World Environment Day 2023: fighting plastic waste in water
Since 1973, June 5 has been designated as World Environment Day. This year, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, plastic pollution—one of the most serious problems we face—is being highlighted.
According to Jean-Luc Assi, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development of Côte d’Ivoire, the event’s host nation, “the scourge of plastic pollution is a visible threat that impacts every community around the world.”
The production of plastic has increased by around 9.2 billion tonnes since 1950, and this has led to the creation of about 6.9 billion tonnes of primary plastic waste, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Additionally, more than 75% of this plastic garbage was thrown away and ended up in landfills, dumps, poorly controlled or managed waste streams, or in the natural environment, including the oceans. Not to add, according to the UN, people ingest around 50,000 plastic particles annually, and even more if breathed particles are taken into account.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, with a focus on plastic pollution
Furthermore, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic are generated year around the world, with half of it intended for single-use, according to UNEP’s 2021 report Drowning in Plastics – Marine Litter and Plastic Waste.
Although these worrisome numbers demonstrate that plastic pollution is not a new issue, it is currently estimated that between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic from land-based sources enter aquatic environments each year, including lakes, rivers, and seas.
From pollution to solution
According to UNEP, decades of economic progress and an increase in the use of throwaway plastics have led to a flood of mismanaged garbage being dumped into waterways and other bodies of water, mostly harming aquatic flora and fauna and costing nations’ economies millions of dollars in losses.
The eleven million tonnes of plastic that enter the ocean year now, if we continue at the current rate and do not discover solutions, is predicted to triple in the next twenty years.
The European Commission adopted a strategy in 2018 to improve plastic management in the EU in an effort to combat plastic pollution. The policy asks for all plastic packaging to be recyclable by 2030, as well as a decrease in the consumption of single-use plastics and the usage of microplastics.
It is difficult, but not impossible, to solve the issue, which has evolved into a global crisis demanding both urgent and sustained attention and action.
We have the essential knowledge, but we also need governments to act quickly and with political will to confront it, amplify it, and execute effective targeted remedies based on scientific advancements.
In the study Turning off the Tap: How the world can eliminate plastic pollution and establish a circular economy, published in May of last year, the UN provided a plan for addressing global plastic pollution.
It involves using a circular strategy to stop plastic from getting into our bodies, ecosystems, and the economy: Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, stated during her presentation that “the way we produce, use, and dispose of plastics is polluting ecosystems, creating risks for human health, and destabilizing the climate.”
In this regard, the UN asserts that a move to a circular economy can cut the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the oceans by more than 80% by 2040, cut the production of virgin plastic by 55%, save governments US$70 billion by 2040, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, and create 700,000 more jobs, mostly in the developing world.
Source: World Environment Day
National Water Company to award $100 million contract for Riyadh Water Strategic Plan Phase
According to Utilities Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company will award a sizable engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract worth over $100 million.
According to sources, this contract, also known as Contract Number 5 – Phase 1, is the start of the Riyadh Water Strategic Plan’s second phase.
The EPC contract will reportedly be assigned by the fourth quarter of 2023, according to sources close to the NWC. Installing a network of cutting-edge main water pipelines of 48 kilometers in length is part of the innovative project.
The project’s pipelines will be built utilizing modern ductile iron pipes in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1000 mm down to 300 mm, and will be finished by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Source: Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company
Spain’s Carboneras desalination plant goes out to tender for €40.4 million
According to Europa Press, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food has awarded a contract worth 40.4 million euros ($43.1 million) for the enhancement of the Carboneras desalination plant’s energy efficiency in Almera, in the south of Spain.
The project intends to reduce energy usage in the desalination process by replacing the facility’s outdated turbines with more energy-efficient ones.
It will take 48 months to complete and have a daily treatment capacity of 120,000 cubic meters. The update will include reducing the twelve production lines from now to five, each with a capacity that is double.
To guarantee a constant water supply, the improvements will be made gradually. The agreement covers the provision, setup, and adjustment of mechanical and electrical equipment as well as any necessary alterations to current facilities.
Through Next Generation grants, the project is funded.
Source: Europa Press.
Six trends shaping the world’s water planning needs
The World Economic Forum has identified the water problem as one of the major global threats. We cannot allow supply networks to leak up to 350 billion liters of freshwater every single day.
The UN reports that between now and 2050, water demand is predicted to increase by up to 55%, placing ongoing strain on this resource. 3.9 billion people, or 40% of the world’s population, will experience water stress, according to the report.
