Water as Technology: Water as Technology: Uses, Impacts, and Policy Uses, Impacts, and Policy

Technology and the EnvironmentTechnology and the Environment

Christopher WeberChristopher Weber

4/12/054/12/05

GoalsGoals

• After this lecture, you should After this lecture, you should understand:understand:– The importance of water in our livesThe importance of water in our lives– What water is used for in the USWhat water is used for in the US– How water is made and disposed ofHow water is made and disposed of– Some basic issues of water quantity and Some basic issues of water quantity and

qualityquality– The difficulty facing environmental The difficulty facing environmental

policymakers regarding technologypolicymakers regarding technology

Water: What is it?Water: What is it?

• Liquid composed of Hydrogen and Liquid composed of Hydrogen and OxygenOxygen

• Essential for all lifeEssential for all life

• Environment for aquatic plants and Environment for aquatic plants and animalsanimals

• The reason we’re here todayThe reason we’re here today

Image from: http://folding.stanford.edu/education/water.htm

The Water CycleThe Water Cycle

Taken from: http://www.yvw.com.au/newed/seniors/water_cycle.html

Water: Where is it?Water: Where is it?

• Question: What percentage of the Question: What percentage of the world’s water is present in rivers and world’s water is present in rivers and lakes? lakes?

• Answer: ~0.27% !Answer: ~0.27% !

• Where’s the rest of it?Where’s the rest of it?

Water: Where is it?Water: Where is it?

Taken from: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclefreshstorage.html

Water: What’s it good for?Water: What’s it good for?

• Of all the water Of all the water humans use, how humans use, how much goes to much goes to homes?homes?

• To Industrial Use?To Industrial Use?

Water uses in the US, 2000Water uses in the US, 2000

Percentages of Total Water use, 2000

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What’s in your cup?What’s in your cup?

• Water Quantity vs. Water Quantity vs. Water QualityWater Quality

• Public water supply Public water supply generally comes generally comes fromfrom– Surface sources Surface sources

(rivers, some lakes)(rivers, some lakes)– GroundwaterGroundwater

• Processed by Water Processed by Water Treatment FacilitiesTreatment Facilities

Taken from:http://www.epa.gov/safewater/

Typical Water Treatment Typical Water Treatment ProcessProcess

Taken from: LA Drinking water plant website

Down the sink. . . Down the sink. . .

Taken From: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/water/wastewater_treatment/process.htm

Activity – Water PricingActivity – Water Pricing

• 3 contestants3 contestants

• Water from 3 different Water from 3 different sourcessources

• Pour into bucket until Pour into bucket until you reach $1 worth of you reach $1 worth of waterwater

Five Gallon BucketFive Gallon Bucket

High End Bottled WaterHigh End Bottled Water

Grocery Store “Bottled” WaterGrocery Store “Bottled” Water

Pittsburgh Public Supplied Pittsburgh Public Supplied WaterWater

Answers to Water ExerciseAnswers to Water Exercise

• Evian- 0.03 of 5 gal bucketEvian- 0.03 of 5 gal bucket

• Grocery Store Water – 1/3 of 5 gal Grocery Store Water – 1/3 of 5 gal bucketbucket

• Pittsburgh Water – 62 5 gal bucketsPittsburgh Water – 62 5 gal buckets

http://www.provwater.com/worldclass.htm, RI

(74,844 gallons for annual household use.)

Cost of Water Globally?Cost of Water Globally?Annual

HouseholdCost Country

Cost per Gallon

$878 $878 BrazilBrazil $0.01173 $0.01173

$844 $844 JapanJapan $0.01128 $0.01128

$632 $632 SwedenSweden $0.00844 $0.00844

$578 $578 GermanyGermany $0.00772 $0.00772

$546 $546 United StatesUnited States $0.00730 $0.00730

$468 $468 United United KingdomKingdom $0.00625 $0.00625

$309 $309 Hong KongHong Kong $0.00413 $0.00413

$307 $307 BelgiumBelgium $0.00410 $0.00410

$267 $267 MexicoMexico $0.00357 $0.00357

$262 $262 CanadaCanada $0.00350 $0.00350

$254 $254 ThailandThailand $0.00339 $0.00339

$243 $243 Providence, Providence,

RIRI $0.00325$0.00325

Pittsburgh has one of Pittsburgh has one of highest costs for highest costs for commercialcommercial water water use in the country use in the country in 2000in 2000City $/gallon

Pittsburgh, PA 0.003971

Houston, TX 0.002275

Hartford, CT 0.001835

Denver, CO 0.001376

Salt Lake City, UT 0.000704

Focus Issue: Washing Clothes Focus Issue: Washing Clothes and Laundry Detergentsand Laundry Detergents

• Both a water quantity and quality issueBoth a water quantity and quality issue– Affects everyone!Affects everyone!– Quantity—Some washers more efficient than Quantity—Some washers more efficient than

othersothers– Quality—Just what’s in your laundry anyway?Quality—Just what’s in your laundry anyway?

