Existing water systems – A holistic perspective

Based on literature review and anecdotal conversations with researchers, practitioners and consultants in various sectors of the water industry, it is observed that the term ‘obsolescence’ is rarely used and not as much... [ view full abstract ]

Based on literature review and anecdotal conversations with researchers, practitioners and consultants in various sectors of the water industry, it is observed that the term ‘obsolescence’ is rarely used and not as much appreciated with its diverse implications. In the context of climate change impacts, this term is even more uncommon. On the other hand, obsolescence has been, and now, is increasingly ‘seeping’ into existing water systems – in all the three categories: clean-water, grey-water, and waste-water – thereby, compromising sustainability. This is due to not only climate change and sustainability issues but also other wide-ranging pressures including water safety, scarcity, security, cleanliness, protection, pollution, wastage/leakage, environmental legislation, water-associated energy implications – water-energy nexus, carbon footprint, and carbon cut pressures. All such issues are directly and/or indirectly causing obsolescence in water networks and the paper presents an account of how.

To overcome obsolescence by combating these issues/drivers, there is no holistic framework which interweaves these diverse issues in one place, such that all these issues can not only be comprehended in their own individual right but also how they relate to each other in a ‘bigger picture’. This paper outlines a conceptual model of such a holistic framework which integrates all such issues relative to each other – all in one place.

The conceptual framework model also categorises the issues/drivers into climate change induced and non-climate change associated groups that cause obsolescence in existing water infrastructures. In addition, the paper covers climate change impacts in both contexts, climate change mitigation (pro-active approach) and climate change adaptation (reactive approach). In doing so the model addresses both ‘tipping points’ in climate change i.e. positive one (where sustainable attitudes and behaviour become the norm rather than the exception); and the negative catastrophic one, which is likely to eventually occur if the positive one is not effectively employed.