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Last modified: June 5th, 2012 18:16 CEST
The challenge of supplying water and energy required for food production and
development while mitigating climate change and adapting to its consequences has been
termed the Energy Water Nexus. Water, energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate
change are interlinked through a series of relationships. The water sector is a
significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through several routes
including embedded emissions in capital equipment, energy consumption during drinking
water treatment, water distribution and wastewater treatment, and direct emissions of
methane and nitrous oxide from treatment. One effect of climate change in many parts
of the world is likely to be a change in rainfall patterns, which may further
restrict the supply of groundwater and surface water in areas where it is already
limited and even reduce availability in comparatively water-rich countries, such as
the UK. At the same time, many countries have increasing populations and demands for
water. This could create positive feedback by driving the use of other sources, such
as desalination of sea water, which may have higher energy demands and greenhouse gas
emissions. Within Europe and elsewhere, the aims of different pieces of environmental
legislation can come into contact. For example, the Water Framework Directive (WFD)
requires higher standards for water that is discharged into surface water bodies,
further raising the energy intensity of wastewater treatment. In the longer term, the
WFD may result in higher quality source waters and reduce the energy requirement for
drinking water treatment. However, the effectiveness of the catchment management
measures currently being taken to deal with diffuse agricultural pollution is
uncertain. This report will review and elaborate on these issues as they relate to
municipal water supplies, and consider some of the options for sustainable water
systems in the future. Open access repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10251/35723
Download: Report on carbon sensitive urban water futures (PDF, 2.63 MB)
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