Water : Facing the scarcity

Water is a scarce resource every where in the world; yet we do not really care about it. We act blind; thus we do not realize it. 

I often wonder why cannot resorts in Maldives reuse the treated waste water instead of discharging it to the sea ? It is not necessary to follow exactly what they do in Singapore i.e. to use recycled / treated water as drinking water; but use at least for limited usages such as floor cleaning, gardening & toilet flushing. One excellent example can be quoted (without just quoting from internet) which I witnessed myself . Few years back in Sri Lanka, we worked with i.e. Brandix group waste water plant project. Brandix was more concerned about environment & this was also one of their critical success factor in achieving  awards & standards. The plants were designed to get treated water up to Central Environment Authority standards; reused as toilet flushing water. The result water gave no odour & no colour . Brandix follow the same up to date. 

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) can be defined as the amount of oxygen that would be consumed if all the organics in one liter of water were oxidized by bacteria and protozoa (ReVelle and ReVelle, 1988)

Maldives sea is polluted by unseen ways of discharging treated sewage & water into sea. Although it is called " treated", we all know that the process is not completed. 

Increasing BOD levels due to discharge of sewage & waste maters to sea, can cause create critical issues in very near future. Severe effects which may result can be listed as following. 

1. Organic matter from sewage would break down & reduce dissolve Oxygen in sea. This increased BOD level in water which is needed for aquatic organisms. 

2. The level of nutrients goes up causing plankton productivity changes. Algal blooms rise up. Contaminants become toxic for  already existing phyto-plankton .

3. Half treated sewage increases the turbidity & suspended solids reducing the sun light penetration. This inhibits sea plant growth & damage fish gills eventually affects on natural green food available for other sea creatures. 

So what can we say if guests find snorkeling in Maldives is less attractive due to reduction of fish population in sea?

4. Waste water introduces pesticides, other chemicals, heavy metals which can bio-accumulate within animal tissues and have long-term toxic effects. So now we do understand that these chemicals may cause skin irritations & other effects. 

Don't you think our continuous actions may make path to a day of end less guest complains about skin irritations or sea water allergies in Maldives? 

5. Free Chlorine or other disinfectant reactors might create harmful compounds such as chloroform or halo-ketons. 

These are only few results. Sometimes releasing of improperly treated sewage & waste water may seem to be without option. But if we really focus on the right solutions, we are able to make it. It is understandable that the initial set up for a right treatment process to get treated water with reusable level is high in cost. In marketing point of view, resorts must look into meeting the bottom line as well which might be difficult with this type of investment. However it is not something impossible when compared the investment amount with long term benefits.

As an agriculturist, marketer & a person with experience in water treatment field,
I think that everything is inter-connected.  My feeling is that we must not forget that we have a responsibility to environment where we live in.  Shouldn't we create the competencies to deal with our own waste without waiting till the rest of ecosystems finish our unfinished job? It is something to think. 

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