•Journal•ISSN: 1751-231X
Water Practice & Technology
UWA Publishing
About: Water Practice & Technology is an academic journal published by UWA Publishing. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Wastewater & Environmental science. It has an ISSN identifier of 1751-231X. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 1810 publications have been published receiving 9322 citations.
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TL;DR: Water-sensitive urban design in Australia as mentioned in this paper provides a common and unified method for integrating the interactions between the urban built form (including urban landscapes) and the urban water cycle.
Abstract: Ecologically Sustainable Development in Australia can be described as going beyond the protection of the environment from the impacts of pollution, to protecting and conserving natural resources. In an urban environmental context this means urban development (both greenfield development and urban renewal) that seeks to have no long term effects on various aspects of the environment related to aspects such as greenhouse gas levels, material resources, biodiversity and ambient water environments. Water environments, such as waterways and coastal waters, and water supply catchments are key areas where urban development can have significant impacts. Water Sensitive Urban Design in Australia has evolved from its early association with stormwater management to provide a broader framework for sustainable urban water management. It provides a common and unified method for integrating the interactions between the urban built form (including urban landscapes) and the urban water cycle. This paper presents an overview of current industry practice and research implementation of Water Sensitive Urban Design in Australia.
123 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a new type of membrane-like aerobic reactor was designed for the degradation of hydrocarbon-derived groundwater contaminants, which was recently tested for treating domestic wastewater, with performance similar to that of MBRs.
Abstract: In many Countries, small communities are required to treat wastewater discharges to increasing standards of lesser environmental impacts, but must achieve that goal at locally sustainable costs. While biological membrane treatment (membrane bio-reactors (MBRs)) is quickly becoming the industry standard for centralized wastewater treatment plants, and would also be ideally suited also for small plants potentially subject to relatively large hydraulic load variations, its investment and operating costs are usually high for that class of applications. Consequently, small treatment plants are generally configured as anoxic or aerated biological tanks with little sedimentation, making them quite susceptible to hydraulic loads transient and sludge quality changes. As an alternative, Constructed Wetlands Systems (CWSs) are gradually and successfully being introduced in many Countries. CWSs are designed to utilise the natural functions of wetland vegetation, soils and their microbiological populations to treat wastewater. Pretreatment occurs by filtration and settling, followed by bacterial decomposition in a natural-looking lined marsh. A new technology, a new type of membrane-like aerobic reactor initially designed for the degradation of hydrocarbon-derived groundwater contaminants, was recently tested for treating domestic, with performance similar to that of MBRs. Examples from the above applications are illustrated and compared in this paper. The paper also discusses merits and drawbacks of the various illustrated technologies, in view of their sustainability potential, and according to the new development paradigms for urban water systems, that encourage the development of local water-cycle clusters with local reuse and recycle of the resource, and possible local recovery of energy and/or materials.
107 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the companies available in the literature that have developed electric vehicle wireless charging systems, automobile manufacturers interested in such technology, and research from universities and laboratories on the topic are reviewed.
Abstract: Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular due to concerns about the environment and rising gasoline prices. However, the charging infrastructure is lacking, and most people can only charge their EVs at home if they remember to plug in their cars. Using the principles of magnetic inductance and magnetic resonance, wireless charging (WC) could help significantly with these infrastructure problems by making charging secure and convenient. WC systems also have the potential to provide dynamic charging, making long road trips with EVs feasible and eliminating range anxiety. In this paper, we review the companies available in the literature that have developed electric vehicle wireless charging systems, automobile manufacturers interested in such technology, and research from universities and laboratories on the topic. While the field is still very young, there are many promising technologies available today. Some systems have already been in use for years, recharging public transit buses at bus stops. Safety and regulations are also discussed.
106 citations
TL;DR: Aerobic granular sludge technology can be regarded as the future standard for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment as discussed by the authors, and a growing number of institutes and universities focus their scientific research on this new technology.
Abstract: Aerobic granular sludge technology can be regarded as the future standard for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment. As a consequence, a growing number of institutes and universities focus their scientific research on this new technology. Recently, after extensive Dutch research and development effort, an aerobic granular biomass technology has become available to the market. Full scale installations for both industrial and municipal applications are already on stream, under construction or in design. The technology is distinguished by the name ‘Nereda®’ and based on the specific characteristics of aerobic granular sludge. It can be considered as the first mature aerobic granular sludge technology applied at full scale. It improves on traditional activated sludge systems by a significantly lower use of energy and chemicals, its compactness and its favorable capital and operational costs.
104 citations
TL;DR: Although improved sources generally delivered ‘safe’ water at the point-of-supply, 12% of source samples were contaminated and as such were ‘unsafe’ in household storage, and this significant deterioration in microbial quality of water from improved sources was seen in both countries.
Abstract: Aims: To assess contamination of drinking water in rural Zimbabwe and South Africa Methods: We conducted a cohort study of 254 children aged 12-24 months in rural South Africa and Zimbabwe. In dry and wet seasons, we measured water quality, using the indicator organism E. coli, at improved and unimproved sources, in household storage and drinking cups. We also recorded hygiene and socio-economic factors for each household. Results: For improved sources, samples with E. coli counts less than 10 cfu/100ml were as follows: at source: 165 (88%); in household storage 137 (59%); in drinking cups 91 (49%). The corresponding values for unimproved sources were: source 47 (29%); household storage 32 (19%); drinking cups 21 (18%). This significant deterioration in microbial quality of water from improved sources was seen in both countries and both survey rounds. Conclusion: Although improved sources generally delivered ‘safe’ water at the point-of-supply, 12% of source samples were contaminated and as such were ‘unsafe’. Furthermore, in household storage, more than 40% of samples were ‘unsafe’. For monitoring the Millennium Development Goal for water, UNICEF-WHO are assuming an equivalence between ‘improved’ sources and ‘safe’ water. Our findings suggest that this equivalence may be unsound.
87 citations