What is the Expert Committee for China’s Concept Wastewater Treatment Plants (CCWC) and what are its aims and objectives?

In early 2014, six prominent Chinese environmental experts, Jiuhui Qu, Kaijun Wang, Hongchen Wang, Gang Yu, Bing Ke, and Hanqing Yu, proposed constructing a futuristic urban wastewater treatment concept plant for China. Aimed at 2030-2040, their goal was to incorporate global best practices and advanced technologies to achieve ‘sustainable water quality, energy self-sufficiency, resource recovery, and environmental friendliness’. To support this vision, they formed the ‘Concept Plant Expert Committee’, which expanded to include nine members: Jiuhui Qu (Chair), Hongqiang Ren, Hanqing Yu, Gang Yu, Kaijun Wang, Hongchen Wang, Bing Ke, Xingcan Zheng, and Ji Li. Their mission is to create a concept plant surpassing current global standards by 20 years, transitioning China from a follower to a leader in wastewater treatment.

What are the key challenges for the Chinese water and wastewater sectors?

China has a large total water volume, yet per capita availability is low, at only about a quarter of the global average. Northern regions, in particular, face severe water scarcity. With rapid urbanisation and industrialisation China’s wastewater output has surged, giving it the world’s highest wastewater treatment volume, straining facilities near their operational limits.

A further challenge is the uniformity of national wastewater standards, which limit flexibility, particularly for economically underdeveloped regions, imposing high operational costs and resource waste in areas not sensitive to water issues.

Facilities face significant technical and financial challenges in upgrading to meet stricter standards, especially with the emergence of pollutants like pharmaceuticals and microplastics. In addition, many plants focus solely on pollutant removal, overlooking the potential to recover valuable resources from wastewater and sludge.

Wastewater treatment plants, particularly those using traditional processes, consume a large amount of energy and produce significant carbon emissions. There is a need for urgent energy and carbon reduction solutions if China is to meet its ‘dual carbon’ goals.

What are the most noteworthy aspects of the Yixing Concept Water Resource Reclamation Facility?

The Yixing plant uses anaerobic digestion to produce 3000 m3 of biogas daily, converted into 6000 kWh of electricity, reducing external energy dependency and lowering emissions.

Advanced purification technologies, such as ozone-UV disinfection for emerging pollutants, allow flexible upgrades, including mainstream Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) technology, for future water quality requirements.

Unlike traditional plants, Yixing transforms organic waste into products like nutrient-rich organic soil, reducing disposal pressure and supporting sustainable agriculture.

Innovative odour control, eco-friendly building designs, and community integration, minimise pollution and enhance biodiversity. In addition, the plant has engaged more than 50,000 community members in environmental education, raising awareness of sustainable water management, and its architectural design won an international award in 2023 for innovative health design.

What have been the key outcomes of the project?

Based on the water-energy-material recycling relationship in wastewater treatment, the concept plant redefines the mission of future wastewater treatment facilities, transforming the public’s perception and understanding of these plants. It conveys the message that wastewater is a resource, and wastewater treatment plants are resource plants.

The concept plant initiative has built five key technical systems to achieve water-energy-material regeneration:

• A Water Quality Safety System focusing on extreme nitrogen and phosphorus removal and the elimination of emerging pollutants.
• A Low-Carbon Technology System centred on processes such as fine filtration and sulphur-based autotrophy.
• A Regional Resource Synergy System using advanced dry anaerobic processing equipment.
• A Smart Management System based on digital twins and intelligent decision-making.
• An Eco-Complex Technology System that integrates elements of water quality, energy, resources and ecology.

The concept plant marks a milestone in China’s wastewater treatment industry, receiving recognition and support from industry stakeholders and spurring ongoing exploration and collaboration among government, industry, academia, and research sectors.

The Three Gorges Group plans to replicate the concept plant model along the Yangtze River over the next five years, implementing a chain-network model to create a series of innovative plants that will serve as effective tools for ecological management in the Yangtze region.

This project is supported by national key research and development funding, with the first implementation under way at the Fenghuangqiao Water Purification Plant in Lu’an, Anhui Province.

What are the future ambitions of the CCWC?

China’s concept plants will aim to meet stricter environmental requirements, focusing on new pollutants such as microplastics and pharmaceuticals. Further expansion of resource recovery will transform plants into resource producers rather than focusing solely on pollution control, and by advancing biomass energy technologies and reducing emissions, Yixing aims to support China’s ‘carbon peak’ and ‘carbon neutrality’ goals.

Future plants will increasingly rely on intelligent digital technologies to optimise resource use and energy efficiency. Our ambition is for China’s concept plant model and expertise to extend globally, aiding other regions in managing water resources and environmental protection challenges.

Future plants will integrate with their surroundings, incorporating eco-friendly architecture, green infrastructure, and community interaction, creating high-acceptance and environmentally friendly facilities.

