the virus in sewage, and potential transmission by aerosols.

Progress was supported by a willingness to cooperate and share data and insights. This willingness was illustrated well by the way the IWA COVID-19 Task Force brought together leading experts in a webinar to share their experiences of using a range of methods to identify and track SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VoC) in wastewater in their countries.

This willingness is also very evident in an initiative in which Michigan State University, KWR Water Research Institute, the University of California Merced, Venthic Technologies, and PATH are collaborating to develop the Wastewater SARS Public Health Environmental Response, or W-SPHERE. This is a newly launched global centre for data and for public health use cases on SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. Its mission is to advance environmental surveillance of sewage, informing local and global efforts for monitoring and supporting public health measures to combat COVID-19. Sewage provides a window to view trends in community infection, earlier and more objectively and efficiently than other surveillance systems and has the potential to assist in public health decisions. Initiatives such as this can benefit society greatly and are also a leading example of useful knowledge sharing across countries. Read more in The Source.

Today, the emergence of the omicron variant has shown how COVID-19 still poses a major challenge to societies hoping to bounce back after long months of lockdowns and restrictions. The highly infectious omicron variant, first detected in Southern Africa in November 2021, quickly spread throughout the globe in a matter of weeks, leading countries such as France to report as many as 300,000 new cases in a single day. The US Center for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that the omicron variant went from making 8% of all new cases for the week ending December 11 to approximately 95.4% for the week of December 26 – January 1, showing a very rapid and exponential increase.

Given this speed, it is now more essential than ever for the water sector to be able to share experiences and data across countries, also taking into account that methodologies and data interpretation may need to be adjusted. Experiences will be shared in the webinar taking place on 12 January about the omicron variant (which will also be available on-demand at a later date), and also at the forthcoming LET conference.

The science is expanding dramatically at the interface of new technology, public health and wastewater collection and management.  This means that we have been able to monitor the influx of Delta and now the Omicron variants into the population and this opens the door for understanding much more about community health than ever before.

New research in these areas will be presented at the LET Conference in Reno, United States on 27 March – 2 April 2022. There is a dedicated track on Wastewater-Based Epidemiology, offering a great opportunity to expand your knowledge on this emerging and ever more prominent area of scientific research. I hope to see as many of you there and share experiences and new insights about SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater and WBE.

Early bird registrations are open until 31 January 2022, so grab your tickets now!

Technological solutions and innovations are essential to secure a water-wise future. Water Tech Spotlight is a monthly blog which aims to highlight the latest technology developments in the water industry globally. Scroll down to find out more.

1. ZAPPING UNTREATED WATER GETS RID OF WATERBORNE VIRUSES

Iron electrocoagulation simultaneously removed and inactivated a non-enveloped virus surrogate under slightly acidic conditions. Image courtesy of Kyungho Kim.

Texas A&M researchers have shown that an electrocoagulation method is effective at removing nonenveloped waterborne viruses mainly responsible for gastrointestinal infections. Published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, this experiment used iron electrodes, forging iron precipitates and hydroxyl radicals to capture and inactivate viruses. A novel computational technique was also developed to image viruses in the aggregates.  Read more…

2. WORLD`S LARGEST CERAMIC MEMBRANE BIOREACTOR FACILITY TO BE INSTALLED IN SINGAPORE

Following the successful demonstration of ceramic MBR technology at Jurong Water Reclamation Plant (WRP), Singapore’s National Water Agency PUB will equip Tuas WRP with the world’s largest ceramic MBR facility to treat industrial wastewater using two Industrial Liquid Modules (ILMs). With an expected combined treatment capacity of 150,000 m³, this exemplar facility will aid in shortening the water loop and secure a more robust and resilient water supply for Singapore. Read more…

3. COLD ANAEROBIC TREATMENTS TO SHAKE UP WATER SECTOR ENERGY USE

A multi-institutional collaborative project led by Thames Water recently kicked off to decarbonize wastewater treatment thanks to innovative cold anaerobic processes. This membrane-free cold process will be deployed at mobile pilots to investigate its ability to remove nutrients and recover resources under different wastewater strengths. This plan will foster sustainable resource recovery, reduce sludge production, energy consumption and the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants. Read more…

