NEW PARADIGM FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT CRITICAL TO SOLVING TODAY'S WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS

摘要

Water bodies across the globe are now in peril, and communities worldwide are facing daunting water quality challenges. Issues such as population growth, new pollution sources, increased urbanization, the proliferation of factory farms, and climate change are converging to degrade the water that sustains us all. We're seeing more floods, the construction of dams are forcing more people to relocate, chemical "cocktails" are building up in our bodies, and dirty water contributes to more than 1.7 million deaths every year.rnFor centuries, we have adopted a reactive approach in the way we care for our waterways. We develop new technologies and methods to get rid of nuisance water. We set up water treatment and distribution systems, we send water through conventional drains and sewers, and we treat the waste-water that runs through our pipes. This approach deals with specific water problems but does not take enough of a holistic approach to the entire water cycle. We need a new paradigm and new solutions to the problems that incorporate technological innovations, preventative measures, early detection, sustainable systems, and public participation.