Goal #6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
Globally, 3 in 10 people lack access to safely managed drinking water services and 6 in 10 people lack access to safely managed sanitation facilities. Long-life plastic products used for clean water delivery, contaminated water removal and grey water recycling are essential in providing clean water and sanitation around the globe. These products are intended for long-term use and have a negligible environmental impact.
The BPF Pipes Group and its members work towards the delivery of sustainable solutions by raising awareness of the value that plastic pipe systems offer for a sustainable future.[1]
The plastics industry has provided numerous benefits to improve the provision of clean water and sanitation around the world:
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Water delivery and distribution using plastic pipes and/or retro-fitted pipe liners with reduced leakage, reduced transmission losses and reduced microorganism retention or growth. These include large-scale trans-boundary schemes to transfer water from areas of surplus to areas of shortage.
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Flood risk abatement through drainage pipes, flood run-off pipes, flood water retention and storage schemes, and flood water barriers/defences.
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Septic tanks and local sewerage treatment to reduce open defecation, the contamination of waterways and the spread of disease. Septic tanks need a good septic drain field and also maintenance and regular treatment to prevent groundwater pollution but can be an effective local solution to an infrastructure deficit.
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Sewerage and grey water piping to collect waste water locally before connecting to a centralised municipal waste system.
Plastic Helps Deliver Clean Water
Innovative portable water filtration and storage device
An innovative device has been awarded first prize as part of VinylPlus UK, IOM3 and MaDE 2019 PVC Redesigned competition.[2]
The competition was part of the British Plastics Federation’s VinylPlus UK project ‘Designing in a Circular Economy with PVC’.
As recycling is well established within the PVC sector, the aim was to engage designers to showcase innovative concepts for the sustainable reuse of PVC. This involved various applications of the material, both rigid and flexible, industrial and consumer.
The winning entries focused on solving real world challenges faced by communities in developing countries. Associate Professor Robin Jones of London South Bank University noted:
“The designs showed both creative flair and an attention to detail, and in tackling real-world issues demonstrated a great depth of thought into the product’s lifecycle and practical use.”
The finalists were presented their awards and prize money at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IoM3) on 29 May 2019.
Karen Silva’s Yuna portable water purifier winning design was praised by the judges for its "excellent concept well explained that clearly demonstrates a need".
The design was ergonomic, saturated in detail and also tackled an important socio-economic issue. With the ability to transport and filter the water all in one product, Karen addressed a key issue for drought-ridden areas whilst approaching it in a truly circular fashion.
[1] http://www.bpfpipesgroup.com/sustainability-and-the-circular-economy/overview/
[2] https://www.bpf.co.uk/Sustainability/designing-in-a-circular-economy-with-pvc.aspx