4. AUTONOMOUS INSPECTION ROBOT FLEXIBLY NAVIGATES THROUGH WATER PIPES

Award-winning SubMerge Robot recently won the Aquatech Innovation Award. The autonomous robot  was developed by a consortium of Dutch water utilities. Smoothly patrolling pipes, this rechargeable robot can detect leaks, corrosions, and map pipe networks to create a digital twin, using a camera, ultrasonic sensor, hydrophone and positioning algorithm. This smart robot, pictured in the main photo of this blogpost, is certainly an ally for water utilities striving to improve network surveillance and asset management. Read more…

5. FITNESS TRACKER FOR WATER PIPES

The Critical Infrastructure Pipeline Protection System® (CIPPS®), jointly incubated by United Utilities and Datatecnics in England, can dynamically track pipeline deterioration. This innovative technology uses data from tiny sensors assessing the expansion and contraction of pipers in real time to work out how ‘healthy’ a pipe is. Read more…

6. NEW POLYMER DETECTION METHOD TO TURN THE (PEP)TIDE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST WATER POLLUTION

Schematic illustration of the Identification of water-soluble polymers through discrimination of multiple optical signals from a single peptide sensor, Image courtesy of Tokyo Tech News.

Water-soluble synthetic polymers substantially contribute to marine pollution and wreak havoc on water and soil as they are very difficult to remove using common filtering techniques. Researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology have rolled out an unconventional peptide sensor to detect water-soluble polymers in wastewater through peptide-polymer bonding coupled with machine learning algorithms. Published in the ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, this is a step forward for innovations aimed at protecting marine environments. Read more…

Technological solutions and innovations are essential to secure a water-wise future. Water Tech Spotlight is a monthly blog which aims to highlight the latest technology developments in the water industry globally. Scroll down to find out more.

1. COMBINING SUNLIGHT AND WASTEWATER NITRATE TO MAKE THE WORLD’S NO. 2 CHEMICAL

A state-of-the-art solar-powered electrochemical reaction technology was recently developed to systematically produce ammonia (NH₃), which is ranked as the second most produced chemical in the world. A group of engineers at the University of Illinois, Chicago, developed this cutting-edge technology using wastewater nitrates (NO₃^–) under sunlight. The study is published in Energy & Environmental Science. Read More…

2. AN OFF-GRID SANITATION SYSTEM ENTERS THE MARKET IN SOUTH AFRICA

The NEWgenerator^TM is a multi-purpose off-grid sanitation system developed by experts at the University of South Florida (USF) in collaboration with the Water Research Commission’s SASTEP initiative. This compact, portable and modular future-proof system can improve water reuse efficiency, produce energy from biogas, and provide nutrient-rich fertilizer from its sewage water. This commercial product could be a turning point for safe and sustainable WASH in emerging economies. Read more…

3. USING REMOTE AUGMENTED REALITY TO KEEP ESSENTIAL WATER TREATMENT PLANTS RUNNING

COVID-19 has not only taken a toll on global water and sanitation services but also challenged the adequate surveillance of wastewater treatment plants. However, Veolia North America (VNA) recently trialled a remote augmented reality tool for monitoring and servicing treatment plants, making traditional in-person inspections a thing of the past and minimizing occupational hazards. This successful pilot is an example of streamlining digitalisation and enhanced infrastructure management for water utilities. Read more…

4. FIRST TRIAL OF A NEW LEAKAGE TECH IN THE UK

Anglian Water has successfully trialled a technology to find and measure leaks in live water lines in the UK as part of a new partnership with Electro Scan. This formidable technology employs multi-sensors, low voltage conductivity, acoustic technology, and high-resolution closed-circuit television (CCTV) in detecting holes with a 1cm diameter in water pipes as well as estimating water losses in litres per second. Read more…

