Nov 24 2009
According to researcher Rutger de Graaf, who received his doctorate from the Delft University of Technology, the level of dangers faced by cities in water management must be reduced and this, in turn, will lead to the production of energy by using water from the urban areas, which can also be used in construction sites and for other household tasks.
Graaf has analyzed three new concepts that can be used in the area of water management in a northern Dutch town of Heerhugowaard, and this will simultaneously bring down the dangers existing in many cities. Rutger de Graaf has received his doctorate title at the Delft University of Technology, Netherlands on 23 November.
The first concept is based on the usage of the local water reserves as a source of energy. This concept is tested on 2,800 homes that are expected to be built the Dutch town of Heerhugowaard. According to this concept, heat emitted from the surface water will be pumped and stored underground in summer and the stored heat is later reused in winter for various domestic and commercial heating purposes. By this concept, Graff has found out that in comparison with other heating systems, the emissions of carbon-dioxide can be reduced to 60 percent, and in summer the surface is cooled to a certain extent thus improving the quality of water.
The possibility of developing a self-sufficient water system that can be used for drinking water is the next concept analyzed by Graaf. Though this kind of system can be technically developed, it is not wholly possible to be used as less than five percent of water has to be pumped in from other places.
In comparison with other dinking water systems, this system was considered to be a lot more expensive. The possibility of reducing the demand for municipal drinking water by collecting rain water is also taken into consideration by Graaf who felt that at least 27 percent of the dependence on municipal drinking water can be reduced, and this in turn will give rise to economic benefits.