ReNUWIt A National Science Foundation, John E. McCray, PhD - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Re-inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure

ReNUWIt

A National Science Foundation, Engineering Research Center

John E. McCray, PhD

ReNUWIt

• Collaboration among four universities engaged

in long-term research

• Research that spans from the fundamental to

the test-bed to the systems-level

• Outcomes that translate to practice
• Informed by understanding of institutional

frameworks

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The S anitation Paradigm of the Ancients

 Engineered wat er supply during t he Roman Empire (~600 B.C.)

River Tiber Cloaca Maxima

Import t he wat er Use it once Flush away wast e Discharge t o st reams

The S anitation Paradigm of the 19t h Century

 Wat er supply during “ modern” t imes

Natural Resources Defense Council (2004). Energy Down the Drain. The Hidden Costs of California’s Water Supply.

California S tate Water Proj ect (444 miles)

• Largest single user of energy in CA; 2-3%
• f

entire state energy demand

Import t he wat er Use it once Flush away wast e Discharge t o st reams

• Increases in population will stress our resources
• Increasing contributions of municipal effluents and run-off in surface water

Populations are Shifting to Urban Areas

Threats to Water S upply – Populations moving to Water S carce Regions

Population trends 1970 – 2030Increase 50 – 250 %

US Census, 2002 Decrease 20-40% Population trends 1970 – 2030 Increase 50 – 250%

Estimated Water Runoff Changes 2041-2060 relative to 1901-1970

P.C.D. Milly, USGS, 2005 % on map: agreement among 24 GCMs as to decrease or increase

Reuse seems inevitable, but we must overcome barriers

S

• cial, policy, and legal (S

PL) barriers for direct potable reuse (DPR), but even for indirect and non-potable re-use. $$$ for Wastewater treatment plants to retrofit $$$ for dual-distribution systems One effluent quality limits options for reuse Amenable customers not always co-located with plants.

ReNUWIt ERC

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SF Bay Area CO Front Range CO Front Range Tailored Water Test Bed Water Reuse & Ecosystem Benefits

Urban Systems: Social, policy, legal barriers

Engineered Systems Smart Urban Water Grids Managed Natural Systems Stormwater as drinking water resource, clean water leaving cities

CO Front Range SF Bay Area

Energy-Positive WWT, DPR

Los Angeles

What are the opportunities?

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Denver San Fran

U.S. Population projected to increase ~ 50 % by 2050.

• Aging infrastructure can’t handle it
• Blue infrastructure /sustainability/ recreation is marketable
• Incentivises decentralized sustainable water-energy systems

Engineered Systems Long-term vision:

Integrated resource & energy recovery

Energy

Nitrogen & phosphorus recovery Soil Organic Matter

Materials Solid Organic Wastes Solids removal Fresh water

Anaerobic digestion or gasification

Wastewater

Anaerobic treatment

Advanced

• xidation

Nitrogen & phosphorus recovery

Fertilizer

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Tailored to a specific use

Natural Systems

Smart Urban Water Grids

Storm-water: Collect, store, clean, use Cleaner water flowing through and leaving

• ur cities

Social, economic and health benefits

Actively Managed Surface Waters Subsurface Treatment & Storage Urban Drool

Urban Systems: Identify and Overcome SPR Barriers

Old WWTP in Pacifica, CA

• Activated sludge
• Ocean outfall

New WWTP in Pacifica, CA

• Newer Technology
• Discharge to ocean, create blue-

green infrastructure.

Middle of human habitat, no benefits to ecosystem Wildlife, aesthetic, recreational, water quality improvement

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