The Water‑wastewater‑sludge Sector and the Circular Economy

• Authors: Danuta Lipińska

Title variants

Branża wodno‑ściekowo‑osadowa a gospodarka cyrkularna

• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The objective of this paper is a theoretical and empirical analysis and evaluation of the role, importance and opportunities of the water‑sewage‑sludge industry in the implementation of the circular economy. To realize this objective, a review of both the literature and the EU strategic documents concerning the subject of the study was conducted. The applied research method is a descriptive analysis based on available statistical data (Eurostat, EEA, EIO and the Polish Central Statistical Office) as well as on source materials. The theoretical part of the work presents the essence of the circular economy and the general characteristics of the analyzed sector, with a particular focus on the potential for the recovery of water from sewage and the reuse of wastewater, as well as the recovery of phosphorus from the wastewater treatment, processing and disposal of sewage sludge. The results of the study show that: (1) there are significant links between the development goals of the water‑sewage‑sludge sector and the circular economy. (2) it is necessary to seek and implement new solutions and technologies leading to the increased recovery of energy and biogens from sewage sludge. (3) there are still many barriers to the recycling of rainwater and graywater as well as to the reuse of wastewater. (4) the circular economy creates new opportunities for water‑sewage and sludge management at the local and national level.

PL

Celem artykułu jest teoretyczna i empiryczna analiza oraz ocena roli i znaczenia branży wodno‑ściekowo‑osadowej w realizacji założeń koncepcji gospodarki o obiegu zamkniętym. Dla realizacji postawionego celu dokonano przeglądu literatury oraz unijnych dokumentów strategicznych z zakresu tematu opracowania. Zastosowana metoda badawcza to analiza opisowa na podstawie dostępnych materiałów źródłowych i danych statystycznych (Eurostat, EEA, EIO i GUS). W części teoretycznej pracy przedstawiono istotę gospodarki cyrkularnej oraz ogólną charakterystykę badanego sektora, zwracając szczególną uwagę na możliwości odnowy wody ze ścieków i wtórnego wykorzystania ścieków, a także odzysku energii i surowców (głównie fosforu) z procesów oczyszczania ścieków oraz przeróbki i unieszkodliwiania osadów ściekowych. Wyniki badań wskazują na: (1) istotne związki między celami rozwoju branży wodno‑ściekowo‑osadową a koncepcją gospodarki o obiegu zamkniętym. (2) konieczne wydaje się poszukiwanie i wdrażanie nowych rozwiązań i technologii prowadzących do wzrostu odzysku energii i fosforu z osadów ściekowych. (3) występuje wciąż wiele barier w zakresie wdrażania procesów recyklingu wody szarej, a także wtórnego wykorzystania ścieków. (4) gospodarka obiegowa stwarza nowe szanse dla rozwoju sektora wodno‑ściekowo‑osadowego na poziomie lokalnym i regionalnym.

Keywords

EN

circular economy; water‑sewage‑sludge industry; reuse of wastewater; recovery of water; energy and phosphorus; sewage sludge

PL

gospodarka cyrkularna; branża wodno‑ściekowo‑osadowa; powtórne wykorzystanie ścieków; odzysk wody; energii i fosforu; osady ściekowe; gospodarka cyrkularna; branża wodno‑ściekowo‑osadowa; powtórne wykorzystanie ścieków; odzysk wody; energii i fosforu; osady ściekowe

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Łódzki. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
• Journal: Comparative Economic Research. Central and Eastern Europe
• Year: 2018
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 121-137

Dates

published

2018-12-10

Contributors

author

Danuta Lipińska

• Sc.D.Eng., University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, Department of World Economy and European Integration, Lodz, Poland

References

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/cer-2018-0030