PROF. AVNER ADIN•Hebrew University of Jerusalem•Adin Holdings “Water Solutions”

Avner.adin@mail.huji.ac.il

How Science of Today meets City of Tomorrow’s water needs

Seville Palace Hotel, México D.F., México, 17th to 19th Sep, 2014

Outline Introduction: The “City of Tomorrow” Objectives and methodology Identifying city water management components Understanding the new water cycle Deriving water quality control challenges Science and technology roles, examples Conclusions

World population growthThe world population grows and requires more and more resources -

arable land, water, energy, and biological resources

Expected to reach a peak of growth. Than declines due to economic, health, land exhaustion and environmental reasons.

About 3.5 billion people across

the globe already live in

cities; the number is

expected to grow up to 6.5

billion people by 2050

Declaration: There is enough water on the surface of the Earth for many generations to come. However, . . .

Inadequate water quality prevents using its full potential

Objectives and methodology

Objective: to indicate scientific research needs in meeting tomorrow’s city water demands.

The methodology is composed of two major steps: (I)various water system functions and roles are analyzed and listed in four categories: health, aesthetics, recycling and water-energy components; and (II)the various functions are incorporated into one water cycle, a holistic analysis is being made, from which scientific research challenges are derived.

FUTURE CITY

The city is the futureIt is evident that more and more people live in cities

Thus optimizing the cities infrastructure prepares the world for coping with future population growth

Strategic plan: Focusing on urban water management and urban agriculture, using advanced technologies and a strong knowledge center

AH Concepts for Future City

1. Future City - A healthy community:a. Water filtration and disinfection complying with current and

future standardsb. Water quality monitoring, including innovative real time

devices for Water Security and Safetyc. Treatment and quality control of domestic and non-domestic

wastewaterd. Fire hydrant systems

2. Future City - A beautiful and fun community:a. Effective water management for Gardening and parksb. Surface water quality controlc. Fountains and recreational facilities

AH Concepts for Future City (cont.)

3. Future City - A water recycling community:a. Planning and design of grey water and wastewater collection

and reuse systemsb. All grey water and wastewater shall be reused within the

Future City areac. Sludge free wastewater treatment where possible

4. Future City - A water and energy conserving community:a. Supply management and leakage control, with continuous

data collection (and automatic billing)b. Public education !c. Minimizing energy usage in water and wastewater facilities

Urban agriculture

Urban agriculture contributes to food security and food safety in two ways: It increases the amount of food

available to people living in cities

It allows fresh vegetables and fruits and meat products to be made available to urban consumers

Revolutionary Water Cycle - Israel

NATURE

Water quality challenges in RWC

NATURE

Corrosio

n, minerals a

bsense

Crypto, vi

rus, algae

NPs

Microorganics, metals

Boron, pharma

Water securit

y

)2014( New water production-IsraelOperating

Starting

Planning

Shomrat 100? MCM

Hadera 127 (200) MCM

Palmakhim 90 MCM

Ashdod100 MCM

Sorek 150 MCM

Ashkelon 120 MCM

ReuseDesal.

Reversing the flow

MixingwaterQualities

-Surface-Ground-Stormwater-Desalinated-Recycled

Recharge-Recovery SchemeSAT=Soil-Aquifer Treatment

Slow sand filtration

Mechanisms

Biological: enhanced bio-activity on grains surfaces. “Schmutzdecke”. Physical: surface straining, interstitial straining, settling, diffusion.Physicochemical: Adsorption, DLVO-van der Waals interactions.Surface catalyzed degradation

•Electroflocculation-constructed wetland

hybrid•Aerobic-anaerobic

compact system

•On-site systems,decentralized

Principle flow diagram for a 20,000 m3/day IMS system – encased UF

FILTERED

WATERTANK

INTERIM

TANK

PRODUCT TANK

SHAFDANWASTEWATER

UF SYSTEM11 UNITS x 45 MODULES

total filter area – 24,750 m2

RO SYSTEM2 UNITS x 10,000 m3/day

st I. 68 X 7

st II. 28 X 7

st I. 68 X 7

st II. 28 X 7

RAW WATERPUMPS (P1)

BACKWASHPUMPS (P7)

HIGH PRESSUREPUMPS (P3)

UFPUMPS (P2)

TO DRAIN

TO DRAIN

Seawater or 1st stage

brine following

UF pretreat.

Back to RO process

Load step

Water fromRO

process

NaOH Stabilized water

H2SO4 to pH around 2.1

25%

75%

CaCO3(s)

Exchange

step

Cation Exch. resin

Low TDS brine

Back to the sea

Wash step

[Mg2+]=0

[Mg2+]>0

Mg remineralizing novel systemMg remineralizing novel system

Remineralization Pilot Plant, Singapore

• It is inevitable that nanotechnology-based consumer products enter the aquatic environment

• Switzerland (2014): Engineered nanoparticles are present in the leachates from landfills and are released to surface water

• Viewed as emerging pollutants: toxic, may cause cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other types of diseases

• Their eco-environmental risks demonstrate strong need of developing effective water treatment processes

Nanoparticles removal

Transport AttachmentReaction/

effect

β α k

NP removal mechanisms

(Wiesner, 2014)

Nanoparticles and biofilm• The fate and transport of NPs are affected by

biofilms.• Biofilms consist of bacteria and surrounding

EPS (extracellular polymeric substances)• NPs can be transported and strongly attach to

EPS surfaces• Initial studies (2009) have shown significant

accumulations of NPs occurring in biofilms.• Indication (2014) that NP’s attachment to EPS

is governed by electrostatic interactions• Mg presence may enhance biofilm formation Mg presence may enhance biofilm formation

Bio-fouling prevention

E.coli inactivation

by molecular capped Ag-

Nano-particles

Avner AdinHadas MamanGil Markovich

Avital Dror-Ehre

• Flexible filter beds with controlled porosity• Fiber optic technology which recycles UV

photons• Detecting and counting bacteria in minutes

instead of days• Sludge-less bio-reactors • Aerobic membrane bio reactor that consumes no

energy for aeration• Hydrophilic membrane with higher flow at lower

pressure• Electricity produced by electro genic bio-reactor.

Some of recent Israeli novel technologies

Regulations and standards

Wastewater quality for unrestricted irrigationWastewater quality for disposal to streamsIndustrial effluent qualityDrinking water qualityDesalinated water qualityMaterials and equipment

Conclusions

• More than 70% of the world population will live in cities• Future City’s water can be best managed with the help

of science under four categories: health, aesthetics, recycling and water-energy

• A holistic interpretation of the water cycle can lead to the necessary scientific research challenges

• Upgrade of regulations and standards is needed, must be based on scientific knowledge

• Cooperation in water research among Mexican and Israeli scientists can lead to improved water management in the years to come

WATER IS LIFE

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