Water management from the environmental certification perspective: a new proposal of criteria and weight rates for application in Brazilian regions / Gestão da água na perspectiva das certificações ambientais: uma nova proposta de critérios e ponderações para aplicação em regiões do Brasil

ABSTRACT Several countries have developed tools with criteria and evaluations to grant, through the environmental certification, a more sustainable undertaking, with quality and productivity for its users. The tools were developed for different needs and objectives, which makes it difficult to make a direct comparison, in addition to having specific demands for each region. This study aims to make a comparative analysis between some tools of greater international knowledge and to propose new parameters for the water use and management category, taking into account the design and operational phase, the water distribution, and the demands for 2025. Consequently, this study proposed the creation of an exclusive environmental tool for the management and water use, providing a seal that may be applied to any project and adopted by water work systems as an incentive to reduce the consumption of drinking water, to use alternative sources, and to decrease liquid effluents.

RESUMO Vários países desenvolveram ferramentas com critérios e avaliações para garantir um empreendimento mais sustentável, com qualidade e produtividade para seus usuários, por meio de certificação ambiental. As ferramentas foram desenvolvidas para diferentes necessidades e objetivos, o que dificulta a comparação direta, além de haver demandas específicas para cada região. Este estudo teve como objetivo fazer uma análise comparativa entre algumas ferramentas de maior conhecimento internacional e propor novos parâmetros para a categoria de uso e gestão da água, levando em conta a fase de projeto e operação, a distribuição de água e as demandas para 2025. Consequentemente, este estudo propôs a criação de uma ferramenta ambiental exclusiva para a gestão e o uso da água, proporcionando um selo que pode ser aplicado a qualquer projeto e adotado pelas concessionárias de água como incentivo para reduzir o consumo de água potável, usar fontes alternativas e diminuir os efluentes líquidos.

Projeto piloto de uma caixa de descarga eficiente, econômica e à prova de vazamentos / Pilot design of an efficient, leak-proof and economical flush system

RESUMO Nas últimas décadas, houve redução de consumo per capita de água. Mesmo assim, diversos países buscam uma redução adicional no consumo por meio da melhoria dos processos de funcionamento de equipamentos. Este artigo descreve um novo design para caixa de descarga econômica, no qual não existe obturador nem juntas que possam ressecar e acarretar vazamento. Foram construídos e testados protótipos; o uso prolongado por 12 meses em uma residência habitada por quatro moradores demonstrou que o novo modelo de caixa de descarga funciona bem e consome menos água do que os demais. Esse projeto dispensa o uso de borrachas de vedação, trabalha com duas células (caixa interna e caixa externa), apresenta boa capacidade de arraste e demonstra boa eficiência tanto para descarga de 3 L como para descarga de 6 L.

ABSTRACT In the last decades, water consumption per capita has been reduced. Nevertheless, several countries look for additional reduction in water consumption through better process of equipment functions. This paper describes a new design for an economical flush system in which there is neither flapper nor gasket that could leak. Prototypes with new design have been made and tested; after a 12 months' test with one of them, by a family of 4 people, the project had good performance, with reduction in water consumption. This new design does not use gasket, works with two boxes (internal box and external box), presents good drag ability and demonstrates good water efficiency both for 3 L and 6 L flushes.

Water Sector Service Innovation: What, Where and Who.

Aims: Changes in water law and policy, in the UK and further afield, are promoting social and service innovation, as well as technical innovation in the water sector. In particular, the separation of wholesale and retail water and sewerage services for English and Welsh commercial water systems customers is leading to a focus on service innovation. But what do we mean by 'service innovation'? To whom does it apply and how do these parties interpret it? To answer these questions, this paper presents the findings of recent interviews undertaken by and case studies presented to the Water Efficiency (WATEF) Network Service Innovation Technical Committee. Study Design: The paper explores definitions and interpretations of service innovation (SI) and discusses case studies where SI is already being realised in the water sector. Methodology: The study was conducted using interviews and case studies. Results: A tree-branch model of SI is proposed, emphasising the placement of the customer as the focus of SI. A revised definition of SI was also provided to assist water service providers in enhancing the services provided to their customers. Conclusion: The study revealed that the water sector offers scope for improvement in fundamental business services. These include billing, customer relations, communication (information services) and data provision and visualisation.

