Water management
Water has been in a constant cycle for 4.2 billion years. It is the basis of life for humans, nature and the economy
Water management: challenges and solutions
The water cycle is here to stay: with water extraction and treatment, the water network and complex wastewater treatment, humanity is now an important part of this cycle.
However, the effects of climate change pose new and existential challenges for the water industry. These include extreme weather situations such as heavy rainfall, periods of drought or flooding, which threaten settlements as well as water management supply systems.
In the field of wastewater treatment, players are constantly confronted with new substances that need to be removed from wastewater. The purification process produces high greenhouse gas emissions that need to be reduced. In addition, concepts are needed for dealing with water scarcity and low water levels.
But challenges also create room for innovation. For example, sponge city concepts, wastewater treatment plants designed as biorefineries or the possibility of producing hydrogen from treated wastewater. Water management plays a decisive role in the sustainable development of our federal state and is a central component of the GreenTech sector.
Market segments of the water management
The water management industry is divided into three market segments, each of which faces its own challenges. However, there are numerous service providers offering innovative solutions in each of these segments. In the GreenTech BW Atlas you will find a large number of providers of green-blue technologies from Baden-Württemberg.
Water extraction and treatment
Climate change also poses new challenges for water management in the area of water extraction and treatment: higher temperatures and dry periods mean an increased demand for clean water. At the same time, climate forecasts up to 2050 show that up to 20 per cent less groundwater will be formed in some parts of the country. So how do we guarantee good quality drinking water as well as security of supply and a reasonable price?
Water network
The water network not only includes the transport of clean drinking water from the waterworks to the consumer, but also the removal of our contaminated wastewater. This is a complex task that requires the use of water reservoirs, kilometres of pipes, pumping stations and other systems. The challenge: not only must the drinking water be distributed efficiently; the correct water pressure and good water quality must be constantly guaranteed. At the same time, leaks must be detected and minimised at an early stage.
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment plants are indispensable for our society. The purification of wastewater presents challenges, but also potential. On the one hand, we need to make the wastewater treatment process as climate-friendly as possible, for example by reducing nitrous oxide emissions. On the other hand, we need to utilise the potential of wastewater treatment plants: For example, can we not only filter out or remove recyclable materials, but also recover them? And how can we utilise the heat potential of wastewater?
Current events
Everything to do with water: discover our wide range of events on the topic of ‘water management’ and network with the players in the industry.
Get in touch with us
The water industry is at least as diverse as the challenges it faces. Do you have ideas, suggestions, proposals or questions that you would like to discuss? Then get in touch with us.
‘You can survive three days without water. But water is not just a survival resource. It is also a crucial building block in the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy.’
Jürgen Schmidtke, Project Manager Water Management
