Making WaterMaking Water: Desalination, recovery and reuse.
Today’s water crisis is not an issue of scarcity, but of access. More people in the world own cell phones than have access to a toilet. [1]
Every geographical region has unique problems - ranging from old, worn-out infrastructure to none at all, insufficient rainfall to rising salinity. As cities grow at increasing rates, the situation worsens.
70% of the world’s water withdrawals is consumed by irrigation for agriculture, much of this inefficiently.
Cheap, clean water delivered to the consumer is one of the greatest challenges that will only be solved through new technology.
"Desalination is set to become more important because the demand for water is going to increase, and a large percentage of the world's population is situated in coastal areas." Professor W Richard Bowen FREng (School of Engineering, Swansea University).
Currently there seems to be boom in the construction of desalination plants, particularly in Australia and the Middle East. But at a cost of about USD0.50 per cubic metre, before delivery to the consumer it is prohibitive for many of the poorer countries with significant water problems, especially if the water needs to be transported inland and uphill.
Whilst in the rich western world it is easy to justify energy consumptive plants, this is not an option for the 2.5 billion people who have no access to improved sanitation (half of whom have no sanitation at all). Alternative technologies to the energy hungry desalination process of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) are needed.
Recovery and Reuse:
Greywater recycling and rainwater capture reduces demand on water systems and requirements for sewage treatment systems.
Domestic greywater and pre-filtered industrial wastewater technologies are now viable to the point that water can go back into the supply chain. Infrastructure needs to be designed to allow this on a large scale. Domestic greywater can be collected and recycled for use within the home (for flushing toilets) or garden.
Technologies to improve water supply, use and distribution are vital to meet demand and represent one of the greatest challenges and opportunities of the century.
Recently I conducted technology and market due diligence into electrocoagulation of industrial wastewater for a VC firm. If you would like to learn more about filtration methods please email dhulston@fastmail.fm.
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Mentoring"We have benefited greatly from David's experience, counsel and contacts on a wide range of issues. His past experience in the IP space is particularly useful to Inngot, but even without that, he is just the sort of investor and non-executive director a high growth business needs. He sees potential, makes connections, and keeps us focused on the things that matter."Martin Brassell, CEO, Inngot Ltd |
