Abstract
Driven by population growth, industrialisation, urbanisation and climate change, water as a resource has become scarcer. Water scarcity is one of the leading global challenges for achieving the global goals designed for a sustainable future and ranked to be one of the top three global risks. Water scarcity is affected by the linear approach of extracting fresh water, using it and then disposing of it in natural water bodies. This highlights the importance of effective management and countermeasures against the increase in water demand. The circular economy is now critical in the water sector as a strategy to combat water stress challenges that are currently experienced.
South Africa is a water-scarce country and more water is predicted to be needed by 2030 if nothing is done. The increase in water demand has also increased the production of wastewater. Most of this wastewater is discharged untreated or partially treated, which poses challenges to the environment such as eutrophication and ecotoxicity impacts.
The purpose of this study was to develop an integrated framework and metrics for the effective management of water resources and comprehensive measurement of water circularity.
The objectives of this study were to conduct a comprehensive literature review on the circular economy concept, its link to the Sustainable Development Goals and measuring tools to measure its transition in the water sector; Sankey diagrams as a visualisation tool to show water and flow, and the interaction and interrelation between these two resources; and critical analysis of existing circularity measuring tools for the water sector.
This study is important because qualities and requirements are proposed to support the development of a new comprehensive circularity measuring tool in the water sector. A framework is proposed to support the development of Sankey diagrams for modelling and communicating water and energy flows, highlighting inefficiencies, potential savings and circularity. A water circularity indicator dashboard is developed to measure circularity at each stage of the water supply chain. These proposed requirements, framework and circularity indicator dashboard can be used by researchers, water practitioners and policy makers in the effective management of water resources and comprehensive measurement of water circularity.