• Start with an exercise using water and Start with an exercise using water and electricity pricing—comparison of Life electricity pricing—comparison of Life Cycle economics of two washing machinesCycle economics of two washing machines

Normal Washing MachineNormal Washing Machine

Efficient Washing MachineEfficient Washing Machine

Calculation of Actual Washer Calculation of Actual Washer PricesPrices

• 3 components—3 components—– Initial CostInitial Cost– Water CostWater Cost– Electricity CostElectricity Cost

• Lifecycle costing spreadsheetLifecycle costing spreadsheet

Initial CostsInitial Costs

• How much would you estimate each How much would you estimate each of these washers to cost upfront?of these washers to cost upfront?

Initial CostsInitial Costs

• How much would you estimate each of How much would you estimate each of these washers to cost upfront?these washers to cost upfront?– Normal Washer ~ $300Normal Washer ~ $300– Energy STAR front-loader ~ $900Energy STAR front-loader ~ $900

• Energy STAR washer costs 3X more!Energy STAR washer costs 3X more!– Other potential benefits of front-loader?Other potential benefits of front-loader?– Sound!Sound!– See if we can justify just on water and See if we can justify just on water and

electricityelectricity

Estimating DiscussionEstimating Discussion

• How much water does each washer How much water does each washer use per cycle?use per cycle?

Estimating DiscussionEstimating Discussion

• How much water does each washer How much water does each washer use per cycle?use per cycle?

– Normal WasherNormal Washer•37 gallons37 gallons

– EnergyStar WasherEnergyStar Washer•19 gallons19 gallons

Estimating DiscussionEstimating Discussion

• How much electricity does each How much electricity does each washer use per cycle?washer use per cycle?

Estimating DiscussionEstimating Discussion

• How much electricity does each How much electricity does each washer use per cycle?washer use per cycle?

– Normal WasherNormal Washer•1.57 kWh per load1.57 kWh per load

– EnergyStar WasherEnergyStar Washer•0.65 kWh per load0.65 kWh per load

Life Cycle Costs (with some Life Cycle Costs (with some assumptions)assumptions)

• Assume:Assume:– Electricity ~ 5.5 cents/kWhElectricity ~ 5.5 cents/kWh– Water ~ 0.397 cents/galWater ~ 0.397 cents/gal– Life Cycle of each washer ~ 12 yearsLife Cycle of each washer ~ 12 years

•Realistic?Realistic?

– 2.5 loads per week2.5 loads per week

Overall Life Cycle CostsOverall Life Cycle Costs

 COST OF WASHER

COST OF WATER

COST OF ENERGY

w/out emissions

Cost of Energy

with Emissions

TOTAL COST w/out

emissionsTotal Cost With

Emissions

top loader $ 299.99 $229.19 $ 37.22 $ 1,620.94 $ 566.40 $ 2,150.11

front loader $ 899.99 $117.69 $ 14.98 $ 652.40 $ 1,032.66 $ 1,670.08

Water Quality Issues—Case Water Quality Issues—Case Study: EutrophicationStudy: Eutrophication

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Caspian_Sea_from_orbit.jpg

Taken From: http://www.umanitoba.ca/institutes/fisheries/227_305.jpg

Brief History of Water Quality and Brief History of Water Quality and Eutrophication in the U.S.Eutrophication in the U.S.

• 1930’s-40’s—Industry starts mass producing chemicals such as DDT, 1930’s-40’s—Industry starts mass producing chemicals such as DDT, PCB’s, TCE, etc.PCB’s, TCE, etc.

• 1950’s—Water pollution truly starts to become evident1950’s—Water pollution truly starts to become evident

• 1962—Silent Spring by Rachel Carson published, immediate public 1962—Silent Spring by Rachel Carson published, immediate public outcry against toxic chemicalsoutcry against toxic chemicals

• 1964—Eutrophication becomes evident all over US from nutrient 1964—Eutrophication becomes evident all over US from nutrient pollutionpollution– International Joint Commission formed International Joint Commission formed

• 1969—Cuyahoga River/Lake Erie catches fire from pollution in water1969—Cuyahoga River/Lake Erie catches fire from pollution in water– IJC Commission Report suggests reducing Phosphate content in IJC Commission Report suggests reducing Phosphate content in

detergentsdetergents

• 1972—Clean Water Act passed (over veto by Nixon)1972—Clean Water Act passed (over veto by Nixon)– Wastewater treatment becomes lawWastewater treatment becomes law

• 1974—Safe Drinking Water Act Passed1974—Safe Drinking Water Act Passed

• 1983 and 1987—Chesapeake Bay Agreements on Nutrient reduction1983 and 1987—Chesapeake Bay Agreements on Nutrient reduction

• Early 1990’s—many states pass phosphorus bans for detergentsEarly 1990’s—many states pass phosphorus bans for detergents

Eutrophication—What is it?Eutrophication—What is it?

