21 Mar World Water Day 2024
2024 – Written by: Taylor Scragg, Technical Project Assistant (Co-op Student)
Water is a resource that all living things share. Water is a tool that can be wielded for the good of the many or leveraged in a way that can cause conflict in society. Under the growing impacts of climate change and uneven water distribution worldwide, water shortages are increasing along with the importance of water cooperation. Water cooperation is a term that refers to the peaceful management and use of water resources at local and international levels. Should society choose to cooperate in their dealings with water, benefits will be seen across the globe due to the positive ripple effect created by water cooperation ¹. Sustainability focused companies, such as Lystek, can accelerate progress and create change on a global scale through the completion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The most notable goal on this day, with a theme of “Leveraging Water for Peace” ¹, is goal 6: ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all². Access to water and sanitation practices will improve the quality of life for all people by building resilience to climate change, providing renewable solutions, and preventing conflict over precious water resources. As stated by the United Nations:
“At the local and national level, different water users – particularly water and sanitation utilities, energy, food and industry – must cooperate through an integrated water resources management approach and promote a circular economy that fulfils people’s human rights.”¹
Circular economy is at the core of what Lystek does and believes. We contribute to this system in a multitude of ways including converting biosolids into a high-quality fertilizer for local farms to produce vegetation necessary to sustain the population. Lystek is also capable of using the biogas produced during this process to create a self-sustaining system that has net negative carbon emissions. This is done by working with water and sanitation utilities to use the valuable waste streams created by the local population for something useful: sustainably sourced fertilizer and renewable energy.
Specific ways in which Lystek contributes to water cooperation are:
Reducing the Landfilling of Biosolids
- Lystek transforms wastewater management strategies with a technology uniquely tailored for biosolids management and advanced biological nutrient removal. By delivering these eco-friendly solutions Lystek enables the reuse of water from local wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) while minimizing net energy expenditure. In supporting our WWTPs, Lystek also ensures that these biosolids are not sent to landfill. Depositing biosolids in landfill breaks the circular resource cycle, squanders these essential nutrients for the long term, and removes valuable space required for non-recyclables.
Reducing Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Levels
- The Lystek THP® system can be powered using the biogas created during the LysteMize® digestion process, preventing greenhouse gases (GHG) from entering the atmosphere. This reduction in GHG emissions contributes to slowing climate change.
- This reduces conflict as climate change is a large contributor to drought and severe storms which affects regional availability of clean drinking water.
- The application of LysteGro® increases carbon sequestration in fields after application when compared to traditional nitrogen fertilizers. This contributes to the net negative carbon emissions that Lystek THP systems offer.
Leveraging water for peace is an essential mission for the world. Fair and sustainable use of water can lead to a better future for all – but we must cooperate and practice sustainability to succeed. Water is our most valuable resource and must be prioritized accordingly. Today is a great day to reflect on personal water usage and how you can make a difference in sustainable water practices.
Happy World Water Day from Lystek!