Abstract
The present paper describes the problem and effects of water scarcity and the possibility of rational use of this resource in the idea of a Circular Economy (CE) and sustainable development. Rational water management requires innovation, due to the growing demand for this raw material. It seems that water is widely available, e.g., in Poland, there is no problem with drought. Unfortunately, Polish water resources are shrinking and modern solutions, as well as the construction of new and modernisation of old infrastructure, are some of the few solutions that can protect against a shortage of potable water. Water is also an essential resource for economic development. It is used in every sector of the economy. Limited water resources lead to an inevitable energy transformation because, in its present state, the Polish energy industry consumes huge amounts of water. Due to the above statements, the authors propose a solution in the form of an interactive shower panel that contributes to more rational water management (e.g., in households or hotels) based on the latest technological achievements. This device enables the creation of water consumption statistics based on accurate liquid flow measurements and the transfer of data to the user’s mobile device. This innovation aims to make the user aware of the amount of water used, which in turn can contribute to lower water consumption.
Highlights
It is well known that many countries around the world have critical access to drinking water
This requires modern, innovative solutions based on the Circular Economy, where water should be re-used many times
An important issue is the awareness of the amount of water needed and consumed and the detection of possible failures and undesirable losses
Summary
It is well known that many countries around the world have critical access to drinking water. Water scarcity affects the economy, especially in Poland, where electricity production is mainly based on conventional power plants, which use hard coal and lignite as fuel These facilities must be cooled with water, and low levels cause downtime, which affects the energy-intensive industry and, in the long term, affects other sectors of the economy. In the context of the water crisis, the authors—guided by the idea that resources can be saved through awareness-raising and adequate education—proposed their own concept, which may contribute to a partial solution to the discussed problem. As part of this concept, an interactive shower panel has been designed to create highly accurate water consumption statistics. The article presents the problem of water scarcity in the world and the possibility of the rational use of this resource within the framework of a Circular Economy (CE) and sustainable development [3,4]
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