WC130 MayJune2023 - Magazine - Page 35
Well-functioning water infrastructure is essential for our
communities because it helps provide safe and reliable
drinking water to homes and businesses.
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impact decisions around servicing densifying areas.
It’s important that stakeholders come together to
identify planning needs, gaps in knowledge, and
processes that support new ways of thinking. This
process is critical for building common understanding and trust around the table, clarifying shared roles,
and defining responsibilities. Ultimately, we need
to underscore the need to collaborate across silos—
whether they be departments, ministries, or even
sectors—to maintain and build our underground
infrastructure.
Moving forward
The immediate challenge we’re facing is servicing
the growth that’s knocking at our door. Often, it’s
far more efficient to optimize existing infrastructure
than it is to build new infrastructure. One of the
key questions we need to consider is whether digital
technology can be part of the integrated solution.
For example, can real-time data enable more control
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
of our pump stations throughout the wastewater
collection system so that we can optimize the existing
storage in our linear infrastructure? This is certainly
not an easy task. But maybe with real-time data and
machine learning, our sewer systems could become
water highways.
Moving upstream even further, perhaps there’s a
way that buildings can hold onto their rain, storm,
grey, or even black water and release it during times
when the distribution and treatment system has more
capacity. New York City, for instance, has programs
in place to encourage distributed rain, grey, and black
water reuse systems for both onsite and district-scale
systems. These systems yield co-benefits like increased
water and wastewater capacity, reduced sewage
overflows, and reduced energy use. Considering the
point-of-use and fit-for-purpose approach may help
reduce the existing limitations of densification in our
downtowns, but it may mean that we all have to do
more to manage our water resources.
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