The ineffective management of water resources in many nations is highlighted in the report as a major factor in “environmental degradation, including depletion of aquifers, reduction of river flows, degradation of wildlife habitats, and pollution.”
Idrica claims that in order to address these issues, water planning—understood as the fundamental technique for effectively managing and allocating available water resources—is increasingly playing a key role.
The World Bank promotes the use of technology to increase the security of access to water, emphasizing the need to investigate investments in cutting-edge technologies to boost productivity and conserve and safeguard resources.
Information systems for resource monitoring have already been identified as a growing field of technology.
Six water planning trends
Initiatives that promote a more sustainable use of water resources are being implemented more frequently as a result of demographic, population, and climate change trends.
In keeping with this, Idrica identifies six areas that are facilitating effective water resource management through sound water planning:
1- Effective aquifer management and monitoring. The majority (99%) of the liquid freshwater on Earth is in the form of groundwater, according to the UNESCO. Half of the water used for residential purposes also comes from groundwater, with 25% of the total water extracted going toward cultivation.
Aquifers are a crucial resource that are now being used in many regions of the world, but they are at risk of being overexploited due to mounting strain on them.
In many instances, there is also a dearth of networks to monitor the resources that are accessible as well as inadequate awareness of those resources.
Miren Aldecoa, Operations PMO at Idrica, stated that “durable and effective resource management requires control systems based on comprehensive sensor networks.
” These enable their integration with surface water control systems, where both types of resources are controlled together, and offer real-time information on the primary levels and quality characteristics of the water bodies.
2- Increasing distribution system efficiency. According to Idrica, this is an effective driver in achieving other objectives: better performing distribution systems bring greater resource availability, enhancing water security and making it more accessible, thus cutting the distribution and treatment costs of the water supplied.
3- Reuse. We must focus on the possibility of water reuse as an alternative in a world where water supplies are running out.
The benefits of this strategy are clear: improving the water security of uses where recycled resources are an option, enhancing water treatment and purification processes (promote the circular economy throughout the water cycle), and lowering the water and carbon footprint of many of our activities.
The issue in this case is to guarantee both the quantity and the quality of the effluent to be recycled, according to Miren Aldecoa.
4-utilization of unconventional resources. There is little doubt that using unconventional resources has become a crucial trend in water planning, especially considering the significance of desalination.
Its main drawback, expensive installation and operational expenses, can be lessened by using technology once more. The Idrica specialist noted that the employment of machine learning methods and digital twins in plants, along with automation and operation support systems, applied to the enormous flow of data given by operational plants, has great potential.
5-Water weather forecast and warning information systems. Extreme event management, including the control of droughts and floods, is a critical component of water planning processes.
Idrica asserts that “the effective use of historical and real-time information and its analysis using conventional water analysis techniques, approaches based on the use of data science tools, or a combination of both is key to improving decision-making in challenging environments to conserve and protect resources.”
6- Information systems for citizens. Thanks to technological advancements, people have access to tools that give them information fast and directly.
A supporting tool to more conventional planning methods is the availability of data on consumption and savings generated through the implementation of certain measures, such as gamification, along with fundamental knowledge of the resources available (reservoir levels, etc.).
These themes, together with early warning systems, security, water reuse, and process automation and optimization, are a component of the water management transformation analysis Idrica offered in its most recent publication, “Water Technology Trends 2023: The Impact of Innovation in the Water Sector.”
Source: Idrica
Global hydropower capacity grows by 34 GW in past year
Over 34 GW of new, environmentally friendly hydroelectric capacity, including over 10 GW of pumped storage, were put into service in 2022.
The addition of more over 30 GW of new capacity in a single year hasn’t happened since 2016 for the first time. Currently, more than 15% of the electricity in the globe is produced by hydropower.
The International Hydropower Association (IHA), a non-profit membership organization with global hydropower leaders like GE, Engie, CTG, and EDF as members, published the findings in the first World Hydropower Outlook.
The report also highlights the pipeline of 590 GW worth of capacity currently under construction.
Despite positive signs that governments, business, and other key stakeholders are beginning to recognize the importance of hydropower in the future electrical grids, there is still a sizable capacity gap.
According to recent estimates, the 2050 net zero targets will not be reached even if all planned initiatives are completed. This is almost equal to the combined electricity generation capacity of Japan and India.