Participation or Exploitation: How Can Concepts of Community and Privatization Coalesce around Water Efficiency Approaches.

The need to promote water efficient technologies and initiatives is increasingly a central feature of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Attendant to this is a growing focus by IWRM practitioners of the role that community plays in supporting a range of interventions that reduces overall water demand. Public information campaigns led by municipal authorities and water companies encourage water users to become involved in resource husbandry both inside and outside the home. Community participation is encouraged through community water reuse schemes, fundraising campaigns to build community scale water efficient interventions, and NGO, regulator and water company education activities to promote lifestyle changes which support water efficiency endeavours. Whilst there is a clear rationale for involving the community in water management, critical questions should be posed around the way in which this community participation is valued, particularly within privatized water resource management regimes. Does the drive to maximise water efficiency encourage participation or is it an “exploitation” of goodwill? Who derives the maximum utility from this approach; water stakeholders or water company shareholders? Exploring concepts of household revenue streams, Human Scale Development (HSD) and the Transition Network Movement (TNM), this paper advocates an approach that repositions water efficiency initiatives in such a way that ensures that community participation efforts are sufficiently rewarded within socially and environmentally sustainable markets.

Reframing Water Efficiency: Determining Collective Approaches to Change Water Use in the Home.

Aims: This paper explores the collective ordering of domestic water use, shaped through shared social, technical and natural relations, and outlines how this understanding can be used to inform water efficiency initiatives in order achieve sustainable domestic water consumption. Study Design: Literature review, focus group and qualitative data analysis. Place and Duration of Study: South of England; December 2013. Methodology: Three focus groups were held with consumers in the south of England. Each group comprised of 5-8 participants, strategically sampled for a mix of genders and metered/ unmetered customers, and split by life-stage (where age was used as a proxy; 21-35, 36-50, 50+). In-depth, semi-structured discussion techniques were used to investigate the collective drivers of everyday water use and the impact of water efficiency initiatives in changing patterns of water use in the home. Results: Four key drivers are identified: 1) expectations of service and supply; 2) decision making 3) social norms and networks and 4) socio-technical practices. The findings reveal that while evidence of all drivers are identified in focus group discussions, some offer greater value for intervening in household consumption than others. The discussion uses the example of household laundry to explore the implications of this research for informing water efficiency activities. Conclusion: Achieving sustainable domestic water consumption requires fresh thinking about water use as a collectively ordered activity. The approach taken highlights alternative spaces for intervention and the findings of this research sheds light on the efficacy of existing water efficiency activities in bringing about more sustainable domestic consumption. The implications of this research are a shift away from providing information and incentives, toward building a more transparent and open relationship with consumers about water resources and developing the resources to identify and address broad social and technological trends that inhibit behavior change.

Feasibility Study of Water Saving Measures in Higher Education Buildings: A Case Study of the University of Aveiro.

Aims: Evaluate the water savings potential and financial viability of water saving measures in in higher education buildings Study Design: The study follows an observational approach to characterize the current performance of existing buildings in terms of water consumption and evaluate the potential for increasing water efficiency. Place and Duration of Study: Buildings of the Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Communication and Arts, Environment and Planning, and Mathematics Departments and the Pedagogic Complex of the University of Aveiro, Portugal, between May 2013 and July 2014. Methodology: Water efficiency audits complemented with limited monitoring and simulation of investment scenarios. Results: The payback period of the investment required to implement the measures was found to be less than 7 months in all the cases, with average water savings potential of 28% and ranging from 9% up to 37%. Conclusion: Water savings measures are attractive solutions for university buildings in Portugal, particularly the older ones, because of their environmental and financial performance and the low investment required.