Dealing With The Results Of Mismanagement:

Due to the lack of foresight and poor management of the water cycle as a whole, the following damages are recurring with increasing frequency:

  • Water rationing even in countries with rainy climates;
  • Destructive flooding;
  • Destructive landslides;
  • Potable water poisoning;
  • Broken pipes;
  • …and so on …

Many rainy countries experience summer water rationing after rainy winters with floods. This is in part due to the fact that little is done to slow down and collect the storm-water which ends up at sea within a few hours.

Many of the urban modifications have had the effect of increasing the speed of water flow, which makes the water more destructive and does not allow it to seep into the water tables. The end result of all the urban investments is, as could have been expected, a water shortage.

Today water is wasted and used as if it had no value because the price we pay for water is artificially low. For example, potable water is used to flush toilets – as if it was ok to clean the toilets using “Perrier” or “Evian” bottled water.

The alternative would be to use pre-used and treated grey water. However, communities have typically not invested in building a second distribution network because the price of water is too low to make it profitable.

However, if the price of water is raised to reflect its true cost, then the poorest parts of the population would have no water. It is not possible to allow this to happen, for obvious reasons.


GPE Integrated Water-System Solutions:

To optimize the water network 4 complete water distribution and management networks are needed:

  • The Potable water distribution network (the historical network in existence);
  • The Grey water distribution network (bathroom, kitchen and treated water);
  • The Black water collection network (toilets, industrial …);
  • The Storm water collection network.

Please Note: The Grey water is originally Potable water from the bathroom and kitchen, which has been used and collected separately, sent to the treatment plant, then sent back to homes and business premises for use in toilets and gardens.

Please Note: The storm water network should include on-site retention and management. It has been demonstrated that up to 50 % of rain water can be collected and used on-site with the proper investments. This will facilitate the development of “Green Cities” with a higher quality of life rating.


To Truly Manage Water We Need To Pay Attention To The Complete Water Cycle And Its Ecosystem:

Substantial investments must be made in the catchment area in addition to human dwelling areas. Rain and storm water must be slowed down and forcibly stored in thousands of small retention basins and underground cavities or reservoirs in addition to the natural water tables. The techniques to do this are well known, but not extensively used because of cost.

The use of Dams is not necessarily the best option because of the extensive evaporation and silting on the dam floor. In some regions evaporation from a hot atmosphere takes away 2 meters of height, per year, over the whole surface area of the dam. Silt which is stopped and retained by the dam is neutralizing a huge quantity of natural fertilizer downstream.


Managing The Whole Water Ecosystem Means Managing Agriculture Water Usage And Minimizing Wasteful Irrigation Techniques:

Agriculture is one of the greatest users of Water. Efficient irrigation techniques are readily available but are not necessarily in use everywhere, particularly in so-called wet climates, which nevertheless suffer from droughts and subsequent water rationing.

In many areas, the increasing salinity of soils must be given special attention and remediation techniques must be implemented without delay.


Managing The Whole Water Ecosystem Means Developing Agro-Forestry And Managing The Forest:

Please Note: Describing in detail the demonstrated impact of both sciences goes beyond the scope of this writing.

The Ecosystem includes the water above ground, flowing through the catchment area and also the water underground. In the holistic strategy the active management of the underground water tables must be included. In some cases we must plan for “water dams” must be planned to stop spreading salinity within the underground water table.

Maintenance of the systems must be planned and funded on a 30 year basis. Extensive Research must be funded to detect and filter dangerous chemicals, metallic substances and the increasing diversity of Pharmaceuticals.

Because of lack of funding and inadequate regulations in many areas, the testing standards do not identify many toxic substances, which are then ingested by humans and infants in drinking so-called potable water. This research and testing effort must be funded and performed on a permanent basis.

The GPE Solution: GPE proposes a long term solution to the water crisis by synergizing a multi-disciplinary holistic strategy and management approach, which includes the complete ecosystem, above-ground and under-ground. This incorporates land usage as well as the design of Smart Green Cities for a higher quality of Life. The Funding will come from historical sources and Financial Management through the Financial Markets as described elsewhere.


 

If you require further information, please contact Global Project Engineering.


Global Project Engineering
1 Carrefour de Rive
1207 Geneva – Switzerland
Tel : + 41 22 735 7900
Email: nesterenko@globalprojectengineering.com