Issue #107
September 2010

• Join the fight against cancer
• Rothenberger tool sale
  Winner Announced
• China takes the lead in
  reusing wastewater
• Warning: Gas attack
• 60 seconds at the counter
• Attention QLD plumbers
• In the pipeline
• Main price Changes
• Expanding the Network
• DIY Disaters Competition returning soon

Toilet to tap

China takes the lead in reusing wastewater.

The population of China has almost doubled since 1960, but the amount of water in the country hasn't. Which might be why China is leading the way in innovative ways of recycling water.

Professor Siqing Xia of Tongji University heads a program that has developed radical new toilet-to-tap technologies over the last few years. The professor's work has got the attention of scientists and governments around the world, particularly in Australia, where cities like Melbourne and Adelaide struggle to reduce water consumption to 155L a day.

Professor Xia has created a small-scale toilet-to-tap treatment plant on the campus that's turning wastewater into pure water. It's done using a process called membrane bioreactor technology. In fact it's really two processes. First of all membranes filter out larger particles. Bacteria is then used to purify the water.

Much of the treated water is used as greywater in the lab building's toilets and for landscaping. The remaining water is treated with reverse osmosis and ion exchange. And while the water isn't used for drinking, it actually exceeds government drinking standards.

The opportunities are exciting, not only for cities like Melbourne and Adelaide, but also for emerging economies. Small-scale treatment plants capable of producing 400L a day are easy to assemble and are also accessible. In fact, a 10,000L a day facility could be built for less than $14,000. In China plans are already underway for a wastewater treatment facility that includes the conversion of effluent capable of treating 30,000 cubic metres per day!

As we see it, Professor Xia may have hit upon an exciting way of getting us out of the poo when it comes to drinking water.