Saving water is also saving energy
In an article originally published on Linkedin, Miguel Allen Lima argues for a holistic approach to solve the problem of inefficient use of these two essential resources
Water is fundamental for our survival and, at the same time, it is becoming increasingly scarce, as we have unfortunately seen in recent times. According to the drought monitoring index used by IPMA*, this is one of the driest years of the last nine decades in Portugal. And considering climate change, the scenario is expected to get worse.
Adding to this already bleak scenario is the continued dependence on fossil fuels and the escalating energy prices since the start of the war in Ukraine, which has made the energy transition more difficult.
Energy and water: two closely linked topics
Energy production has a strong carbon footprint, with direct impact on climate change. And in turn climate change leads to increased periods of drought, higher temperatures and desertification of the territory, with greater incidence in southern Europe. In other words, makes freshwater an even scarcer resource.
On the other hand, water withdrawal, treatment and distribution are an energy-intensive process. In Portugal alone, the water sector has an energy consumption of about 6% of domestic energy consumption. With the increasing scarcity of water, it is increasingly necessary to collect it from greater depths and transport it over greater distances or even resort to tanker trucks to supply populations in situations of extreme drought, such as those we have experienced this summer in some regions of Portugal. This means higher energy consumption to have drinking water in our homes.
It is therefore clear that the inefficient uses of energy and water feed each other in a negative way: fossil energy accelerates climate change, makes water scarcer and thus its collection requires more energy. If nothing is done, it will be increasingly difficult to break out of this spiral and avoid its undesirable effects.
A holistic approach to the problem
On the one hand, we must encourage entities in the sector to produce their own clean energy and implement energy efficiency measures. This will reduce their energy dependence and carbon footprint.
On the other hand, given that public supply networks lose 30% of their water on average, reducing these losses will not only result in direct water savings, but will also indirectly reduce the energy required throughout the system.
In this perspective, to help municipalities implement water efficiency projects, ARQUILED has partnered with the Brazilian company Stattus4 and together they have recently presented an artificial intelligence system to monitor in real time the supply network through IoT sensors.
This is a unique opportunity to revolutionize this sector and thus make a double contribution to the sustainability of the planet. Saving water also means saving energy.
Miguel Allen Lima
ARQUILED CEO
*Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute
