Observational Capabilities to Capture Water Cycle Event Dynamics and Impacts in the Age of AI

This paper describes the introduction of water demand management in the southern African context. Originally a response to drought conditions, water demand management is now a key element in Rand Water's strategy of water cycle management - a mix of interventions that (holistically and continuously) keep the water industry viable and sustainable. This experience points to awareness and community education programmes being an essential companion to the technical interventions such as leakage reduction measures.

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Pressure management in Waitakere City, New Zealand - a case study

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2003.0096 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 3 (1-2) ◽

pp. 135-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Z. Pilipovic ◽

R. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Water Loss ◽

Water Cycle ◽

Demand Management ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Water Shortage ◽

Design Tool ◽

Network Computer ◽

Water Pipeline ◽

The City

In 1996, as part of Waitakere Council’s Water Cycle Strategy, a pressure standardisation programme to permanently lower the average supply pressure citywide was implemented with the aim of reducing water loss and water use. The experience gained during the 1994/95 Auckland water shortage had confirmed that there was considerable scope to reduce pressures in many areas. Since 1996 water pressures have been reduced in over 60% of the reticulated area of the city, with the average pressure reduced from 710 kPa to 540 kPa. As a result of this programme water loss from the network has been reduced, there has been a reduction in the frequency of mains breaks and it is likely that the life of water pipeline assets has been extended. Furthermore both pressure and demand management initiatives have reduced per capita water use in the city by more than 10%. A network computer model was used as a design tool to check the network under various pressure regimes and cost benefit analyses were carried out for various design scenarios. Fire sprinkler systems were checked as part of the design process. Minimum service standards were not reduced and in some cases pressures were actually increased. This paper covers the various aspects of the design, the implementation and the results of the pressure standardisation programme.

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Management of Water Cycle: An Approach to Urban Ecology

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.1992.016 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 221-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

W. Ripl

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Water Cycle ◽

Cooling System ◽

Thermal Power ◽

Sewage Treatment ◽

Balance Sheet ◽

River System ◽

Soil Restoration ◽

Environmental Damage

Abstract Densely populated urban areas, which have developed over the last century, depend heavily on centralized water supply, sewage treatment plants, and hydroelectric or thermal power generation with vast demand of cooling water. Considerable areas have been drained or sealed, and the short-circuited water cycle has been distorted. Large rivers have been converted to shipping canals with the permanent risk of accidental pollution. Technical means such as sewage treatment, air filters, emission control and lake and soil restoration measures have contributed to correct the environmental damage. However, a balance sheet for irreversible matter losses (mainly base cation charges) from the urbanized areas and the surrounding landscape into the sea shows ever-increasing trends. These losses are destabilizing the ecosystems. In this paper, management of the water cycle in urban areas, together with the coupled matter cycles, is discussed. Particular reference is given to Metropolitan Berlin, with a network of shipping canals, which move biologically treated waste, containing base cations and nutrients to the surrounding rural areas. This could create manageable productive wetlands and re-establish soil fertility. At the same time, the natural cooling system close to the urban areas will be improved by providing more areas with permanent vegetation. In addition, reduction of the present large oscillations of the groundwater table, resulting from groundwater pumping and its recharge with less polluted surface water, is contemplated. The widely used shoreline infiltration of the Havel River should then be eliminated and the severe damage of the littoral vegetation in large sections of the Havel River system be avoided.

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