46. What would we do with sewage and water supply networks if we started afresh (and considered all factors such as changing climate, population and policy); is current technology up to the job?
47. What would a modern water/wastewater treatment plant look like if we could start afresh?
48. How do we develop and implement low energy water and wastewater treatment processes?
49. How do we optimise existing sewer networks (and what adaptations are needed to respond to changes in the type and volume of effluent)?
50. Is local treatment more sustainable than a fully sewered system?
51. How will hydrological regimes of lakes, rivers and ground waters change in response to climate change and how will this impact on water supply?
52. Can we optimise water supply within catchments? 53. What is the best long-term solution to water supply over periods longer than the next 30 years, and what are the potential barriers to success?
54. Based on the drivers of the future, what is the right delivery mechanism for water in the UK?
55. What water conservation and wastewater retrofit options for existing buildings are needed?
56. How does public perception of water management affect their response to calls for water conservation?
57. How can we improve people’s perceptions of re-use options such as grey water recycling?
58. What are the effects of wasted energy, materials and resources on biodiversity?
59. Do ‘soft engineering solutions’ such as constructed wetlands offer a cost-effective means of dealing with water treatment work problems (e.g. water colour, nitrate) and if so, where in the system could these solutions be sited?
60. What are the marginal benefits of additional water treatments on public health?
61. What are the environmental impacts of different uses of sludge as a product (e.g. energy source, fertilizer etc)?
62. How can we re-use sludge so that it provides the best value to society?
Image above: Water industry governance - Rotork PLC
63. Should we be using treated water to recharge groundwater as well as rivers?
Water industry governance 64. Could water exchange agreements between utilities work? 65. Would competition among water utilities deliver the right benefits for consumers and the environment? 66. How efficient does comparative efficiency between utilities make the water industry? 67. What would be the best way to modify the current five year Asset Management Plan cycle in England to incorporate dynamic changes and to achieve long-term sustainability of the water industry? 68. How could we use institutional processes to manage holistically the water cycle in the UK?
69. How do we ensure that innovation, particularly related to
sustainable solutions, is maximised in the water industry?
Image above: Water supply, treatment & distribution networks - Elizabeth Reather
Understanding and managing demand 70. How effective are current water demand forecasting techniques, and what developments are needed to better improve accuracy (e.g. addressing hidden usage from transient populations), and address changing drivers of, and controls on, water demand?
71. How do we change consumer behaviour regarding water (e.g. reducing the duration and volume of showers, minimising chemical use in the home)? 72.What are the best ways to analyze the relative risks of different water demand management measures?
73. What is best practice in residential and industrial water conservation? 74. How can we use technical solutions, novel tariff structures and communication for consumer engagement to make water metering more effective? 75. What are the implications of changing household technology for the water industry (e.g. impact of low flush toilets on solids transport; disposal of organic waste by sink maceration; water conservation technology
rebound effects)?
76. What are the most appropriate mechanisms for dealing with water consumer debt?
77. Can income support be better targeted so that water and fuel poverty can be reduced?
78. How can ‘can’t pay’ water debtors be differentiated from ‘won’t pay’ debtors, and what
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