Centred on a production-based R&D hub, it will bring together leading research talent to drive breakthroughs in core technologies, establishing itself as an incubator and prime site for cutting-edge applications, and through the demonstration of innovative technologies, the concept plant will continually enhance its treatment efficiency and resource recovery capabilities while also exporting advanced technological achievements across China and globally. This will further solidify its role as a benchmark technology demonstration base leading the future development of the industry.

Responses provided by Yifei Zhang, chairman of CSD Water Service Co, Changmin Wu, general manager of the Yixing Concept Plant, and Jifang Zhang, vice-general manager of the Yixing Concept Plant.

Read more about the IWA Project Innovation Awards at:

Global best in water projects announced at IWA 2024 Project Innovation Awards

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The day was structured into three sessions, covering industry best practices, collaboration with regulators and research institutes, and strategies to overcome long returns on investments in water technologies. A common theme emerged: the critical importance of collaboration across sectors to address current and future water challenges.

Innovation in industrial water management

Several innovative technologies and approaches were highlighted during the forum, demonstrating the potential for significant improvements in industrial water efficiency:

PFAS remediation: Dr Mohamed Ateia Ibrahim, from Rice University, USA, emphasised that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for PFAS remediation. With more than 10,000 chemicals containing PFAS on the market, new technologies are being explored to meet increasingly stringent regulations. The path forward requires collaboration between academia, start-ups, solution providers, and end-users to develop effective strategies for addressing current issues and transitioning to fluorine-free alternatives.

Energy conservation in cooling systems: Alain Silverwood, from Xylem, presented a two-year study on the energy impact of microsand filtration in open cooling water systems. The collaborative effort between academia, solution providers and end-users demonstrated that proper filtration could reduce biofilms and energy consumption by up to 13%, resulting in significant cost savings for industrial facilities.

Resource recovery from waste streams:

Dr Christopher Lawson, from the University of Toronto, Canada, shared insights into a new technology that ‘retools’ anaerobic digestion for waste-to-chemical biomanufacturing. This innovative approach converts food waste into medium chain fatty acids, potentially reducing carbon footprints by recycling chemicals and materials.

Collaboration: The key to success

The forum emphasised that collaboration is crucial for addressing water challenges effectively. This was evident in the organising committee itself, which included representatives from Xylem, Veolia and Grundfos. Throughout the sessions, speakers highlighted successful partnerships between industry, academia and regulatory bodies.

Industry-academia partnerships: The cooling water filtration study and the waste-to-chemical biomanufacturing project both demonstrated the value of collaboration between universities and industry partners. These partnerships allow for rigorous scientific research to be applied to real-world industrial challenges.

Regulatory collaboration: Mohamed Ateia Ibrahim’s presentation on PFAS remediation highlighted the need for cooperation between regulators, researchers and industry, to develop effective solutions that meet increasingly stringent environmental standards.

Cross-sector initiatives: Jason Morrison, President of the Pacific Institute and Head of the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, discussed engagement opportunities that bring together corporate leaders to address water management challenges collectively.

Overcoming barriers to innovation

The forum also addressed the challenges of implementing new water technologies, particularly regarding the ‘valleys of death’ that can occur when transferring solutions from research to industry. The panel discussion in the third session explored strategies to overcome these barriers:

Technology readiness levels: Panellists discussed the importance of understanding and supporting the various stages of technology development, from basic research (Level 1) to successful application (Level 9).

Funding and guidance: Seth Darling, from Argonne National Laboratory, USA, explained how national laboratories provide crucial support to help researchers scale up their investigations.

Regulatory incentives: Regulatory agencies play a role in encouraging technology development by identifying critical water quality issues and promoting energy reduction and resource recovery.

Corporate leadership: The CEO Water Mandate provides a platform for corporate decision-makers to collaborate on finding innovative water management solutions.

Industry investment: Representatives from Veolia, Grundfos and Dow Chemical shared examples of how their companies invest in, and refine, new water treatment technologies for their clients.

The future outlook

The Industrial Water Forum highlighted the growing pressure to accelerate the development and implementation of water-efficient technologies. Despite the challenges, participants expressed optimism about future breakthroughs in industrial water management. Key areas for future focus include:

• Continued development of PFAS remediation technologies and alternatives to ‘forever chemicals’.
• Further exploration of energy-saving technologies in industrial water systems.
• Advancement of resource recovery techniques from waste streams.
• Expansion of nature-based solutions for industrial water management.
• Improved communication and collaboration between researchers, technology developers, regulators, and end-users to streamline the innovation process.

Conclusion

The Industrial Water Forum served as a vital platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration in the face of growing water challenges. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event fostered discussions on cutting-edge technologies, best practices, and strategies for overcoming barriers to innovation. As industrial water use continues to increase globally, the insights and connections made during this forum will play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable and water-efficient industrial future.

Moving forward, continued collaboration across sectors will be essential to drive innovation, overcome implementation challenges, and achieve significant improvements in industrial water efficiency. By building on the momentum generated at this forum, stakeholders in the industrial water sector can work together to develop and implement solutions that address current and future water challenges, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient future for industry and the environment alike.

The authors: Lærke Nørgaard Madsen is a water treatment application specialist at Grundfos; Michael Skovgaard is Business Development Regional Director, Americas, at Grundfos; Walt Kozlowski is Senior Director Industrial Sustainability Solutions at Xylem; and Youngseck Hong is Principal Engineer at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions

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The Utility Leaders Forum, in Toronto, Canada, in August 2024, provided a unique opportunity for utility leaders to exchange views, network, and access insights in a setting designed by utility leaders for utility leaders. The forum was an overwhelming success and focused on three key topics: building water security and resilience; utility breakthroughs on climate adaptation; and utilities working to improve the circular economy.

I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the forum’s organising committee for its commitment and dedication in delivering a valuable event, and providing a great opportunity for engagement, networking and collaboration. This is the hallmark of our globally respected IWA brand. Utility leaders in Toronto also had the opportunity to express their views on their needs and expectations of IWA. Sincere thanks and appreciation to all delegates who shared their thoughts, which will form the foundation of new offerings from IWA to satisfy the needs of all utility members.

Water utilities face many challenges, while customer and consumer expectations are increasing. Customers and consumers expect utilities to be properly governed, managed, and staffed with the best expertise for them to rise to the challenges and impacts of climate change – and any other risks to sustainable service delivery. Therefore, utilities are expected to mitigate all conceivable risks to satisfy customers’ needs.

To this end, utilities need to embrace digitalisation, mobilise innovative technology, review planning and strategic asset management, drive efficiencies, and reduce the carbon footprint of their operations. The circular economy is a socio-economic paradigm to which water utilities must adapt if ambitions to achieve global climate goals are to be achieved. The water sector needs to play a leading role through increased reuse and recycling, and the creation of new products for the market.

Water scarcity is not a new phenomenon for large parts of the world. Through the decades, water utilities have adapted successfully with access only to minimal resources. Climate change and population increases have created additional challenges for sustainable water and sanitation provision. During the past decade, countries such as the Netherlands and the UK have experienced unprecedented water scarcity and are now engaging in innovative projects to address this risk. Many leading utilities are focused on proactive interventions to assure water security by reducing leaks, recycling water for reuse, transforming waste into value added products, and adopting technologies such as water efficient sanitation systems.

The role of IWA is to inspire change and create impact by ensuring water utilities have access to the latest knowledge and technologies, by sharing information to the benefit of utilities and their stakeholders. Utility leaders need to interact, connect and engage with their peers and colleagues across the globe to gain access to best practices that will empower them to improve their utilities.

IWA recognises the leading role it needs to play as a membership organisation for utility members, and is in the process of reviewing and improving to enhance value propositions and services for utilities. This is an exciting time for IWA and water utilities. I am confident that, together, we can build resilient and sustainable water utilities that will inspire the confidence of customers and consumers across the world.

Hamanth Kasan, President, IWA

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Emerging economies across Latin America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa are making bold investments in water supply, sanitation, and wastewater treatment, driven by the pressing demands of water security and sustainable development. Recognising wastewater as a valuable resource, these nations are embracing circular economy and decentralisation principles to build systems that are both resilient and financially sustainable.

Unlike the Global North, where it has taken decades of incremental progress to transform carbon-intensive systems into more efficient ones, the Global South has the unique opportunity to leapfrog directly to advanced solutions. By incorporating integrated urban water management and circular economy principles from the outset, these countries are reconstructing thinking around water infrastructure, so that it becomes a cornerstone of a sustainable, low-carbon future. In doing so, they are not only addressing their immediate needs but also positioning themselves as global leaders in innovative, climate conscious water solutions, setting new benchmarks for the world to follow.

Such innovative advancements in water management by emerging economies resonate strongly with the ambitious efforts of India to address its pressing water and sanitation challenges. During my recent visit to the country, including participation in the latest edition of India Water Week, I saw first-hand how the country is leveraging global collaborations and innovative approaches to transform its water systems. India stands out as a powerful example of how international partnerships are driving progress towards sustainable, resilient, future-fit water and sanitation solutions.

Challenges, progress, and global leadership

With only 4% of the world’s water resources – but home to 18% of its population – India faces severe water scarcity, where more than 100 million urban residents live with perennial shortages and another 125 million experience seasonal scarcity. The rapid depletion of groundwater – which supplies more than 80% of domestic needs – coupled with pollution affecting 70% of surface water resources highlights the complexity of the issues to be addressed to deliver sustainable, equitable supplies.

