1. Eco-efficiency Concept
The concept of ‘Eco-efficiency’ stems from the idea of ‘Sustainability’, which was devised in 1991 by the Business Council on Sustainable Development (now the World Business Council on Sustainable Development – WBCSD). In terms of the concept, although the idea of eco-efficiency has been developed mostly in industrial processes, the concept expanded as useful term as one of the supplementary approaches to implement sustainable development in society.
The core idea of eco-efficiency, ‘more value with less impact (on the environment)’, has proven to be also applicable in management of water infrastructure. Eco-efficiency is often expressed as the creation of more value with fewer resources and less impact, or doing more with less.”
The concept of E/E is often misunderstood as a means to enforce the public to reduce the level of consuming natural resources and living standards for a better future. But such understandings are incorrect, because E/E puts more emphasis on promotion of innovation and a paradigm shift from resource waste to resource saving and efficient use in order to achieve decoupling economic well-being with natural resource use. In addition, E/E aims to provide a framework to reach a high level of welfare and a better quality of life while avoiding an overuse of limited natural resources
2. What does Water Infrastructure mean?
According to Enhancing Regional Cooperation in Infrastructure Development (UNESCAP, 2005), the definition of water infrastructure can be defined as a stock of facilities and installations:
- to develop and manage water resources, including delivery, treatment, supply, and distribution of water to its users, and
- for the collection, removal, treatment and disposal of sewage and wastewater.
Infrastructure is not an end product in itself but is “systems that deliver goods and services, using resources (e.g. energy, water, materials, land) and interacting with the surrounding environment (e.g. waste, emissions, noise)”. It has key implications for socio-economic development:
- Foundation for economic growth
- Delivers goods and services to the population
- Resource and pollution intensive
- Locks into consumption patterns for decades
Water infrastructure is an indispensable requisite of water resource management for further economic growth in the region because
- adequate water infrastructure is a basic element to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of water resources and overcome water scarcity problem,
- water infrastructure provides water-related services for the population, agriculture and industry, as well as for treatment and disposal of wastewater, hydroelectric power generation and navigation,
- the construction and maintenance of water infrastructure make significant effects on economic growth in terms of resource consumption and huge expenses,
- sustainable water infrastructure, for example, the provision of water pipelines, can make a key role in improving gender equality, and
- sustainable water infrastructure is intended to supplement the natural ability of aquatic ecosystems to cope with drought and floods as well as to accommodate a certain pollution load.
3.
How can water infrastructure be categorized?
There could be several ways of categorization for water infrastructure depending on criteria. Here the criteria for categorization of water infrastructure are sector-based since the application of eco-efficiency concpet will vary from sector to sector. Each of these categories of water infrastructure expansion can be further sub-divided as given below:
Development of Water Resources
- Infrastructure for Developing Water Resources: dam, reservoir, well, sea desalination facility, rain harvesting system
Use of Water Resources
- Household sector – Infrastructure for drinking water supply: canal, water purification plant, pumping station, distribution network, sewerage systems and latrines
- Industrial sector - Infrastructure for Industrial Water Supply and Industrial Effluent Treatment: hydropower plant, water supply system and wastewater treatment system owned by industry
- Agriculture - Infrastructure of Irrigation Water Supply: Irrigation system, reservoirs
Management of Water Resources
- Environmental Protection: water and wastewater treatment facilities and recycling systems, sewerage systems,
- Disaster Protection: flood protection facilities.
- Climate Change Buffer: Systems with low carbon usage, water security and coastal management.
4. What Eco-efficient Water Infrastructure mean?
The eco-efficient water infrastructure indicates physical infrastructure in water and sanitation services that adopt the sustainable processes of design, construction, operation and maintenance with less environmental impacts. The eco-efficient water infrastructure also includes institutional arrangements and policy measures that support water supply and sanitation services to entail an optimal level of water utilization and a less burden to limited water resources.
The foundation to the concept of eco-efficient water infrastructure is that this idea focuses on the life cycle of planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of water services facilities but also of institutional measures including relevant legal, economic and regulatory instruments to manage water resources in a sustainable manner.
It also means water system that maximize economically water goods and services while optimizing resource use (energy, water, raw materials and land) and minimizing waste and pollution within the ecological system integrity. The approach focuses on improving demand side management of water infrastructure and developing an appropriate policy framework for an integrated water resource management. Not only efficiency of infrastructure investment but also eco-efficiency of operation and maintenance of water infrastructure need to be improved. This is possible through adaptation of proper techniques and overall involvement of all the sectors of the water infrastructure.
