Desalination: Why the future of water innovation is informal and local – The Jerusalem Post
Lack of access to water is likewise a human rights concern, as
Traditional central
water, At the Arava Institute for Environmental Research Studies in Israel, we are pioneering off the grid wastewater treatment and reuse systems that treat wastewater on-site directly from homes and areas that are not connected to a drain grid. The treated wastewater is then recycled for the usage in irrigation of small holder farms.
The system is powered solely by solar power and is remotely run and managed via a mobile application and Internet interface. The innovation is presently being piloted in two Bedouin neighborhoods in Israel.At the University of Cape Town’s Franschhoek Water Hub modern strategies and innovations appropriate for the off the grid African context are being developed to deal with polluted surface area water overflow from an informal settlement. The accessibility of clean, safe, fit-for-purpose water is a driver for development and the reduction of poverty. On-site bio-filtration cells are proving to be efficient in decreasing elevated nutrient and bacteria levels so that water can be securely re-used
for irrigating veggies without harming the environment or human health, and without the addition of chemicals in the treatment procedure. The Water Hub is showcasing the value of decentralized, passive innovations beforehand new knowledge in the food-energy-water nexus and the degree to which we have actually undervalued the power of nature-based services. What these two examples show is the needed paradigm shift in water management. Many of the world’s population is off the grid. Expensive massive and centralized water options are not likely to solve the majority of the world’s water woes. We for that reason promote and encourage ingenious and innovative options to resolve these problems at the community level. The innovations and expertise exist, what is needed is governmental support and oversight for decentralized water-energy-food options where the neighborhood is not just a passive consumer or recipient however an active partner in the solution. In this way, real sustainable water management can settle.