Drawing on global best practice through active engagement with international organisations, including IWA, India’s response to these challenges is multifaceted and collaborative. This exchange enables India to gain from successful global strategies while sharing its own innovative solutions with other emerging economies. Initiatives like Odisha’s Drink from Tap Mission, which aims to provide 24/7 potable water to urban households, reflects the scale and ambition of India’s vision. National programmes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) further underscore India’s commitment to ensuring universal access to sanitation and safe drinking water.

By fostering global partnerships and embracing knowledge exchange, India is both reshaping its water management strategies and at the same time establishing itself as a model for sustainable solutions within the global water community.

IWA and India

India’s growing involvement in IWA highlights its commitment to engaging with global best practice and sharing its own innovative solutions. Since the establishment of IWA’s India Chapter in 2018, India has significantly increased its presence in global water discussions, contributing to major IWA events, from the 2019 Water and Development Congress through to subsequent editions of the IWA World Water Congresses and Specialist Group Conferences. With the second-largest membership in the IWA network, the country’s participation reflects its strategy to merge international expertise with localised solutions.

At the 2024 World Water Congress and Exhibition in Toronto, India’s first-ever country pavilion, organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), showcased the transformation of the River Ganga and India’s leadership in sustainable water management.

Further cementing its role, India invited IWA to actively participate in the 8th India Water Week 2024, focusing on ‘Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management’.

This growing collaboration with IWA and the country’s active participation in global water discussions have laid a strong foundation for India to transform its water supply, sanitation, and wastewater systems.

A new vision for water and sanitation

India is embracing a new vision for water supply, sanitation, and wastewater management, guided by the principles of Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM). This approach emphasises a diversified portfolio of solutions, combining conventional and non-conventional water sources to build resilience and adapt to evolving needs.

Inspired by models like Singapore’s Four National Taps, India is pioneering an ambitious approach. One example is the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), which has adopted the ‘Six Kudam (Pot) Approach’, integrating reclaimed water through tertiary sewage treatment, community-level rainwater harvesting, demand-side management, desalination, surface water reservoirs, and inter-basin transfers, The reclaimed water, used for non-potable industrial applications and indirect potable reuse with lakes as environmental buffers, highlights the potential for circular economy principles in urban water management. In addition, initiatives in Chennai such as the utilisation of abandoned quarries for stormwater storage demonstrate creativity in addressing water scarcity.

India’s water management strategy extends beyond urban areas, deeply rooted in its cultural and spiritual reverence for rivers. With more than half of its rivers polluted, this perspective has driven transformative efforts, including the NMCG.

This flagship initiative aims to restore the River Ganga as a vibrant ecosystem, respecting its sacred and ecological importance. Guided by a river-centric approach, the NMCG prioritises the river’s health in every decision, adopting a metaphorical ‘guardian lens’ to ensure that all actions and activities align with sustaining the river’s wellbeing. This commitment has led to the construction of more than 150 sewage treatment plants (STPs), significantly reducing untreated wastewater discharge while enhancing the integrity of the surrounding ecosystem. Importantly, the mission integrates lessons from past shortcomings to ensure sustainable and impactful outcomes. As this model expands to other river basins, India is redefining its rivers as essential lifelines and guardians of ecosystems.

By reimagining its sanitation systems, India is advancing a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that combine non-sewered sanitation (NSS), decentralised systems, and large-scale infrastructure. More than 1000 faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) address land and water pollution challenges, while states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Odisha are integrating NSS with existing sewage systems to create scalable sanitation models.

With respect to decentralisation, the State of Karnataka, of which Bengaluru is part, has introduced legislation allowing apartment complexes to sell 50% of their treated wastewater for non-potable uses, in turn creating a market for reclaimed water and providing an incentive for the efficient operation of 2500 on-site STPs in the city, highlighting the potential of policy innovation and market-driven solutions.

Alongside this, the city is transferring treated wastewater to rejuvenate more than 125 rural lakes for agriculture use, while advancing sludge processing to produce Class A biosolids and biogas production at centralised STPs, and exploring carbon credit opportunities for captured methane emissions.

Digital technology is increasingly becoming a key enabler in this transformation, with mature startups like SmartTerra and Solinas Integrity using AI, IoT, and robotics to improve system efficiency, detect leaks, and provide predictive maintenance.  Forward-looking utilities in Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Cochin, Trivandrum, Mumbai and Kolkata are engaging their services to better understand their underground assets, and in turn improve their services.

Nationally, IWA’s Digital Water Programme, through its India sub-group, brings together experts and stakeholders to promote knowledge exchange and the adoption of digital tools suited to local contexts. These initiatives highlight India’s commitment to using technology as an enabler to address water challenges, optimise resources, and build climate-resilient infrastructure. By combining innovative technology, traditional wisdom, and global partnerships, India is transforming water and sanitation delivery, ensuring equitable access, preserving rivers, and sustaining ecosystems. This change is fuelled by a dynamic hub of research institutions, startups, and utilities driving local innovation with global reach.

