Page 17 - trends in automation 1.2013

Virtual water
An average apple contains around
130 ml of water. However, if you take
the ‘virtual water’ into account, an
apple contains around 70 litres of water.
Virtual water refers not just to the
volume of water contained directly in a
product, but rather to the total volume
of water required to produce it. For
example, it includes the rainwater or
irrigation water used in agriculture
or the cooling water used in industry.
It’s a term we’re hearing a lot more
given the rise in the global flow of
goods. Technically speaking, when
goods are traded worldwide, this
means that the virtual water they
contain is also traded.
Challenges for the water industry
Water has been a source of contention
throughout human history. Whether it’s
too much or too little water, flood or
drought, the conflict surrounding water,
a resource which is life-saving and
life-threatening in equal measure, has
persisted through ancient civilisations,
the Middle Ages and modern times.
Against this background, the United
Nations General Assembly has named
2013 the International Year of Water
Cooperation. This initiative aims to
strengthen awareness of the importance
of water cooperation and to kick-start
more extensive cooperation in other
parts of society. A key issue in this context
is the challenge of meeting the growing
demand for water being faced by the water
industry. Fair access to and distribution
of this vital resource will play an increas-
ingly important role in the future.
Prosperity demands efficient use
The challenge of supplying clean water is
more relevant for governments worldwide
today than ever as the availability of water
is crucial for prosperity and economic
growth. China is a perfect example of this.
The Chinese government has declared
water conservation to be the primary ob-
jective of its twelfth five-year plan. Key
targets include investment in water sup-
ply and water treatment to the tune of
580 billion US dollars over the next ten
years. Industrial water consumption is to
be reduced by 30 per cent by 2015, the
expansion of new wastewater treatment
and desalination plants is to continue
and penalties for exceeding water quality
limits are to be increased. In addition,
local authorities will be supported in the
introduction of emissions trading for
water quality in catchment areas. Inter-
national suppliers in the water industry
are offering new economic opportunities
in this area.
Process automation conserves resources
Sustainable use of water as a resource
demands efficient solutions for water and
wastewater treatment. The demand for
innovative concepts is increasing due to
expanding megacities. As a result, more
and more attention is being focused on
the automation of water and wastewater
treatment plants for sustainable urban
1 cup of coffee
140 litres of virtual water
1 kg of bananas
859 litres of virtual water
1 steak (300 g)
4,500 litres of virtual water
1.2013 trends in automation
Impulse 16 – 17