“Sustainable hydropower is a modern, cost-effective, clean, and eco-friendly way to combat climate change. However, the market cannot provide enough hydroelectric capacity by itself.
According to the report, it is critical that we encourage the development of sustainable hydropower through financial and market mechanisms that reward adaptability, hasten the deployment of renewable energy sources through simplified permitting and licensing processes, and incorporate sustainable hydropower practices into governmental regulation, according to Eddie Rich, CEO of IHA.
The Outlook lays forth a practical schedule that will allow hydropower and other renewable sources to meet net zero targets.
We urge governments to take into account the Outlook’s suggestions in order to accelerate the development of sustainable hydropower.
While China added 24 GW to its hydroelectric capacity, maintaining its dominance in the industry, Europe had a record-breaking year, seeing its capacity increase by 3 GW. Nearly 2 GW was installed in central and southern Asia, including sizable projects in Pakistan (Karot, 720 MW) and India (Bajoli Holi, 180 MW), while North and South America each added an extra 1 GW of capacity.
“IHA estimated that a yearly investment of US$100 billion would be needed to reach net zero targets. Current investment levels, however, are around half of this amount.
According to Malcolm Turnbull, a former Australian prime minister, “governments need to analyze their overall energy needs, including long-term storage, and develop financial mechanisms that encourage investment in hydropower, as we’ve seen with the US’s IRA and the EU’s Green Deal. “A larger push is needed to fulfill global targets, even though the figures are now trending in the right way.
The first edition of the World Hydropower Outlook is released in advance of the biennial World Hydropower Congress of the IHA, which will be held in Bali from October 31 to November 2.
There will be more than 1,000 decision-makers, innovators, and specialists present from business, government, finance, civil society, and academia.
Source: International hydropwer association
Xylem’s ultrasonic water meter helps transform customer service for North American utilities
Largest water users often come from commercial and industrial (C&I) firms because they require dependable water access to operate. For this specific client segment, accurate tracking is necessary to prevent water loss and guarantee cost-effectiveness.
Enter Cordonel®, a cutting-edge ultrasonic C&I water meter from Sensus, a Xylem trademark, with patented technology that accurately measures flows of low to large volumes.
In order to deliver reliable readings in real time, the special flow tube smoothly interfaces with the FlexNet® communication network and contains three measurement channels to catch every drop.
According to Mike McGann, senior vice president and head of Xylem Americas, Measurement and Control Solutions, “water utilities are at a moment of opportunity.” “Digital solutions have the potential to transform water systems and the communities they serve,” according to Cordonel.
Beyond measurement: Digitizing the water system
Incorporating temperature and pressure data, Cordonel is more than just a meter; it’s a sensor that enables the digitalization of water distribution systems and helps utilities meet customer expectations.
When safely transferred, this useful data enables utilities to improve operational visibility, balance pressure levels, and preserve water quality.
As more individuals get used to living their lives online and getting information instantly, “customer expectations are changing,” according to McGann. “Utilities and their largest customers can keep a precise pulse on each and every drop of water being used with Cordonel C&I meters and a dependable communication network.”
Robust and reliable
Almost every commercial, industrial, or agricultural need can be handled by a Cordonel meter, including vertical or horizontal pipe orientations without the need for straight upstream or downstream pipe (also known as U0D0) for convenience of installation. Over the course of its 20-year lifespan, this durable solid-state gadget offers a dependable maintenance-free solution because it lacks any moving parts.
Application benefits
The Cordonel C&I meter enables a rich portfolio of applications, including:
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Automated Meter Reading data
- Precise high and low water flow measurement
- Leak detection
- Control of industrial processes using a pulse output
- Rich data for District Metered Area (DMA) applications
- Pressure and temperature monitoring
Source: Xylem Inc
ACWA Power inaugurates solar-powered Jubail 3A desalination plant
After receiving the commercial operation certificate from Saudi Water Partnership Co. (SWPC), ACWA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor, and operator of power generation, water desalination, and green hydrogen plants worldwide, along with its partners Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and AlBawani Water & Power Company (AWP), officially inaugurated Jubail 3A independent water desalination plant (Jazlah Water Desalination Company) today. The Jazlah firm project was unveiled in the presence of His Excellency Eng. and was the first of its kind in the Kingdom thanks to its integration with PV solar electricity.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Water Partnership Company is Abdulrahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli.