Harnessing local strengths for global impact

India has established a robust, dynamic and agile system that is facilitating a transformation of its water and sanitation infrastructure. This ecosystem is built on three foundational pillars: research and development (R&D) centres generating groundbreaking ideas, incubation hubs and startups commercialising these innovations, and forward-thinking utilities eager to transform their operations. Together, these elements create a synergy that is paving the way for a future where India’s water and sanitation systems are efficient, resilient, and adaptable to emerging challenges.

Academic institutions are at the heart of this transformation, serving as hubs for innovation, experimentation, and education. Renowned institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, IIT Madras, BITS Pilani, TERI University, and CEPT University are not only training the next generation of water professionals but also advancing solutions that align with global sustainable development objectives.

Institutions like CEPT University’s Centre for Water and Sanitation (C-WAS) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), as part of the National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance, are at the forefront of advancing NSS in India. They work with urban local bodies on capacity building, documenting successful case studies, and shaping policies, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). CSE has launched platforms like Menu on Un-Networked Technologies (MOUNT) to disseminate knowledge and drive innovation, while C-WAS pilots NSS approaches in Maharashtra, serving as a model for more than 300 urban local bodies.

As India’s regional hub for the Global Sanitation Graduate School, CEPT University integrates city-wide inclusive sanitation (CWIS) into academic curricula, working with institutions like BITS Pilani Goa, IIT Roorkee, IIT Palakkad, Pune University, and Manipal University, alongside partners such as BORDA South Asia and NIUA, to expand the reach of best practice and implementation models.

Institutions like IIT Madras are driving innovation in water reclamation and reuse, exemplified by its collaboration with the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) on a celebrated 10 mld tertiary treatment plant in Nesapakkam, which adopts Porur Lake as an environmental buffer.

At IIT Bombay, Pradip Kalbar is focused on improving intermittent water supply systems and optimising networks, particularly in resource-limited regions of Maharashtra and West Bengal. His research offers cost-effective, practical engineering solutions like multi-outlet storage tanks, shafts, and manifolds that can be integrated in existing infrastructure to enhance quality of water access, emphasising the optimisation of existing systems, rather than pursuing 24/7 water supply. These institutions demonstrate how research can lead to practical, scalable solutions capable of transforming India’s water and sanitation landscape.

This environment facilitates incubators and innovation hubs that play a critical role in bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation. The Administrative Staff College of India’s (ASCI) WASH Innovation Hub collaborates with more than 600 startups, accelerating innovation in wastewater treatment, lake management, and geospatial technologies, while platforms like INK@WASH showcase innovative solutions and educate decision-makers about practical applications. The International Centre for Clean Water (ICCW), associated with IIT Madras, supports startups from conception to implementation, with alumni like Solinas and SmartTerra, mentioned above, gaining international recognition for their contributions. Similarly, the Global Sanitation Centre of Excellence (GSCOE), IIT Palakkad, focuses on advancing non-biological wastewater treatment solutions, IoT solutions, and nurturing innovative ventures like Haricken Process Intensification and T-CON UNIFLOW.

India’s progressive utilities, such as those in Chennai, Bengaluru and Bhubaneshwar, are transforming water and sanitation systems by embracing innovation in water reclamation, sludge processing, asset management, and NRW reduction, by collaborating with R&D institutions, capacity-building organisations, and startups. By adopting cutting-edge technologies and exploring new business models, such as carbon financing, they are addressing the need for sustainable, inclusive infrastructure in the face of rapid urbanisation.

This dynamic ecosystem of research, commercialisation, and implementation positions India as a leader in water management, blending local innovation with global best practices to tackle critical challenges. Additionally, the growing involvement of universities and young professionals connecting with global networks, including IWA, is advancing knowledge and driving sustainable solutions in the sector.

Establishment of student chapters

India’s water sector is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by young professionals and forward-thinking academic institutions eager to connect with global networks. IWA’s Young Water Professionals (YWP) India Chapter, established in 2022, is central to this change, offering mentorship, networking, and knowledge-sharing platforms to build a future-ready workforce for the country’s water challenges.

Universities from smaller cities, such as the Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology, NICMAR University and the Puducherry Technological University, are also joining this movement by establishing IWA Student Clubs. These clubs encourage discussion, leverage IWA’s global network, accessing experts and innovation, and enhance collaboration on water sector trends and challenges. This broad engagement reflects India’s commitment to inclusive development in the water sector.

Young professionals in India are also making their mark through active engagement in key IWA initiatives. Programmes such as the LeaP leadership programme for YWPs and the IWA-Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship are providing invaluable global exposure and practical insights. These opportunities not only enhance the professional capacity of YWPs but also empower them to contribute meaningfully towards achieving critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Engagement with the international community

India’s growing collaboration with IWA exemplifies its commitment to advancing water management through shared knowledge and innovation. By engaging with global expertise and contributing its own solutions, India is fostering a meaningful exchange that strengthens domestic initiatives while enriching the broader water community.

