Policy-makers and thought-leaders are constantly encouraging everyone to apply a ‘systems’ approach and seek ‘integration’ in moving towards a more sustainable world, but what does that actually mean in for water management?
The circular economy concept, which aims to dissociate economic growth and development from the consumption of finite resources, is a response to the drawbacks of the conventional “take-make-consume and dispose†model of growth, and could provide the answer to providing a framework that charts a more purposeful course for sustainability.
A newly published framework from the International Water Association (IWA): Water Utility Pathways in a Circular Economy, transitionary pathways for utilities are described that position water, sanitation and wastewater service providers (utilities), as engines for sustainable growth.
The framework presents three interrelated pathways; water, materials and energy, that will aid utilities to identify integration points within systems that enable their transition to the circular economy. It identifies practices, approaches and business models for utilities that will ensure better efficiency of water use, lower carbon-based energy consumption and provide valuable materials for manufacturing and agriculture.
The Water Pathways specifically address two substantial drawbacks for utilities transitioning to a circular economy: an obstructive regulatory environment and impenetrable market conditions. The importance of consumer demand and supply chain dynamics in understanding existing and potential market conditions and the inadequacies of existing legislation developed for linear production and consumption patterns are both illustrated.
Fortunately, there is a growing realisation of the need to adapt legislation to boost the circular economy as can be seen by the adoption of the recent EU Circular Economy Action Plan, and the revision of the EU Fertiliser Regulation, to include struvite and biochar.
The IWA framework Water Utility Pathways in a Circular Economy is targeted towards decision makers in water utilities as well as those who enable and support water, sanitation and wastewater services, including regulators, consultants, industry, financiers, and researchers, and aims to demystify what a systems and integrated approach to sustainability might mean for water, sanitation and wastewater service providers.
The framework will also aid water utilities to identify new operational and business models that will help them prepare now for the circular economy of the future.
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