Water supply network
Sustainable development
Sustainable development
-----------------------

In an unsustainable system there is insufficient maintenance of the water networks, especially in the major pipe lines in urban areas. The system deteriorates and then needs rehabilitation or renewal.
[thumb\|alt\=Full\-length Sustainable development in an urban water network.\|Sustainable development in an urban water network](/wiki/File:Sustainabilitychart.jpg "Sustainabilitychart.jpg")

Householders and [sewage treatment](/wiki/Sewage_treatment "Sewage treatment") plants can both make the water supply networks more efficient and sustainable. Major improvements in [eco\-efficiency](/wiki/Eco-efficiency "Eco-efficiency") are gained through systematic separation of rainfall and wastewater. Membrane technology can be used for recycling wastewater.

The municipal government can develop a “Municipal Water Reuse System” which is a current approach to manage the rainwater. It applies a [water reuse](/wiki/Water_reuse "Water reuse") scheme for treated wastewater, on a municipal scale, to provide non\-potable water for industry, household and municipal uses. This technology consists in separating the [urine](/wiki/Urine "Urine") fraction of sanitary wastewater, and collecting it for recycling its [nutrients](/wiki/Nutrient "Nutrient").Craddock Consulting Engineering. “Recycling treated municipal wastewater for industrial water use”. (2007\). The [feces](/wiki/Feces "Feces") and [graywater](/wiki/Graywater "Graywater") fraction is collected, together with organic wastes from the households, using a [gravity](/wiki/Gravity_sewer "Gravity sewer") [sewer system](/wiki/Sanitary_sewer "Sanitary sewer"), continuously flushed with non\-potable water. The water is treated [anaerobically](/wiki/Anaerobically_digested "Anaerobically digested") and the [biogas](/wiki/Biogas_powerplant "Biogas powerplant") is used for [energy production](/wiki/Energy_production "Energy production").

One effective way to achieve sustainable water management is to shift emphasis towards decentralized water projects, such as drip irrigation diffusion in India. This project covers large spatial areas while relying on individual technological adoption decisions, offering scalable solutions that can mitigate water scarcity and enhance agricultural productivity.

Another method that can be utilized is through the promoting of community engagement and resistance against unsustainable water infrastructure projects. Grassroots movements, as observed in anti\-dam protests in various countries, play a crucial role in challenging dominant development narratives and advocating for more socially and ecologically just water management practices.

Municipalities and other forms of local governments should also invest in innovative technologies, such as membrane technology for wastewater recycling, and develop policy frameworks that incentivize eco\-efficient practices. Municipal water reuse systems, as demonstrated in implementation, offer promising avenues for integrating wastewater treatment and resource recovery into urban water networks.

The sustainable water supply system is an integrated system including water intake, water utilization, wastewater discharge and treatment and water [environmental protection](/wiki/Environmental_protection "Environmental protection"). It requires reducing [freshwater](/wiki/Freshwater "Freshwater") and [groundwater](/wiki/Groundwater "Groundwater") usage in all sectors of consumption. Developing sustainable water supply systems is a growing trend, because it serves people's long\-term interests.Qiang, He. Li Zhai Jun, Huang. “Application of Sustainable Water System the Demonstration in Chengdu (China)”. (2008\). There are several ways to reuse and recycle the water, in order to achieve long\-term sustainability, such as:
* Gray water re\-use and treatment: [gray water](/wiki/Gray_water "Gray water") is wastewater coming from [baths](/wiki/Bathing "Bathing"), [showers](/wiki/Shower "Shower"), sinks and [washbasins](/wiki/Washbasin "Washbasin"). If this water is treated it can be used as a source of water for uses other than drinking. Depending on the type of gray water and its level of treatment, it can be re\-used for [irrigation](/wiki/Irrigation "Irrigation") and toilet flushing. According to an investigation about the impacts of domestic [grey water](/wiki/Greywater "Greywater") reuse on public health, carried out by the New South Wales Health Centre in [Australia](/wiki/Australia "Australia") in the year 2000, grey water contains less [nitrogen](/wiki/Nitrogen "Nitrogen") and fecal pathogenic organisms than [sewage](/wiki/Sewage "Sewage"), and the organic content of grey water decomposes more rapidly.
* Ecological treatment systems use little energy: there are many applications in gray water re\-use, such as [reed beds](/wiki/Reed_bed "Reed bed"), soil treatment systems and plant filters. This process is ideal for gray water re\-use, because of easier maintenance and higher removal rates of organic matter, [ammonia](/wiki/Ammonia "Ammonia"), nitrogen and [phosphorus](/wiki/Phosphorus "Phosphorus").

Other possible approaches to scoping models for water supply, applicable to any urban area, include the following:
* [Sustainable drainage system](/wiki/Sustainable_drainage_system "Sustainable drainage system")
* [Borehole](/wiki/Borehole "Borehole") extraction
* Intercluster groundwater flow
* Canal and river extraction
* Aquifer storage
* A more user\-friendly indoor water use

The [Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development](/wiki/Dublin_Statement "Dublin Statement") is a good example of the new trend to overcome water supply problems. This statement, suggested by advanced economies, has come up with some principles that are of great significance to urban water supply. These are:
1. Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment.
2. Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy\-makers at all levels.
3. Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water. Institutional arrangements should reflect the role of women in water provision and protection.
4. Water has an [economic value](/wiki/Economic_value "Economic value") in all its competing uses and should be recognized as an economic good.

From these statements, developed in 1992, several policies have been created to give importance to water and to move urban [water system](/wiki/Water_system "Water system") management towards sustainable development. The [Water Framework Directive](/wiki/Water_Framework_Directive "Water Framework Directive") by the [European Commission](/wiki/European_Commission "European Commission") is a good example of what has been created there out of former policies.


What economic value does water have?