Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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The cleaning industry’s commitment to manufacturing products, equipment and systems that require less water, took on greater importance for me last week when I was asked whether I’d willingly drink water that had been recycled from toilet waste. Apparently, plans which could see treated sewage water introduced into London's drinking water supply to eke it out, have been backed by 69% of those that responded to a survey, out of the 5,000 people asked.
I have two things to say to that: “Who the heck did they ask!” and: “How many people responded?”
I gather Thames Water launched the consultation to determine the best way of serving the rapidly growing population in London and the Thames Valley, which is predicted to reach 10 million fairly soon.
One option mooted was the use of recycled waste water, whereby waste from toilets would be recycled back into the River Thames, drawn out and retreated to make it safe to be streamed into the mains supply.
Although the company says it has no definite plans to implement the scheme and that if it does go ahead, it won’t be for at least another 10 years, a test plant has already been commissioned in Enfield, north London.
OK, so I often complain about the cloudy, chalky water we have in Epsom and the awful limescale we have to deal with, but I know where I’d rather be living right now, (although having been lucky enough to drink fresh, untreated water flowing along mountain streams while travelling in other parts of Europe, I do still feel rather hard done by)!
Other, more palatable options that appealed to respondents were the installation of water meters in homes and businesses and a redistribution system, whereby water is transported from areas where it’s plentiful, into other parts of the country that are experiencing shortages – both of which make sense.
Thames Water warns that unless action is taken, there could be a water deficit of around 125 million litres per day by next year, so something clearly needs to be done quickly. Dealing with leaks more rapidly would, of course, be a good place to start…
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Yours,
30th October 2014