• Nitrogen (N) and Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) added Phosphorus (P) added to lakes or riversto lakes or rivers

• Algae grow quickly on Algae grow quickly on elevated nutrientselevated nutrients

• When algae die, When algae die, decomposition depletes decomposition depletes oxygenoxygen

• Lower oxygen levels kill Lower oxygen levels kill fish and aquatic lifefish and aquatic life

Image taken from: http://www.biologymad.com/Crops/Crops.htm

Eutrophication—What Eutrophication—What Causes it?Causes it?• Caused by elevated levels of N,P in waterCaused by elevated levels of N,P in water

—usually due to humans—usually due to humans

• Many possible causes!Many possible causes!– Municipal wastewater emissionsMunicipal wastewater emissions– Industrial EmissionsIndustrial Emissions– Crop Agriculture (fertilizer runoff)Crop Agriculture (fertilizer runoff)– Animal Agriculture (animal wastes)Animal Agriculture (animal wastes)

• The “Big” problem:The “Big” problem:– N,P are naturally occurring and non-toxicN,P are naturally occurring and non-toxic– Hard to trace and hard to determine who’s to Hard to trace and hard to determine who’s to

blameblame

Eutrophication—What Eutrophication—What Causes it?Causes it?

• Terminology—Point Terminology—Point source vs. Non-point source vs. Non-point sourcesource– Point source pollution Point source pollution

occurs at one pointoccurs at one point• Wastewater effluentWastewater effluent

• Combined Sewer Combined Sewer OverflowOverflow

– Non-point occurs Non-point occurs over entire over entire watershedwatershed• Agricultural ‘runoff’Agricultural ‘runoff’

Image taken from:http://pa.water.usgs.gov/pamaps/pa_basins.gif

Pennsylvania WatershedsPennsylvania Watersheds

Link to Laundry . . . Link to Laundry . . .

• One of major suspected routes of P One of major suspected routes of P pollution was in detergentspollution was in detergents– Detergents had a lot of Phosphates in Detergents had a lot of Phosphates in

them (20-35%)!them (20-35%)!– Phosphates not well removed in Phosphates not well removed in

wastewater treatmentwastewater treatment– Can comprise up to 40% of P in Can comprise up to 40% of P in

wastewaterwastewater

Laundry Detergent: what Laundry Detergent: what makes it work? makes it work?

• What does a laundry detergent need What does a laundry detergent need to do?to do?– ‘‘Grab’ soil and other stainsGrab’ soil and other stains– Pull the stain into solutionPull the stain into solution– Keep the stain in solutionKeep the stain in solution– Brighten colorsBrighten colors– Make the clothes smell pretty Make the clothes smell pretty

• Quite the technology, really!Quite the technology, really!

What makes it not work so What makes it not work so well?well?

• Water hardness (Ca, Mg, Fe)Water hardness (Ca, Mg, Fe)

• Detergents require a ‘builder’ to stop Detergents require a ‘builder’ to stop this interferencethis interference

• Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) works very well for thisworks very well for this– Nontoxic, extremely effective ‘builder’Nontoxic, extremely effective ‘builder’– Until 1960’s, the only builder usedUntil 1960’s, the only builder used

What’s a policy maker to What’s a policy maker to do?do?• Exercise: it’s 1969, people want Exercise: it’s 1969, people want

something done to ‘save’ Great something done to ‘save’ Great Lakes, ChesapeakeLakes, Chesapeake

• You know:You know:– Need to reduce P inputs to LakesNeed to reduce P inputs to Lakes– Some Phosphorus due to point sources, Some Phosphorus due to point sources,

some to agriculturesome to agriculture– Detergents make up large portion of P in Detergents make up large portion of P in

wastewaterwastewater– Wastewater removal methods availableWastewater removal methods available

What could be done?What could be done?• The options:The options:

– Remove Phosphates from DetergentsRemove Phosphates from Detergents– Remove Phosphates from WastewaterRemove Phosphates from Wastewater– Work on Agricultural inputsWork on Agricultural inputs– Any combination of the aboveAny combination of the above

• Several Questions:Several Questions:– Which is easiest?Which is easiest?– Which is safest?Which is safest?– Which is cheapest?Which is cheapest?– Which would be most effective?Which would be most effective?

Where it gets a little Where it gets a little complicated…complicated…• Easy Easy ≠ Cheap ≠ Effective ≠ Safe≠ Cheap ≠ Effective ≠ Safe

• Which is most important for an Which is most important for an environmental policy? environmental policy?

