Taking the water out of wastewater: An ineluctable oxymoron for urban water cycle sustainability

Water, energy, and food are key resources that could easily limit sustainability of human society development. Water supply requires considerable amounts of energy, and usedwater carries considerable amounts of embedded energy and recoverable materials within. Usedwater is increasingly considered as a potential resource, rather than as a waste. Among process technology options that may allow efficient recovery of that energy, anaerobic digestion could be considered the most mature, already sporting countless applications worldwide. However, the present inefficient dilution-base collection systems paradigm produces rather dilute sewage, preventing to a large degree a more efficient application of this technology. A new collection system paradigm, based on liquid sources segregation and minimal organics dilution, could result in significant energy savings for conveyance and treatment. This could also enhance recovery of nutrients and reclamation of potentially reusable water, with the associated benefit of reduced production of process residuals requiring further disposal. Implications of this model are discussed. Practitioner points The nexus between water, energy, and food is an impending challenge on water cycle sustainability Current paradigms of urban water management are based on disadvantageous paradigms: high dilution and gravity flow Taking the water out of wastewater may improve energy and recovery efficiency of urban water systems and water reuse options Technologies exist (high-rate anaerobic, vacuum sewers) and are mature for more widespread application of new urban sanitation paradigms