The diagrams illustrate how the water supply system in Australia operates at present and how it is expected to change in the future.
Overall, the current system is relatively simple, with water flowing in one direction from storage to users and then being discarged into a river. By contrast, the future system introduces a recycling process, allowing wastewater to be treated and reused, thereby reducing waste and improving sustainability. At present, water is stored in a dam or storage facility and then supplied directly to the city, where it is used by households, shops and factories. After use, wastewater is sent to a water treatment plant, while storm water flows directly into the river. Following treatment, the processed water is also released into the river rather than being reused.
In the proposed future system, the initial stage remains the same, with water being delivered from the dam to the city.However, a key difference is that wastewater from the city will be redirected to the water treatment plant and the returned to the city as purified water. This creates a circular system. Meanwhile, storm water will continue to flow into the river, but the amount of wastewater discharged into the river will be significantly reduced.
In summary, the future design focuses on water recycling, making the system more efficient and environmentally friendly compared to the current linear model.