The Future of Third Pipe System Implementation in Melbourne - Coursework Example

THE FUTURE OF THIRD PIPE SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION IN MELBOURNE By Name Course Instructor Institution City/State Date Table of Contents THE FUTURE OF THIRD PIPE SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION IN MELBOURNE 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 What is a third pipe system? 3 Quality and type of water sources 4 Existing third pipe system case studies 5 Windhoek, Namibia 5 Rouse Hill, Australia 6 Viability of Retrofitting Existing Buildings Using Third Pipe System In The Future 8 Conclusion 11 References 13 The Future of Third Pipe System Implementation in Melbourne Introduction In Melbourne, two big centralised treatment plants are used to treat almost 90% of sewage; in consequence, limiting the opportunities for utilising such effluents, because of the infrastructure cost needed for a third pipe system for treated recycled water delivery back into the houses across the city. Consequently, the produced recycled water is mostly sold for utilisation in the neighbouring towns and also for agricultural irrigation. Still, new third pipe systems are being installed in a number of Melbourne residential houses, which consequently, will increase the utilisation of Class A recycled water. Basically, water recycling may take different forms, but this depends on the source and nature of the inputs, processes of treatment, the scheme magnitude, the quality as well as final product end use, in addition to the relationships between the recycled water end users and providers. In Australia, most treated wastewater are transported through a third pipe system from the water recycling plant to different users for in-house non-drinking utilisation, like laundries and toilet flushing as well as for watering gardens and lawns. Besides that, the recycled water can be used for irrigating public open space in the community. This is considered to be feasible in new urban development requiring pipelines to be installed alongside other below-ground infrastructure. The research paper seeks to discuss about the future of third pipe system implementation and also explains the viability of retrofitting existing buildings using third pipe system in the future. What is a third pipe system? The word ‘third pipe’ denotes an extra pipe installed to all houses, together with the sewerage and drinking water pipes. Therefore, third pipe system refers to the incoming recycled water pipes (normally purple) supplying recycled water for washing cars, watering gardens, flushing toilets as well as other open-air purposes. Third pipe system is a common strategy utilised in Australia to manage water. Third pipe systems commonly transport recycled water from a centralised wastewater treatment plant; thus, enjoying benefits of economy of scale as well as connection of wastewater treatment as well as water recycling operations within the same facility. Quality and type of water sources Without a doubt, water of sufficient quantity and quality is fundamental to the environment integrity and crucial to the agricultural enterprises. In Australia, the National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS) offers tools as well as information to assist communities in management of the water resources so as to meet both the present and future needs. Imperatively, it offers a process, policies and numerous national guidelines on how water quality can be managed. Therefore, the Water Quality Management Framework provides an approach that can be used to plan, implement as well as manage water quality, in addition to information concerning common stressors in the environment. Water quality differences are significant, and are normally expressed in terms of chemical, biological and physical variables, as well as the varying quality standards according to use. There are different types of water sources; natural mineral water can be described as water that is directly obtained from underground sources with no risks of pollution. Natural mineral water is normally sold to people as bottled waters. Another source is the spring water, which derive from a particular underground source and are protected within set exposure perimeters to avoid contamination and pollution. Prepared waters is another type of water source that originate from different form of water supply such as municipal water and are subjected to treatment, whereby the original water is modified so as to adhere to radiological, microbiological and chemical safety requirements for water that are pre-packaged. Existing third pipe system case studies Windhoek, Namibia Namibia as mentioned by Ilemobade et al. (2009, p.31) is a dry country in the southern Sahara Desert, and Windhoek, the capital city is located in the country’s Central Highlands with an average annual rainfall and average evaporation of 360mm and 3400 mm/a, respectively. Windhoek became the first city worldwide to reclaim back its water to quality potable water for reticulation system use. The project was initiated in 1959, and the process of treatment involved sedimentation, flocculation, filtration, flotation, ozonation as well as using activated carbon for treatment. Aside from recycling water to potable standards, the Gamanns sewerage works distributes nearly 1Mm³ of semi-purified water through a third pipe system for utilisation in golf course, sports fields and parks. Imperatively, the non-potable supply was initially for purposes of irrigation, but currently is supplied to different consumers like Windhoek Golf Course through a third pipe system. Third pipe system also offers water for sport fields, parks’ landscaping, cemeteries, nurseries as well as enormous hotel gardens. The dual water supply system supplies between 5 to7 per cent of the annual water demand in Windhoek. The Windhoek third pipe system functions by supplying water (non-potable) from four pump stations through three storage reservoirs. According to Ilemobade et al. (2009, p.32), small consumers are supplied the non-potable water during the day while larger consumers with automated irrigation systems are supplied at night. Connections to the third pipe system are metered and the consumers are charged after every month. Imperatively, non-potable and potable provisions are always made available for peak demands, especially during the dry summer months. Furthermore, the third pipe system utilised in Namibia operates on a full cost recovery basis, and the non-potable supply is restricted only for