The Future of Third Pipe System - Case Study Example

The Future of Third Pipe System By: Institution: Course: Instructor: Date of submission: A third pipe system Third pipe system entails development linked to recycled water. It is also a form of a commercially-generated recycled water system in which non-portable water by the providers of services to a household as well as industrial use passes through. It is also a system providing a non-portable and reticulated supply of water and utilizes various sets of pipes. Examples of non-portable residential utilization of water include toilet flushing and garden watering. Several households are linked to the third pipe system. The system is also utilized to ensure a supply of untreated ground water for the use outdoor as well as for irrigation by the public. Finally, the third pipe system is used for the delivery of alternate water (Lane, Haas, & Lant, 2012, p. 17). Quality and sources of water Melbourne is one of the regions with quality drinking water in the globe. However, the quality differs depending on the area. The region’s water supplies recycle water to companies retailing water, who then ensure the distribution to the customers. The recycled water is safe for outdoor purpose as it meets the Department of Health and EPA Victoria requirements. Being a dry area, alternate water mainly through recycling is essential for outdoor uses. Most of the water are primarily from protected as well as remote catchments meaning that minimal treatment is required. About 70 percent of Melbourne's population have their water from open sources, and the water is disinfected. The management of the filtration plants for water is by Melbourne Water. The plants ensure the removal of harmful microorganisms as well as sediments from drinking water. Once the treatment is done, the next step is disinfection of the same. Melbourne Water is also active in ensuring that the supplied water is at its highest quality by providing a continuous improvement of the process of disinfection. The quality of the drinking water is essential to the satisfaction of the customers (Melbourne Water Corporation 2011, p. 3). Case Studies Case One Aurora is a large scale as well as a residential third pipe system in Victoria. It was the first third pipe system in Victoria and among the first in Australia. The water re-use scheme of Aurora is a part of Greenfield housing development in the Northern urban fringe of Melbourne, in the City of Whittlesea. The launching of the project was 2006, and it was meant to serve 8500 homes with recycled water for laundry, toilet flushing, public open space irrigation, as well as garden watering, once it is completed in 2025-2030. Its development was faced with uncertainty as well as severe consequences. Embarking on the scheme of water re-use called for the exploration of new grounds. Risk assessment in this unfamiliar terrain exposed surprising comprehensions about the less examined approaches to water and sewer provision for the water of Yalla valley. Continued difficulties of operation have constrained the actually recycled water volume. Inexpensive raw land, as well as the remoteness from the services of sewage, offered the chance to show the role of recycling of water in sustainable housing development. The water re-use scheme idea was developer-led. Two critical factors determined the viability of the Aurora third pipe system and these are the costs of cheap raw land as well as the implementation of a project on a large scale to ensure the distribution of expenditure over numerous households (Willis, Stewart, Williams, Hacker, Emmonds, & Capati 2011, p. 201). During the initial stages of its development, only the consulting engineers and the developer were passionate about the scheme of the recycled water. The third pipe system idea was challenging to the industrial values of that period. Recycled water provision in Aurora has led to a reduction in water demand by about 30%, consistent with outdoor use and toilet flushing. Before the development of Aurora's third pipe system, only one such project (Rouse Hill) existed. No regulations existed to ensure the implementation of the third pipe system. The cost of developing this system was considered to be high (Lane, Haas, & Lant, 2012, p. 23). Aurora is Victoria's largest housing development and is an example of how to start, develop, as well as grow a sustainable development on a substantial scale. It was designed by VicUrban, the development agency of the Victorian Government. The Aurora project was the first one in Victoria to utilize Urban Design, which was water sensitive. The objectives of the project was to reduce the consumption of water by 45% owing to the provision of recycled water to all homes for the purpose of garden watering, car washing, toilet flushing, among other uses, and this was through its third pipe system. The reticulation of the reclaimed water to the household is through the third water system (Willis, Stewart, Williams, Hacker, Emmonds, & Capati 2011, p. 211). Case Two RHRWP (Rouse Hill Recycled Water Plant) is among the Australia's largest as well as first third pipe residential water system. It has been a supplier of recycled water since 2001 and presently serve approximately 20,000 homes in the Western part of Sydney. In Rouse Hills, there has been the installation of a third pipe system with treated water mainly from Rouse Hill sewage treatment