This is a dynamic partnership – one that is supporting India in its mission to adopt cutting-edge practice, address its pressing water challenges, and position itself as a leader in sustainable water management. Aided by immersion in the IWA network, we see that India provides a beacon of how countries in the Global South can transform water management in an agile environment, unhindered by traditional, inflexible, engineered solutions, and lead the way towards a sustainable, equitable, and resilient water future.

The author:

Kala Vairavamoorthy is the CEO of the International Water Association

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Developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as part of the US Department of Energy, the system could add the treatment of wastewater to the circular economy using what is known as hydrothermal processing. This processing method combines temperature, pressure and water to convert organic matter into forms of energy normally extracted through intense geological drilling techniques.

The system has been tested with more than 100 materials that include wastewater solids, food processing wastes, brewery wastes, animal wastes, and algae.

James Oyler, president of Genifuel, said hydrothermal processing (HTP) mimics the process by which fossil fuels are formed under Earth’s surface, meaning it has the ability to produce resources such as oil and gas in a fraction of the time without using heavy infrastructure or leaving a large carbon footprint.

“Fossil fuels are created when you have geological time and you have organic matter settling down into swamps and shallow lakes. After millions of years it builds up temperature and pressure and of course it’s wet and that starts the conversion into fossil petroleum and natural gas,” he said.

“In HTP the reactions and the products are similar, but we do it in an hour instead of millions of years.”

Oyler added that the fuels created through HTP can be used and mixed as effectively as their natural counterparts. Their production via the method also avoids excess residue, he said, a result typically very expensive to manage. He said the point of the system is not to increase the energy industry’s reliance on fossil fuels but to decrease the need to seek such resources while adding no further greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

Having trialed the system successfully with the help of its sponsor, the Water Research Foundation (WRF), Genifuel will demonstrate the system to delegates at next month’s forum with Oyler as its formal representative.

BlueTech Research convenes investors, water companies, researchers and regulators, and provides information including analysis of emerging water technology markets.

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Inhabited for 6,000 years, Aqaba sits at the point where Jordan reaches the Red Sea. Its beach resorts are popular for sunbathing and windsurfing, while the Yamanieh coral reef attracts scuba divers from around the world. Booming growth put these magnets at risk.

So to protect the quality of its marine environment and preserve the region’s attractiveness for tourism, the port city has committed to making huge investments into collection and treatment of 61,000 cubic metres per day from sewer and wastewater by 2030.

Aqaba’s resource recovery strategy generates US$4 million in income for the city, maintaining green areas and urban landscapes. Above all, it reduces carbon emission through enhanced operation and energy efficiency, as well as through production of carbon neutral power from solar farms and biogas. Ultimately, the city will recover 100 percent of its energy.

Aqaba was profiled at IWA’s Development Congress in Buenos Aires, among eight cities to illustrate the wastewater challenge and reuse opportunity. It demonstrated how transition to a circular economy is not limited to the “usual suspects” of pioneering cities such as Singapore or Stockholm.

Other cities that recover a significant portion of energy from wastewater include Bangkok (62 percent), Beijing (45 percent), Chennai (77 percent), and Kampala (227,000 Kwh/y).

The ‘zero discharge’ targets are ambitious, and policies must be targeted toward industry and backed by meaningful incentives. The global market for wastewater recycling and reuse should reach US$22.3 billion by 2021. New innovations in technology help open opportunities and make the transition affordable.

“Whilst the necessity of wastewater reuse in water scarce places like Aqaba is apparent,” observes the IWA’s soon to be released The Reuse Opportunity report, “cities everywhere are increasingly taking proactive actions to improve their water security. They are given greater autonomy; decision making is decentralised, and systems are being adapted to local drivers and demands.”

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Back in 2004, the founders of Facebook launched their service to a select group of university students. Fourteen years later and the social network platform has 2 billion users per month, revolutionising how we communicate and interact. For the water sector, these numbers and impact resonate: the Sustainable Development Goal target to provide universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2030 is thirteen years away from today, and the gap we need to bridge is just above the 2 billion mark for both safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Achieving this will revolutionise the lives of everyone who receives these services for the first time in their lives.

The usefulness of the comparison probably ends there, but it is striking to understand what can be achieved, at scale, in a relatively short space of time.

Targets within SDG6, the water goal, have two time horizons: 2020 for the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, and 2030 for the rest. Many people are skeptical about reaching such ambitious targets in this timeframe, notwithstanding the huge investments required to make it happen. But we have to be clear that the imperative is to make demonstrable progress, step-by-step. Transformational change will take decades.