irrigation. To ensure people do not drink the recycled water, no potable water taps are connected to the system. Additionally, there are strict guidelines for consumers using the recycled water for irrigation purposes; for instance, ponding is not allowed and irrigation should take place when there are no people around. In spite of such guidelines, the scheme utilises pipelines that are clearly marked as well as the premises inspection utilising the recycled water is regularly employed. The possible health risk in Windhoek associated with the direct utilisation of the reclaimed water is limited because there is a guideline limiting recycled water to 35 per cent of the potable water supply. Additionally, the treatment process of the reclaimed water is designed in a way that can achieve a similar standard as water from other sources. Until now, the negative health-effects detected due to utilisation of reclaimed water is almost none. Rouse Hill, Australia The biggest residential dual (potable and grey) water system is at Rouse Hill development area, whereby over 16 000 properties have since 2001 been supplied with approximately 1.7 billion litres per annum of high quality reclaimed water for garden watering, toilet flushing as well as fire fighting. The initiative was the result of an agreement between the government of New South Wales and landholders with the intention of pursuing the integrated water cycle management concept. The objective was to reduce the export of nutrients as well as sediment to the Hawkesbury/Nepean River System. In the two studies conducted by Sydney Water to understand the views of the Rouse Hill community on reclaimed water prior to and after commissioning of the third pipe system, it was established that the majority of the residents had knowledge about the system when moving to the area. Yet, some residents were uncertain as to whether the project recycled human waste and had no clue on what is used to treat the recycled water. Importantly, the residents understand the suitable application of recycled water, and they value the third pipe system. Owing to the third pipe system, the drinking water demand in the Rouse Hill residential homes reduced by nearly 40 per cent. Water treatment technology advancement and the increasing cost of generating quality potable water resulted in the installation of third pipe system at Rouse Hill with the goal of meeting the increasing demand of water at the residential houses. The third pipe system facilitate the delivery of non-potable (fit-for-purpose) reclaimed water to households. The Rouse Hill residents utilise the recycled water for many purposes and is considered a close alternative for potable water. Ability to access recycled water is beneficial to the residents; for instance, the recycled water tend to cheap as compared to the potable water supplies. Therefore, availability of the third-pipe system offers Rouse Hill residents with flexibility of substituting between the non-potable and potable water, facilitating outdoor gardens’ maintenance (Marsden Jacob Associates, 2014, p.3). Even though the benefits of recycled water to residents of Rouse hill has been described qualitatively, the quantitative value of third pipe system to the households remains uncertain. Attaining the value estimate of accessing reclaimed water third pipe infrastructure is fundamental to benefits and costs analysis of the infrastructure. Installing third pipe scheme at Rouse Hill was costly, but the residents’ value benefits attributed to the installation of the third pipe schemes. Viability of Retrofitting Existing Buildings Using Third Pipe System In The Future As mentioned by ERA (2009, p.72), the advantages of setting mandatory standards have to be evaluated against the costs. Retrofitting existing building can result in benefits of less utilisation of scheme water; thus, resulting in possible delay of future water sources. Still, water saving measures cost can surpass the new water supplies’ long-run marginal cost. Therefore, third pipe systems will in the future lead to water savings, but only if they are utilised to directly substitute usage of potable water. Retrofitting existing building will be imperative in the future considering most houses in Melbourne were not designed to be water efficient due to the unavailability of the third pipe system. Undoubtedly, the number of installed third pipe systems is increasing progressively, but estimates of recycled water usage are statistically insignificant. With regard to the residential properties’ transactions in Western Sydney suburbs (2005 to 2011) as well as data on the region’s neighbourhood attributes, Marsden Jacob Associates (2014, p.19) posits that the value estimate of the Rouse Hill recycling project per household may be generated. Even though the estimate depends on the region’s median house price, the outcome is deemed to be a robust indication of third pipe system value to households in the future and is also statistically significant. In Melbourne, at 0.716% of the average property, the estimate is significant, but possibly below the cost of retrofitting or installing third pipe infrastructure in the suburbs. Essentially, this exhibits the value of reclaimed water in the community. Furthermore, there could be values that the people in the society will hold for water recycling along with the ‘use value’ to the building’s inhabitants. Even though it is somewhat easy to install third pipe systems, the cost of retrofitting them into existing buildings is exorbitant. Therefore, their possible future impact on the total water demand will be fairly insignificant. Drought as well as climate change will also have large impact on the supply of water; thus, creating the need for retrofitting existing building with third pipe systems. Furthermore, there will be ubiquitous inevitable risks of cross connections, which would accidentally lead to non-potable water going to the kitchen tap. Such an event can result in safety issue and may negatively affect public health as well as public confidence the value of third pipe system. Reducing such risks will involve an exceedingly expensive process, whereby the system compliance will constantly be examined and the operations of the system numerous professional plumbers. The Building Codes changes made public by the government, whereby people are expected to make their homes ready for alternative water source exhibit the support by community for third pipe systems and use of recycled water (Newton et al., 2009, p.248). Even though the standard additional cost