plant. Among the methods utilized for the treatment include microfiltration, ozonation, and chlorination. Following its establishment, the ventured increased the property value by about 0.716%, and this was to justify the cost of constructing the third pipe infrastructure. Access to the infrastructure of the recycled water is among the residential properties' attribute in the Western Sydney's suburb that was serviced by the RHWRP. The initial area under RHWRP servicing was approximately 13,300 hectares including Rouse Hill suburbs. Since 31st August 2001, recycled water started flowing to more than 4,500 homes (Yarra Valley Water & Melbourne Water, 2013, p. 78). Rouse Hill has a cross-connection of recycled and portable water. The third water system ensures that the demand for water is significantly reduced. In mandated circumstances, the user lacks the choice as whether the recycled supply of water is linked to their properties. In New South Wales, the government embarked on entire residential development at Rouse Hill to ensure that the area is equipped with ‘third pipe' system from the onset. The area has attained success in the use of recycled water. This water is mainly used for the non-drinkable purpose such as toilet flushing as well as outdoor garden irrigation. However, is important to top this water up using potable water as it is currently being overused. The third pipe system ensures the delivery of both the recycled and clean water to homes. Among the technologies utilized by Rouse Hill, third pipe system includes bio-remediation, dissolved air flotation practices, and membrane filtration (Willis et al. 2011, p. 211). The customers have a positive perception regarding the use of third pipe system in Rouse Hill since it is commonly understood that the project is essential for future sustainability. Apart from that, the project is perceived as being economical. Each year, the third pipe system help in reducing the demand for water by about 1,300 ML. Recycled water is estimated to have reduced the use of potable water by about 4,000 ML per year since 1995. Sydney Water is actively involved in the utilization of recycled wastewater in all the sewage treatment plant. The use of recycled water in Rouse Hill and other parts of Sydney is on the rise with the development of new projects (Pickering Water 2013 p. 7). Viability of Retrofitting the Existing Buildings with Third Pipe System in Future The extent as well nature to which the use or the acceptance of recycled water is directed has variation. For instance, there could be the mandating of the connection, but the choice to utilize is available. Since interest revival in public recognition of the recycling of water in Australia, the focus of most publication has been IPR, (indirect potable reuse), the mixing of affluent that are highly treated with the existing supplies of drinking water held in underground or surface reservoirs (Yarra Valley Water & Melbourne Water, 2013, p. 73). The supplies of urban water are typically confined in catchments that are close to cities as well as towns. In many parts of Australia as well as other regions of the globe, environmental and social constraints do exist on developing new catchments of surface water, including the destruction of natural resources and relocation of residents, resistance to compulsory buybacks, and lack of available suitable space. These concerns have resulted in numerous policy response to address the future needs of urban water. In Australia, the authorities of water are making moves towards executing solutions which combine various features including water re-use as well as demand management, and this is in addition to the traditional large-scale development of infrastructure. Increasing the efficiency of water as well as alternative supplies of water are likely to be a central component of balancing the supply of water and demand in cities across Australia in future (Australian Government 2015, p. 23). Local governments and state, as well as water authorities, have come up with strategies as well as programs to address future local water restraints. Improving the buildings' water efficiency is an essential component of the overall response. This area is experiencing intense research, with the emergence of new approaches and technologies. Several issues reduce the efficacy rate of implementing these water proficiency measures. Among these matters include industry and community participation, cost, maintenance, and management, as well as environmental trade-offs. The added risk, ongoing controls of end use, and costs make the alternative supplies of water be less attractive to commercial and public buildings' developers. It is important to have an acceptable balance between the end user control level and the treatment level. For the owners of the houses, individuals may accept high-risk levels since they make a choice to utilize alternative supply and at the same time have control as well as knowledge of the contaminants entering the system (Lane, Haas, & Lant, 2012, p. 37). The cost of retrofitting third pipe system continues to be an issue of concern. Reticulated water systems' cost typically do not include social and environmental externalities, so economic incentives for instance subsidies and rebates have been used to encourage water-efficient appliances as well as rainwater appliances' installation. Future reform of pricing could help in