5. NEW METHOD FOR REMOVING LEAD FROM DRINKING WATER

A group of researchers at MIT have recently discovered a laboratory-based economical and energy-efficient system to remove lead and other notorious heavy metals from drinking water. Published in Environmental Science and Technology – Water, this new approach incorporates a process called shock electrodialysis. With 95% lead reduction results, this method offers huge potential for removing tiny concentrations of persistent pollutants from water. Read more…

Disclaimer

The International Water Association (IWA) is not liable for any damages arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use WaterTech Spotlight or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using it. The contents of WaterTech Spotlight do not comprise the IWA’s views; they do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should consult your professional adviser for legal or other advice.  IWA is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link in a linked site. IWA is not responsible for any transmission received from any linked site. The links are provided to assist readers and the inclusion of a link does not imply that IWA endorses or has approved the linked site.

Technological solutions and innovations are essential to secure a water-wise future. Water Tech Spotlight is a monthly blog which aims to highlight the latest technology developments in the water industry globally. Scroll down to find out more.

1. THE WORLD’S FIRST VALIDATED, MUNICIPAL UV LED DISINFECTION INSTALLATION

The world’s first municipal scale UV LED Installation at Cumwhinton Drinking Water Plant in Cumbria, UK. The use of UVC-LED for water disinfection has been researched for past 10 years and yet the persisting challenge is how to apply a small, low-power, mercury-free LED to a system suitable for a full-scale application. Typhon, a UK‐based manufacturer of UV LED water treatment systems has developed the world’s first validated municipal‐scale UV LED disinfection system which will be installed at Cumwhinton, a United Utilities water treatment plant in the Northwest of England. Read More…

2. ASSESSING DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXICITY IN COMPUTER LANGUAGE

To fully understand the long term consequences of toxic substances in the environment, researchers at the Eawag Water Research Institute have developed a computer model that can map the complexity of the nervous system and make predictions about which chemicals might impair the nervous system and in what way. The results are published in Frontiers in Genetics. Read More…

3. HIGH-SELECTIVE PSEUDOCAPACITIVE ELECTRODE FOR WATER SOFTENING

Recent years have seen a growing interest in the use of capacitive deionization as a novel water treatment technology. Researchers at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) recently developed a pseudo-capacitive electrode with high efficiency and selective electrosorption of hardness ions for water softening. Read More…

4. NEW METHOD IMPROVES DETECTION OF HARMFUL MICROSCOPIC PARASITES IN WATER

CRISPR technology has been shown to identify the presence of harmful Cryptosporidium microbes in water samples. Image courtesy of UNSW

Published in Water Research, an ultrasensitive CRISPR/Cas12a-powered immunosensing method is proposed by engineers from University of New South Wales (UNSW) to quickly and easily identify potentially fatal Cryptosporidium microorganisms. The system produces a distinctive fluorescent glow in the water sample when Cryptosporidium is found. Read More…

5. A GREEN ENERGY INNOVATION FOR WATER SPLITTING

Green hydrogen is a promising clean energy source with great potential to achieve carbon neutrality. At present, electrochemical water splitting is the simplest way to obtain green hydrogen (H₂) but yet to be commercialised. Now, a team of researchers from Pusan National University, Korea, have developed a novel electrocatalyst that can enable commercial on-site production of hydrogen from water splitting in an energy and cost-efficient way, and their work is published in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. Read More…

6. NEW FILTERING METHOD PROMISES SAFER DRINKING WATER

Reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the Tufts University School of Engineering have developed novel polymer membranes that can mimic the highly selective properties of biological cells and thus separate fluoride from chloride and other ions with twice the selectivity reported by other methods. Read More…

Disclaimer

The International Water Association (IWA) is not liable for any damages arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use WaterTech Spotlight or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using it. The contents of WaterTech Spotlight do not comprise the IWA’s views; they do not constitute legal or other professional advice. You should consult your professional adviser for legal or other advice.  IWA is not responsible for the content of any linked site or any link in a linked site. IWA is not responsible for any transmission received from any linked site. The links are provided to assist readers and the inclusion of a link does not imply that IWA endorses or has approved the linked site.