Using seawater from the Arabian Gulf, the $650 million Jazlah firm project in Jubail set a remarkable world efficiency record of 2.8 kWh/cubic meter of water.
With a production capacity of 600,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day to address rising water demands, the ground-breaking initiative is the first Independent Water initiative (IWP) in the eastern region.
Jazlah includes a 45.5 MW solar PV power generation facility that will supply 20% of the plant’s energy needs. This project will use reverse osmosis to provide clean water to over three million people at a record-breaking cost of 0.41 USD/m3.
The Honorable The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have consistently paid attention to the water sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to Eng.
Abdulrahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Water Partnership Company.
The $650 million Jazlah company project, located in Jubail, has achieved an exceptional world efficiency record of 2.8 kWh/cubic metre of water using Arabian Gulf Seawater
According to His Excellency Eng. Al-Fadhli, these projects are necessary to carry out the goals and aims of the National Water Strategy, which include increasing private sector involvement in water production projects and distributing drinking water to all of the Kingdom’s areas.
His Excellency went on to explain that the project will directly address the need in the Riyadh and Qassim regions in addition to developing this crucial industry and raising the standard of services provided in it.
Additionally, it will increase its contribution to the development of the sector, which is one of the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, by maximizing expenditure efficiency and utilizing the private sector’s expertise in building, operation, and management.
Utilizing cutting-edge PV and RO technologies, the plant will reduce carbon emissions by 60,000 tons annually, promoting steady social and economic progress in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
With a total investment of SAR 1.5 billion, the project achieved 40% local content, further highlighting ACWA Power’s commitment to the expansion of the Saudi domestic ecosystem of suppliers and manufacturers.
Additionally, the initiative employs only Saudi citizens and furthers the development of a knowledgeable and trained labor force through a cooperative university program that brings students from prestigious universities to the plant for training. Students who participate in this program get fundamental knowledge and abilities that enable them to move into the workforce after graduation.
A development consortium made up of AlBawani Water & Power Company (AWP) (19.8%), Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), and ACWA Power (40.2%) completed the Jazlah Company project successfully. SWPC is the offtaker, and the EPC consortium consisting of Power China, Sepco III, Lantania, and Abengoa carried out the project’s implementation.
Engineer Khalid Al-Quraishi, CEO of Saudi Water Partnership Company, said, “Today, we proudly introduce the Jazlah desalination plant, a key milestone in the water sector.
This project, which has a daily output capacity of 600,000 cubic meters and the lowest cost per cubic metre in the world at 1.54 riyal, is the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) desalination effort in the Eastern area.
The consortium made up of ACWA Power, Gulf Investment Corporation, and Al Bawani Water and Electricity Company, which toiled assiduously over a trying 30-month period to bring this plant into operation, is to be commended for their commitment and cooperation on this amazing achievement.
Al-Quraishi also emphasized the plant’s dedication to sustainability, adding, “Jazlah generates 45.5 MW of solar PV power through the use of green energy, resulting in reduced carbon emissions and a significant decrease in grid electricity use. The facility works at a remarkable 2.8 kWh/cubic metre energy efficiency rate.
The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture’s steadfast dedication and the cooperation of all public and private players are key factors in this project’s success. By assuring their dependability and high quality while reducing environmental effect, we seek to improve and sustain water supplies.
Together with our partners, we are excited to officially open the Jazlah Company Water Desalination Plant. According to Mr. Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ACWA Power, this is the most recent project of this caliber that demonstrates our global leadership in water desalination and our steadfast dedication to cost leadership, social prosperity, and national development.
The Jazlah business plant, a proud addition to our water desalination portfolio, will contribute significantly to the Kingdom’s water security in the years to come, helping to combat climate change and meet sustainable development goals for a growing population.
He continued, “We would want to offer our profound gratitude and appreciation to those who have assisted us during the design, building, and commissioning phases.
We now anticipate effectively operating it as we advance and complete further projects around Saudi Arabia, beginning with the Rabigh 4 facility that ACWA Power was recently granted.
“We are thrilled to continue our involvement in the growth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, energy, and desalination industries.
According to Mr. Ibrahim Ali AlQadhi, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Investment Corporation, “The Jazlah Company Water Desalination Plant is a Pioneer Investment due to the usage of State-of-the-Art Desalination Solutions as well as Utilizing Renewable Energy Sources that Would Directly and Indirectly Enhance Energy Diversification for the Kingdom.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Saudi Water Partnership Company for its ongoing initiatives to attract local, regional, and international developers and investors to participate in the Kingdom’s water sector and use the latest technology,” he continued.