Former US President, Bill Clinton, once said, “follow the trend lines, not the headlines”, which is instructive way of approaching the water and sanitation challenge of SDG6. We shouldn’t get too hung up on the timeframe–yes, it gives some urgency and impetus, but focus should be on locking in policies and practices that put us on the right track. We don’t have to look too far to find examples of such policies and practices:

• Improving access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation requires policies that embrace inclusivity and other dimensions of the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation; as well as practices that focus on risk management and mitigation, such as water safety plans and sanitation safety plans.
• Reducing the amount of untreated wastewater requires policies that enable and incentivise wastewater reuse and practices that embrace the circular economy.
• Addressing water scarcity requires policies that enable water quality requirements for different uses, promoting efficient use and practices that reduce water losses.

Rather than fretting on the achievability of the targets in their given timeframe, a focus on the ways and means would be time better spent by water professionals. Critical to this will be collaboration. Meaningful collaboration amongst individuals, across sectors and systems, will be the pathway to success. IWA supports this collaboration through our Specialist Groups, Governing Members and Programmes–working with members, partners and the water community at large to contribute to supporting and promoting the SDGs.

The growth of Facebook over the last 13 years, and its capacity to influence politics, business and society, shows what can be achieved. So can we reach universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030? Yes, it can be done, but let’s not allow the scale and timescales of the challenge prevent us from action. Let’s just get on with it and collaborate.

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“The IDB has the ability to help governments to work across sectors like energy, agriculture and water,” said Campos. “When we are asked to provide assistance in different projects we look from different angles and we help the countries to avoid working in silos and in a more multisectoral way.“

What are the regional trends for infrastructure development? Is it mega projects, or more decentralised solutions?

We have four main regional lines of work going on right now: access to water and sewage, wastewater treatment, rural water, and integrated water resource management. In terms of water and sanitation the challenge is to transition to smart water infrastructure like automatic metering and full automatisation and control of our systems through smart infrastructure.

Our region has made significant progress in terms of achieving access to safe water but if we apply the SDG criteria we’ll see that there are over 200 million people with non continuous service, not all water is potable. In terms of sanitation the main challenge is providing sanitation in peri urban areas and here, especially in the case of public utilities.

Not everything needs to be a conventional solution if we want to solve the issue of fecal sludge management. In the short term, options like condominial sewerage are among those our region needs to explore and consider. We have an initiative for optimal sanitation in which we try to implement different types of solution in order to address the needs of the population with secure and safe standards.

As for wastewater treatment, the key issue–especially for the areas with very little water–is reusing water, and for this we are promoting the adoption of circular economy models in the water and sanitation sector. In the case of integrated water resource management the key issue is the adoption of better technologies to conduct bette planning of the usage and allocation of our water resources. Technology is very important: we have an simulation modelling tool called HydroBID that has already mapped over 260 thousand water basins and their water availability. Why is this relevant? Because in Latin America 80 percent of the electricity comes from hydropower, 80 percent of our agriculture is rainfed, so we are highly dependent on our water resources and better planning will always yield better results.

How is IDB investing in watersheds and basins and how do you find the balance between biodiversity and economic development?

Our region is privileged in terms of water availability, we have one third of the global water resources and only eight percent of the world’s population. Hence, we have a tremendous potential to make gains from those water resources. We always try to strengthen the different aspects of watershed management, that is one of the biggest challenges that our region has. In addition, we need to emphasise good governance and institutionality, the legal framework and coordination among different stakeholders. A good example is the Latin America Water Funds Alliance, a public private partnership. It is a financing mechanism where we gather all sectors that have a heavy water footprint and that are interested in preserving our ecosystems. Here business meets science to come up with better practices to ensure that our watersheds are functioning well, this include watershed protection and conservation, changing patterns of agricultural production, reforestation. This has been a very successful initiative. We have been able to strengthen 22 funds in the region, benefitiating around 60 million people and leveraging more than US$120 million.

What are three success stories of the IDB in the water and sanitation sector?

We have many, but if we had to name the top three I would name the support we provided to SABESP (Company of Basic Sanitation of Sao Paulo) for the cleaning of the Tiete river, where we have invested more than one billion US dollars in over fifteen years. We have worked for over 35 years with the Public Enterprises of Medellín (EPM) (Colombia) in the cleaning of the Aburra river; we started with a master plan so all of the investments have been done in a very orderly way for water and sewage and then on to wastewater treatment, the latest phase that they are undergoing right now and that will allow them to treat nearly 99 percent of all of their wastewater. Another great project is the sanitation of the Montevideo Bay, in Uruguay where we have been working for almost 20 years with a master plan that determined a number of sequential investments that have resulted in a very successful outcome. Residents of Montevideo can now swim in its waters and enjoy the bay as an integral part of their environment.

Where can IDB enhance water security in ways that it could be difficult for the private sector or other development banks working in Latin America and the Caribbean to do so?

The IDB has the ability to help governments to work across sectors like energy, agriculture and water. When we are asked to provide assistance in different projects we look from different angles and we help the countries to avoid working in silos and in a more multisectorial way. The other area we emphasise is to leapfrog into technology. I have already mentioned HydroBID, a tool that allows us to do strategic planning through the use of rainfall data and calculations and digital maps of hundreds of thousands of water basins in the region. The main goal is to have a more holistic and comprehensive approach for water and sanitation in our region.

