World-first research has shown purified recycled drinking water use is set to double by 2050.
An Australian-led research project has mapped out the future of purified recycled water across the world, with predictions it will be consumed by more than 55 million people over the next 25 years.
The first of its kind project was led by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) following more than two years of research and consultation with the water sector across the world. It shows that more than 100 cities could be using purified recycled water as part of drinking water supplies by 2050, with the number of people consuming it also expected to double.
The findings come as a number of states and cities across Australia are now 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.
A series of interactive online maps have been developed to chart the global growth of purified recycled water systems. Despite the fact that the technology has been proven for decades, purified recycled water schemes are only now starting to be rolled out at scale.
There were a handful of operating systems in use worldwide before the 2000s and that number has steadily increased over the past two decades. More than 35 cities or locations have schemes that are operating and providing clean and safe water to more than 30 million people.
The technology that is used to make purified recycled water clean and safe to drink is overseen by numerous health regulators and water authorities around the world. It uses multiple barrier treatment systems and advanced purification technology so the water can be added to drinking water supplies. Places like California, Texas, and Virginia in the US are already using purified recycled water to augment their drinking water supplies. While 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 purified recycled water systems are set to substantially increase over the coming decades. But, other major cities and regions are also set to embrace the technology at scale such as Florida and Arizona, Bangalore in India, Leon in Mexico and Hampshire in the UK.
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 as part of a major community education campaign, along with Auckland following a citizen’s assembly which backed purified recycled water as its preferred new future water source.
The interactive maps chart the use of purified recycled water from the early 1960s to 2050, based on the number, location and types of systems being built and planned.
To view the maps, visit water360.com.au/map
