The existing water and wastewater systems of Sweden´s towns and cities supply their communities with clean drinking water and dispose of sewage in a hygienic manner. But they do not meet all the requirements of sustainability.
“Key issues of concern to us include discharges of toxic organic substances, such as drug residues; our failure to recycle the nutrients in sewage back into agriculture; and the fact that theBaltic Seais still severely disturbed. To be able to tackle these problems, we need structured systems analyses that will tell us how the different parts of systems affect the whole," says Per-Arne Malmqvist, director of the recently completed Mistra programme Urban Water.The programme's aim was to establish how urban water and wastewater systems can be designed and operated in a sustainable manner. Should we retain and develop existing systems, or switch to something radically different? In the course of the programme, considerable expertise on these issues has been built up. The knowledge gained has been translated into, among other things, a “toolbox".
“We have developed a range of tools for analysis and evaluation. These tools are of various kinds, from computer models to practical advice," Professor Malmqvist explains. “The reason is of course that there are many factors to take into account when reaching decisions on the future of our water and wastewater systems: the environment, public health, chemical risks, economics, organizational aspects and user concerns.
“Noticing a growing need for help in planning water and wastewater systems, we began to consider the possibility of setting up a consultancy company offering services related to the toolbox we'd developed. Mistra gave us a start-up grant to make it possible. Now the consultancy firm UWAB - based at Chalmers Industriteknik and with 17 of the programme's researchers as owners - is up and running and can assist with strategic planning of water and wastewater systems from a sustainability point of view.
“Understanding of the problems involved varies around the country. Some of the larger cities have got started on systems analyses of various kinds, whereas many smaller towns are less focused. But it's also a matter of politics. In the city of Stockholm, for example, we are currently seeing a lowering of sights in this area.
“The issues surrounding water and wastewater systems tend to look much the same outside Sweden's borders, although the answers may be different," Professor Malmqvist continues. “We're also involved in international projects, including exploring conceivable systems for completely new housing developments in Ireland, and planning sustainable water and wastewater solutions in developing countries."
Links
Read more about the research programme Urban Water here