Eco Efficiency = Functional performance of water infra x Life span
Environment impact of water infra
5. Why Eco-efficient approach for Water Infrastructure is needed?
As economies grow and population increases rapidly in Asia and Pacific region over last decades, many developing countries face increasing demand of water resources, increasing acute water scarcity and serious socio economic impact of water related disasters, thereby threatening the sustainability of socio economic development efforts.
In addition, climate change which is the biggest threat the planet faces, is making serious impacts on water system including water infrastructure, especially to the poorest and the most vulnerable among us.
Most of the developing countries in the region have very limited capitals and resources to invest in the construction of new water infrastructures as well as in replacement of aging water infrastructure. Moreover, the continuous constructions of new water supply facilities could not be eco-efficient in the long run and face strong confrontation from environmentalists and civil society.
Under these circumstances, one of the best solutions to tackle these issues is to increase ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) in water infrastructure in countries, which can play a central role in pursuing sustainable development. This eco-efficiency approach for water infrastructure could be supplementary to the traditional approach, mainly focusing on water supply management (e.g. construction of physical water infrastructure like dams, reservoir, hydropower plants, water distribution networks, and other water facilities).
ESCAP, in close collaboration with countries, research institutes, regional organizations and civil societies, aims to contribute to developing countries to identify best practices that have helped countries to address a variety of challenges including the rising wave of infrastructure replacement needs and Climate Change impacts on water system, and further to achieve the sustainable development through the promotion of eco efficient approach for water infrastructure
In this connection, ESCAP establishes the regional knowledge hub with the purposes to facilitate flows of information including research papers, country reports, good practices and activities, etc and to strengthen the partnership and networks as well as participations in Asia and the Pacific region.
6. How to Achieve the Eco-efficient Water Infrastructure?
Development of eco efficient approach for water infrastructure in the region is the long term process which requires much time and efforts. The strategies, guidelines, frameworks, methodologies, measurement and indicators for eco-efficient water infrastructure are still in progress.
Like most of the other new approaches, the application of eco-efficiency to water infrastructure requires different perspectives, mindset, and disciplines incorporating social sciences, economics, psychology, sociology and education, as well as awareness, expertise and capacity building to develop strategy, planning design and implementation, as well as awareness, expertise and capacity building to develop strategy, planning design and implementation.
There are no magic solutions yet. However there are some suggestions to consider
- To mobilize policy makers’ support and commitment for the eco efficient water infrastructure
- To link the eco efficient water infrastructure to existing strategies
- To promote 5R: Re-think policy planning, Re-design products and engineering process, Re-integrate with other infrastructures, Re-think markets, and Re-education
- To strengthen the capacity development of countries through research, consultation, workshops, pilot projects and networking, etc
- To facilitate partnerships and networks in more eco-efficient way to share knowledge, experiences and lessons learned among countries in the region
- To develop the media strategy including website, TV programme and UN Water Prize, etc as a mechanism for capacity building, technology transfer and awareness raising among developing countries
7. EcoWIN Recommendations (Zero Draft)
a) Establish the policies to encourage
- Eco efficiency in water infrastructure
- Decentralized System
- Integration with national and local strategies
- Life - cycle approach
b) Paradigm shift from physical water goods and services to water value and human development focusing on ecosystem
c) Focus on core needs of water iand wastewater infrastructure
d) Develop acts and new programmes to encourage new technology and management innovation in order to reduce natural resource consumption and infrastructure costs, improve productivity of water utilities and reduce impacts on ecosystems
e) Support governments (central and local) to develop appropriate strategies and guidelines for eco efficient water infrastructure
f) Support governments (central and local) to implement water infrastructure acts and programmes with finance and technical assistance
g) Promotion of 5R: Re-think policy planning, Re-design products and engineering process, Re-integrate with other infrastructures, Re-think markets, and Re-educate
h) Share knowledge, experiences and good practices among countries through strong partnerships and networks
i) Mobilize the commitment and support through participation of policy decision makers and key stakeholders
j) Management by area, not by point
k) Multi-purpose water infrastructure
l) Dual approach for institutional aspect and physical aspect
m) Key stakeholders’ commitment and support
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