IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE ON WATER QUALITY

摘要

In view of the new paradigms associated with achieving sustainable services, recent investigations have sought to evaluate dual and decentralized urban water infrastructures with respect to costs, environmental performance and reliability. Systems designed according to the new standards for sustainability do tend to be more expensive, but they also tend to be more environmentally friendly and reliable. It is not yet clear, however, whether sustainable systems will affect water quality, either adversely or favorably. Current investigations suggest that decentralized systems of small scale could improve delivered water quality as compared to that achieved by large, centralized networks. The present study further concludes that an efficient reuse of reclaimed water can be achieved once water quality has been improved. In addition, a commensurate improvement in aesthetics would most likely encourage more consumers to use reclaimed water outdoors, (i.e. for irrigation) or perhaps even indoors for flushing toilets.