Features in the April 2009 edition of Water21
Cover Story: Europe
Resource scenarios for England and Wales:shaping planning for the 2050s
Setting course for a sustainable future of secure water supplies needs a vision of what the world may be like decades from now. Clare Dinnis, Andrew Curry, Keith Weatherhead and Paul Jeffrey outline how scenarios have been developed to help shape water resources planning for England and Wales in the 2050s, an approach that features a collaborative process in developing the scenarios.
Global focus
Coca-Cola’s support for water supply safety
As a global user of water, Coca-Cola has a vested interest in the safety and security of the water supplies that it draws upon. Lis Stedmanreviews the company’s activities in this area, notably its support of the International Water Association’s work on Water Safety Plans.
Europe
The sanitation shortfall of Europe’s small communities
An estimated 20 million people, possibly considerably more, across the European Union are without safe sanitation. Bill McCannreviews the situation affecting small communities in particular. Click here to view the article.
Metering and loss management
Performance based contracts for non-revenue water management
Growing pressure on water resources means attention will increasingly be focused on the huge losses from urban water systems around the world. IWA Water Loss Task Force representatives Roland Liemberger, Paul Fanner and Didier Carron look at the prospects for greater use of performance based contracts as a means of driving progress forward.
Yorkshire Water aims highby aiming low
The UK’s Yorkshire Water is aiming high regarding water loss and wider management of its supply network – to reduce supply interruptions, excavations and traffic disruption to zero, whilst making significant reductions in costs. Catherine Fitzpatrick reports on how the company has been supporting development of innovative technology and approaches to achieve these aims.
Advanced pressure management delivers additional leakage reduction
A new technology for managing pressure to reduce bursts and leakage in water supply networks and for optimising pressure is proving itself in trials in the UK. Malcom Farleyreviews progress.
Water supply
Water Safety Plans in Lao PDR:serious about scaling up
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic has been piloting Water Safety Plans in an aim to eventually manage the safety and quality of the entire country’s drinking water. Carlo Gherardipresents the initial success of a pilot scheme in the town of Pakse, and its subsequent expansion to other water suppliers.
Instrumentation, Control and Automation
ICA inroads in wastewater systems
Instrumentation, control and automation (ICA) continues to bring improvements in the water sector. Lis Stedman spoke with representatives of IWA’s Specialist Group on ICA, and reviews some of the recent case studies that highlight the progress being made in wastewater systems.
Sewage treatment
Targets tackle Chesapeake Bay’s nutrient needs
An ambitious programme aims to reduce pollution entering Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. Jim Forceoutlines the approach of using nutrient pollution limits to help protect a body of water whose watershed includes over 400 municipal wastewater treatment plants.
Groundwater
Europe’s research on the wastewater reuse role of aquifers
Europe is increasingly looking to managed aquifer recharge as an important mechanism for facilitating wastewater reuse, but issues include public health and protection of natural water resources. Bill McCannreviews progress of research initiatives in this area.
Natural radioactivity in drinking water:facts for an updated debate
Although the EU Drinking Water Directive sets levels for maximum doses of radionuclides in drinking water, to date there are no official EC regulations or recommendations for their detection and assessment. Professor Rolf-Dieter Wilken and Norbert Pilz review the issues involved with addressing this regulatory deficit, including the occurrence of radionuclides, their potential impacts on health, and the possibilities of testing for and removing them.
Water Utility 21
Software supports automated IFRS asset valuation
Dutch water utility Vitens started working to International Financial Reporting Standards in 2006. Now it is seeking to automate an important aspect of these guidelines – calculation of the net present value of its water supply network. Edwin Blaauwgeersdescribes the task, and the role of the network software it is evaluation.
Water Environment 21
Momentum builds for a water stewardship and certification movement
As the world’s water crisis deepens, an eclectic group of business leaders and environmental organizations are developing new market based certification tools for water use. Jamie Pittockexamines the application of these mechanisms, particularly for businesses, in the current work to build a global water stewardship certification system.