is insignificant, the retrofitting cost for such changes is too expensive. Mandating standards for households will help protect consumers from poor and inappropriate design as well as construction, unnecessary costs and will promote choice and flexibility in the future (ERA, 2009, p.77). The objectives of the third pipe systems of extending supplies of water as well as offering alternatives for wastewater disposal have crucial implications for construction and maintenance of the infrastructure; therefore, probably heightening the burden on workforces as well as utility finance. In the future, transmission and distribution systems will be the key cost drivers of water recycling. For home owners, funding would become challenging; thus, creating the need for subsidies and significant capital expenditures will be needed, which will include wastewater treatment, distribution lines, transmission lines as well as extra costs for maintenance, operation, and replacement. Additionally, enhanced cross-connection program could result to additional operation and maintenance costs. The number of customers for recycled water will increase tremendously, and the increase in demand would possibly result in high monthly charged. Basically, the potential decline of potable revenues will not be realisable, mainly because the water and wastewater will be owned by different utilities. The non-potable water rate-setting must consider factors of supply, the uses of water, importance of incentivising the users, management of demand and the manifold benefits associated with management of wastewater. Considering the factors involved are many, there will be no standard approach accessible and in most utilities, the rates of non-potable water policy would be a work in progress. The population in Melbourne is increasing progressively; therefore, the demand for non-potable water supply will increase especially for fire protection. In consequence, this will create the need to design a third pipe system capable of providing the required fire flows for buildings with high risk of fire at residual pressure of 20 psi (Hickey, 2008, p.41). In consequence, this will make it hard to meet the consumption requirements for domestic water consumers since there will be need to meet fire flows demand. Re-channelling the fire protection water supply can be a more responsible and reasonable approach to the looming crisis of water supply as compared to concentrating on decreasing the requirements as well as required fire flows at the time of extreme dry weather as well as to offer fire breaks. In the future, the challenges related to third pipe systems will include high cost of installation and maintenance (especially on existing buildings), ensuring sufficient pressures and supplies as well as maintaining water quality. The number of buildings will increase in the future, and as a result, water quality will not be guaranteed; thus, creating the need for point-of-use treatment devices in areas that will have inconsistent water quality. The third pipe system could be discounted due to their initial cost; however, there are a number of factors that make them financially viable. Even though they are accessible, getting extra water supplies will become more costly and could result in environmental problems due to the need for new impounding reservoirs. Still, savings may be achieved because using recycled water reduces the treatment cost required for disposing receiving waters. Besides that, restrictions of water quantity will possibly offer incentives for new buildings to install third pipe infrastructure, whereby water intended for human contact or consumption will be separated from that intended for fire fighting as well as other domestic uses. As the standards of water quality tighten, water treatment absurdity for that intended for human consumption and toilet flashing will become more and more apparent. Imperatively, incentives will be established for designing landscaping, especially those with low water requirements as well as to increase the reuse of water on the site so as to cut the wastewater treatment costs. Some of the deficiencies that would affect third pipe systems in the future include corroded pipes, under sized pipes or other impediments. Such deficiencies will be worsened by the increasing demand for recycled waters. Conclusion The research paper has discussed about the future of third pipe system implementation and has also explained the viability of retrofitting existing buildings using third pipe system in the future. As mentioned in the research paper, third pipe systems are viable water supply alternatives, particularly for people living in arid areas. As long as the environment is enabling, consumption of non-potable water in residential buildings will increase upon the implementation of third pipe system. Third pipe system as mentioned in the research paper can be described as schemes supplying reclaimed water to individual businesses or domiciles for both indoor and outdoor use, such as toilet flushing, car washing as well as landscape irrigation. Normally, water from the water recycling plant is delivered through a third pipe. Basically, plumbing codes for third pipe projects are designed to facilitate easy identification of the third pipe as well as ensure there is no cross connection with the pipes supplying potable water. Additionally, the level of treatment offered for third pipe projects is rooted in the management of risks related to a high likelihood of human consuming that water. As evidenced by the two case studies, Windhoek and Rouse Hill projects, third pipe systems will remain beneficial in the future due to the increasing demand for reclaimed water. References ERA, 2009. Inquiry into Pricing of Recycled Water in Western Australia. Final Report. Perth, Western Australia: Economic Regulation Authority. Hickey, H.E., 2008. Water Supply Systems and Evaluation Methods. Working Paper. Washington DC: FEMA Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Ilemobade, A.A., Adewumi, J.R. & Zyl, J.E.v., 2009. Assessment of feasibility of using dual water reticulation system in South Africa. Research Paper. Johannesburg: Water Research Commission. Marsden Jacob Associates, 2014. The value of recycled water infrastructure to the residents of Rouse Hill. Technical Report. Camberwell: Marsden Jacob Associates Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence. Newton, P., Hampson, ‎. & Drogemuller, ‎., 2009. Technology, Design and Process Innovation in the Built Environment. New York: Routledge. Read More