water conservation. The mechanism of pricing has for instance been introduced to Victorian customers. In most cases, the reticulation of the recycled water is through a third pipe system, and its aim is to deliver treated water from the treatment plant of wastewater. Recently, important regulatory and legislative reforms have occurred across Australia to ensure safe utilization of recycled water for various purposes. Following these reforms, there has been the implementation of several third pipe reticulation schemes. In existing urban areas, the installation of third pipe system to ensure supply of recycled water is very expensive. Nevertheless, for new buildings, there can be the installation of a third pipe system along with the reticulated supply at a reduced additional cost. In future, it is expected that new buildings with treatment would install third pipe schemes (Pickering Water 2013 p. 9). Australian Government (2015) carried out an investigation about the "economics of scale" for the system of the resident in a new estate comprising of reuse and treatment systems, as well as gray water collection. An analysis of five scenarios was conducted, and the overall result was that the gray water transport to the treatment plant as well as back to the house accounted for about 80 to 90% of the gray recycle scheme's total capital cost. The study concluded that in every 1200 to about 12,000 household's connections, there existed a system scale where the total cost in each household reached a minimum. Another study by Lane, Haas, & Lant (2012) analyzed housing wastewater reuse schemes, considering the pathogen risk. The study found out that with an increase in water re-use system would result in an increase in water-borne infection risk although this risk can be dampened by the provided wastewater treatment. In the future, the retrofitting of existing buildings with third pipe system should consider taking precautionary measures to prevent the risk of pathogen contamination. The economies of re-using wastewater are dependent on volumes produced as well as special configuration by the sources of waste water as well as water users, available technology, full quality requirements, among other factors (Lane, Haas, & Lant, 2012, p. 63). Under the present arrangements for water supply, a single water source is provided to the users at a suitable drinking standard, regardless of the requirements of water quality of the end use except third pipe systems as well as water supply. Demand is a quantity matter. The amount of water produced or needed by various end-users is the only parameter essential for the choice of the infrastructure. In future, it is important to treat all water on the supply side to potable quality and ensure the collection of the wastewater for treatment. It is important to make sure that the choice of third pipe system's infrastructure is matching the unusual characteristics of water produced or water required regarding quantity, the level of reliability, as well as quality. From the viewpoint of the overall cycle of the water use in buildings, the reduced use of water is associated with an indirect saving of energy. Reduced demand for water decreases the sewage/water services providers' requirements of power to ensure a supply of water to the end users, therefore, creating a reduction in GHG emissions and energy usage (Yalla Valley High Quality Water 2011, p. 14). Retrofitting existing buildings faces numerous challenges. In future, it is critical to consider retrofitting the existing buildings with third pipe system since it (retrofitting) is cost effective. However, retrofitting is likely to face several challenges including pipe cleaning as well as testing. What mainly makes retrofitting to be expensive is the cost of installing dual-plumbing in existing building for carrying the recycled water. Locating the third pipe is a problem especially in areas that are densely populated. Unlike retrofitting new solutions to current and old properties, redevelopment offers a virtually empty land to work on. However, existing buildings are also a source of economically viable chances as they provide known demands of water against which there can be the financing of the projects whereas new building development can be established in phases over an extended period making project funding for the early phase difficult (Australian Government 2015, p. 36). Bibliographies Australian Government. 2015. Scoping study to investigate measures for improving the water efficiency of buildings. Common Wealth of Australia. Sydney: Australian Greenhouse Office. Lane, J., Haas, D, D., & Lant, P. (2012). Life cycle assessment perspective of waste water. Queensland: University of Queensland. Pickering, P. & Water, H. 2013. Economic viability of recycled water schemes. Melbourne: Marsden Jacobs Associates. Melbourne Water Corporation. (2011). Guidelines for non-portable uses of recycled water in Western Australia. Departement of Health. Retrieved from www.public.health.wa.gov.au Willis, R., Stewart, R., Williams, P., Hacker, C., Emmonds, S., & Capati, G. (2011). Residential potable and recycled water end uses in a dual reticulated supply system. Desalination. 272, 201-211. Yalla Valley High Quality Water. 2011. Drinking water quality report. Melbourne, Victoria: Government Printers. Yarra Valley Water & Melbourne Water. 2013. An integrated water future for Melbourne’s North. Read More