Advancing Athens’ circular economy: sewer mining for urban water reclamation

Le résumé fourni par la source

Water scarcity is recognised as a crucial issue worldwide, particularly prevalent in semi-arid regions of Southern Europe. The escalating human demand for irrigation, drinking, recreation, and other essential social needs, increasingly outstrips the available supply. The impact of climate change on hydrological cycles exacerbates this issue as well. In this context, innovative water reuse technologies that turn waste into a valuable resource have garnered increasing attention in recent years. These technologies not only enhance the circularity of urban environments but also booster community resilience and facilitate a sustainable transition to adapt to projected climate change. Sewer mining, a pioneering wastewater recycling technology, is gradually increasing in popularity thanks to its efficiency in treatment and minimal space requirements for installation. This innovative technology produces treated water from sewerage extracted from the local sewers and reuses it at the point of demand. The current research has investigated the implementation of this technology in a real world environment, at the City of Athens, Greece, over the past three years and has optimised its operational procedures and efficiency. This study conclusively demonstrates that sewer mining indeed stands as a viable solution for water reuse, particularly in densely urbanized areas with limited space and susceptibility to drought. By integrating sewer mining alongside freshwater conservation efforts, cities can effectively increase their urban green spaces, mitigating the adverse effects of urban heat islands and heatwaves. Additionally, such solutions alleviate pressures on existing sewage treatment facilities. Therefore, leveraging the latent potential of sewage as a valuable resource hidden beneath city streets emerges as a recommended strategy for enhancing urban resilience against climate change.

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