• Who should decide?Who should decide?

• Who should pay?Who should pay?– The public?The public?– The government? (another facet of the The government? (another facet of the

public)public)– Industry? (P+G, Colgate-Palmolive, etc)Industry? (P+G, Colgate-Palmolive, etc)

Option 1: Cut P levels in Option 1: Cut P levels in DetergentsDetergents

• Advantages (from gov’s Advantages (from gov’s perspective):perspective):– Easy—1 piece policyEasy—1 piece policy– Significantly reduce P load to Significantly reduce P load to

wastewater plantswastewater plants– Financial burden goes to Financial burden goes to

industryindustry

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:– Only part of part of P loadOnly part of part of P load– Industry backlash?Industry backlash?– Still need detergent—what Still need detergent—what

would replace it?would replace it?

Example Example Environmentally-Environmentally-Friendly DetergentFriendly Detergent

Taken from: http://www.animalaid.org.uk/shop/household.htm

Option 1: Cut P levels in Option 1: Cut P levels in DetergentsDetergents

• Potential replacements all Potential replacements all had problems—had problems—– Citrate was safe, but not all Citrate was safe, but not all

that effectivethat effective– NTA arguably safe and NTA arguably safe and

effective, but questions about effective, but questions about toxicitytoxicity

– Zeolite A safe and somewhat Zeolite A safe and somewhat effective, but expensiveeffective, but expensive

• Industries already invested Industries already invested in NTA productionin NTA production– Precautionary principle?Precautionary principle?

Example Example Environmentally-Environmentally-Friendly Detergent Friendly Detergent todaytoday

Taken from: http://www.animalaid.org.uk/shop/household.htm

Option 2: Remove P from Option 2: Remove P from WastewaterWastewater

• Advantages:Advantages:– Target all point source PTarget all point source P– Even then, fairly effective Even then, fairly effective

(much more so now)(much more so now)– Can keep Phosphates in Can keep Phosphates in

detergentsdetergents– Definite reduction after Definite reduction after

implementationimplementation

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:– Very expensive—have to Very expensive—have to

retrofit several hundred plantsretrofit several hundred plants– Cost goes to municipalitiesCost goes to municipalities– Still only deal with part of P Still only deal with part of P

load (point source)load (point source)

Precipitation unit for P removal

Taken from: http://www.sewage-plants.de/en/technik/tertiaer/tertiaer.php

Option 3: Work on Non-Point Option 3: Work on Non-Point sourcessources

• Advantages: Advantages: – In most watersheds, non-In most watersheds, non-

point are majority of loadpoint are majority of load– Best practices can be low Best practices can be low

costcost

• Disadvantages:Disadvantages:– IgnoranceIgnorance

• Where it’s coming from?Where it’s coming from?

• Who and what is needed to fix?Who and what is needed to fix?

– Difficult to implement—need Difficult to implement—need cooperation from many cooperation from many partiesparties

– ‘‘Soft’ solution—impacts not Soft’ solution—impacts not definitedefinite

Fertilizer runoff into a river

Taken from: http://www.concordma.com/magazine/sepoct01/scummyseptriver.jpeg

TradeoffsTradeoffs• Detergent substitution easy, cheap, Detergent substitution easy, cheap,

and arguably effectiveand arguably effective– But might be unsafeBut might be unsafe

• Wastewater Removal easy, effective, Wastewater Removal easy, effective, and safeand safe– But expensive for municipalitiesBut expensive for municipalities

• Non-point Sources safe and cheap Non-point Sources safe and cheap and could be effectiveand could be effective– But certainly not easy, and might not do But certainly not easy, and might not do

anythinganything

Long Story ShortLong Story Short• US focused on detergent substition initiallyUS focused on detergent substition initially

– Took 10 to 20 years to find a suitable blend of Took 10 to 20 years to find a suitable blend of substitutessubstitutes

– Some work was done on P removal in Some work was done on P removal in wastewaterwastewater

• In 1980’s, became evident that solution was In 1980’s, became evident that solution was not workingnot working– Some highly improved waters, some notSome highly improved waters, some not– More focus as of late on agricultural practicesMore focus as of late on agricultural practices

• Eutrophication remains problematic in Eutrophication remains problematic in many areas of the countrymany areas of the country– Even worse now with growth of factory farmingEven worse now with growth of factory farming

SummarySummary

• Policy makers must account for several Policy makers must account for several things in making decisions about things in making decisions about technologytechnology– Public SafetyPublic Safety– Environmental SafetyEnvironmental Safety– Economic efficiency (for who?)Economic efficiency (for who?)

• Water quality issues can be difficult Water quality issues can be difficult problems to fix!problems to fix!

Questions?Questions?