Water Saving Measures (large scale) in Private Household
Appliances Really Sustainable?

With the rapidly increasing awareness for the limits of natural resources so far not considered to be of 'high importance', e.g. water, appropriate water saving appliances have experienced a major push forward. No new building, especially such predestined to be labelled, without a high-tech and outstandingly water saving equipment (often designed in an excellent way). However, is this really helpful? Do such appliances indeed contribute and sustain to an increased overall sustainability? The reflection about these questions requires a more comprehensive perspective, in this particular case about the natural water cycle on the one hand and about the artificial water cycle on the other hand. 

Firstly, lowering the water consumption is in general a promising step ahead. (Over)consumption results in a lowering of the available (drinking) water, it affects the natural water cycle (deprivation of water for plants, etc.). The border exists once the resource water turns into a consumed good, i.e. once drinking water turns into waste water. 

Two major problems are associated with the water saving measures widely considered to be of environmental friendly, thus sustainable character. The first major problem is the lowered waste water volume. Typically, sewers are designed for a certain waste water discharge capacity. With a dropping volume of waste water also the friction force of water falls. Once a critical threshold is underrun, particulate matter deposits on the bottom of the sewer. In the worst case the sewer blocked and as results the sewer pipe may break. The second major issue is the increased load of waste that is transported via the waste water stream towards the waste water treatment plant. Also these technical facilities (here especially the biological water treatment step) are designed for a certain range of waste load. Once this range is exceeded and the 'toxic cocktail' delivered is to intensive, the biological treatment may be knocked-out. 

The above addressed issues represent only two challenges associated with sustainable water management. It also underlines the necessity to move ahead and away from sole singular sustainability measures (high-tech buildings, etc.) and advocates the importance of implementing sustainability measures on a broad level.

Further readings: [0], [1], [2], [3]

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