How is the IDB using the SDG framework for its water and sanitation portfolio?

There is international consensus that if we don’t comply with SDG 6 probably none of the other SDGs will be met. A great example of tools and initiatives that contribute to the 2030 Agenda is AquaRating, that the IDB has developed together with the International Water Association (IWA). AquaRating makes a significant contribution to improving utility performance and a roadmap to anticipate future challenges. The rating system allows for better planning and decision making processes for the utilities’ management to achieve sustainable and efficient outcomes. AquaRating is an international standard that enables water and sanitation operators to focus on the quality of the service they are providing.

As a standard, AquaRating sets the baseline for utilities to monitor their performance and plan for improvements. AquaRating offers a comprehensive, impartial and credible evaluation of the utilities’ performance and best management practices, based on three dimensions: (i) performance indicators; (ii) best practices; and (iii) reliability of information. The AquaRating system gives a detailed evaluation of 112 elements across eight key areas and validates information through an independent auditing process, enhancing accountability and transparency. The evaluation system has been tested in 13 utilities in 2014 in nine countries in Europe and Latin America and is currently being implemented through individual operators in Ecuador, El Salvador, Argentina and Spain and through government and financial institutions in Peru, Colombia and Mexico, Sierra Leone and Fiji.

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Infrequent or a lack of potable water supply has made wastewater reuse and recovery a method of choice for many across the globe. Whether it has been for hundreds of years like in Greek cities, or a new endeavor like in Dakar, Senegal, wastewater reuse and recovery is an important contribution to achieving SDG6 and enabling the circular economy. But, how can we scale up existing projects in the sector and ensure adequate financing to reinvigorate ageing and obsolete infrastructure?

At the IWA’s Water and Development Congress and Exhibition in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the IWA partnered with the World Bank, CAF–Development Bank of Latin America, and the IFC, International Finance Corporation, to host a Leaders Forum titled Wastewater as a Resource–Managing Wastewater towards Water-Wise Cities: Innovative Solutions for Engagement, Planning and Investment. During this Forum, experiences on planning and implementation, regulatory incentives, market conditions and institutional arrangements were shared between water leaders across the world, and IWA will launch the report Wastewater: the reuse opportunity, supported by OFID funding.

With so many different factors to take into account, how can urban leaders begin to achieve the wastewater revival? Through true collaboration–a word often used, but rarely implemented to its fullest. City leaders, regulators, basin agencies and utilities must all come together to seize the reuse opportunity of wastewater. They need to understand the benefits that come from safe wastewater reuse and recovery, such as “turning waste into a product, creating new businesses, reducing pollution and making cities more resource efficient.”

Before uniting to achieve positive impacts, stakeholders must also grasp the needs of others and the issue at hand. Motivation to act comes from the realisation of urgency, so proper communication is vital to the successful implementation of a project. Wastewater reuse and recovery is, aptly, the 2017 theme of UN-Water–a leading issue worldwide. As such, many organisations, private companies, governments and more are looking for ways to solve the wastewater issues–getting the message out loud and clear.

The IWA Principles for Water-Wise Cities are just one way of aligning the visions of the many different urban stakeholders towards reuse and recovery amongst other things. As mentioned by Stuart Waters, Managing Director of Twyfords, “co-defining the dilemma across stakeholders is an essential component of collaboration.” For city leaders and utilities, it is about ensuring public health and safe quantities of potable water, for regulators it is making policies and standards that advance public interest, for basin agencies–it is about the larger scale and ensuring the health and quality of the watershed, and for financiers, it is about ensuring that loans can be paid back and increasing returns on investment.

Cities can take the lead towards the resource revolution, empowering other stakeholders along the way. Many cities have already taken charge and are combining forces in order to deliver sustainable solutions. One such city is Kampala, Uganda, where the Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) have formed a partnership to improve services across the city, including the reuse of sludge, as well as producing biogas, from wastewater treatment plants. Another example of collaboration comes from the city of Oslo, Norway, where city officials, public transit and utilities came together to power buses with biomethane.

This poo-to-pump initiative demonstrates how a key issue, air pollution, can lead to win-win scenarios for all in the city. Waternet in Amsterdam has identified that grinding foodwaste, like in the US, would enable a saving in solid waste management, while increasing the efficiency of the biogas production at the wastewater treatment plant. However, regulations do not allow this. Increasing collaboration and knowledge exchange are ways to influence regulatory bodies to enable the reuse opportunity.

Aligning leaders along a common vision is challenging and potentially time consuming, but once true collaboration is achieved, the possibilities for positive impacts are endless. Collaboration is key to solving complex issues and building long-lasting relationships. Wastewater reuse and recovery can become commonplace in cities all over the world.

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