The project for the Jazlah company was started during the Covid period, however Eng. Fakher AlShawaf, chairman of the board of directors of AlBawani Holding, said, “We are very proud of delivering the Jazlah company project on time.” “It was a difficult project, and the crew accomplished a great amount.
This initiative serves as an example of how the public and private sectors can collaborate to deliver services quickly and at a reasonable cost.
The development of the water sector into a sustainable one that safeguards water resources, defends the environment, and offers safe, secure, and effective services through increasing private sector participation and contributions is a national objective under Saudi Vision 2030.
The Jazlah business facility will support ACWA Power’s initiatives in this area and motivate additional RO desalination projects that boost the water industry, generate new employment opportunities, and satisfy Saudi Arabia’s daily water needs.
Source: ACWA Power
Egypt will offer its first package of desalination projects to the private sector in Q3 2023
According to Sayed Ismail, the deputy minister of housing for infrastructure affairs, in an interview with Asharq Business on Tuesday, Egypt intends to make its first set of seawater desalination facilities available to the private sector in Q3 2023.
The nation intends to establish 29 water desalination projects as part of its long-term goal to expand the production of desalinated water, according to an article published by ZAWYA.
The Ministry of Housing, the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE), and other specialists are working together to draft the documentation for the projects’ initial package, which will be available in the following three to four months.
Ismail also said that Egypt has set six five-year water desalination plans extending to 2050. Furthermore, the first plan targets a 3.3 million cubic meter of desalinated water, with the aim of reaching 5.9 million cubic meters.
With an anticipated $8 billion investment, Egypt is on track to reach a total desalination capacity of about 8.8 million cubic meters per day (m3/day) by 2050.
Beginning in the month of May, the nation prequalified 17 consortiums to be invited to the tendering procedure for the construction of a number of seawater desalination facilities powered by renewable energy sources in various parts of Egypt as part of the program’s initial phase.
Source: ZAWYA
Saudi Arabia’s Marafiq and SWCC complete a $2.65 million dollar water project
According to ZAWYA, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) and the Power and Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu in Saudi Arabia (Marafiq) have successfully completed a water connectivity project.
According to a statement Marafiq sent to the Saudi stock exchange on Thursday, the project will link a two-way water transmission line to provide Yanbu Industrial City with desalinated water.
The project cost, according to the announcement, was 9.93 million Saudi riyals ($2.65 million), split equally between the two businesses.
Both parties stand to gain significantly from the project, which makes it easier to transfer excess water and maximize asset use.
These initiatives will increase future benefits, highlighting the project’s significance.
Source: ZAWYA
Rio Tinto plans to invest $395 million in a seawater desalination plant in Western Australia
For its coastal activities and the communities in the area, Rio Tinto intends to invest $395 million in a seawater desalination facility in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
The proposed Dampier Seawater Desalination Plant will be situated within Rio Tinto’s current iron ore port operations at Parker Point, subject to permission from the Commonwealth and State Governments.
With the ability to grow to eight gigalitres in the future, it will initially have a nominal yearly capacity of four gigalitres. To link to the current water network, a new supply pipeline is being built as part of the project.
Construction is anticipated to start in 2024, and the facility is anticipated to be operational and producing water in 2026, subject to necessary permissions. About 300 employment are anticipated to be supported by the project at its busiest.
Rio Tinto would like to thank the Ngarluma people, on whose traditional lands the plant will be built, and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, who represent the five traditional owner groups in the area. Rio Tinto has been in contact with all associated traditional owners and custodians regarding the project.
Rio Tinto’s coastal villages and operations will get the water from the plant through the Water Corporation-owned and -operated West Pilbara Water Supply Scheme.
Reverse osmosis will be used at the facility to remove salt and other contaminants from ocean water. The factory will be built on previously reclaimed ground.
In order to minimize disruption to the neighborhood, it will make use of existing infrastructure at the company’s Parker Point facilities and is close to the current Water Corporation network.
We are aware that water is a limited resource, especially in the Pilbara, according to Simon Trott, Chief Executive Officer of Rio Tinto Iron Ore.
We are happy that new desalination plant will assist provide a steady supply for communities in the West Pilbara that Rio Tinto supplies as well as for our coastal activities.
Source: Rio Tinto
