THESIS TITLE: HeadwatersTech Hub: A Biotechnology Complex for Advanced Water Purification
NAME OF THESIS PROPONENT: Stephanie Anne Ng
NAME OF THESIS ADVISER: Ar. Leah P. Dela Rosa
SCHOOL: University of Santo Tomas Espana, Manila
YEAR OF DEFENSE: 2021 (TOP 1 BEST THESIS AWARD)
ABSTRACT
People around the world are facing increasing water shortages. More than a fifth of the world’s population - 1.6 billion people - live in areas suffering from varying degrees of water shortage. This includes "physical scarcity", which means there is not enough water to meet people's needs, and "economic shortages", which are the result of lack of investment and proper infrastructure management. In either case, the situation is deteriorating for most countries, physical or economic. Water supply in water stressed environments , especially in rural areas and small communities, existing water resources are under pressure on many fronts. The demand for water for agricultural, industrial and energy production continues to grow. At the same time, rapid population growth, increasing urbanization, lack of adequate management and climate change are putting more strain on water resources.
In the Philippines, more than half of the Filipino population still lives in rural areas and belongs to the low-income group. The rural poor do not have access to basic water supplies and safe sanitation, which not only carries enormous costs to human health and the economy, but also creates social and gender inequalities. Support for water supply and sanitation in rural areas is more difficult due to the location of the settlements, mainly in ecologically fragile areas, dominated by diverse cultural values, poor economic conditions and associated cost recovery problems. This thesis considers the current state of water of the Philippines and its water supply facilities while protecting and conserving water, and the biodiversity of the surrounding environment through sustainability by giving way to Blue–green infrastructure which is a network of natural and near-natural areas that has a positive effect on the quality of urban environment. This multifunctional planning approach addresses different issues and objectives such as water supply and preservation of nature.
The proposed Biotechnology Complex specializing in Advanced Water Purification showcases its importance and how it will be a vital part of the development for environmental protection and the conservation and preservation of water and health of the community. The facility provides dedicated spaces for : research and development; water purification processes for potable water, desalination and wastewater treatment; and public awareness, education and involvement of communities through eco-industrial parks for the protection of our water resource.
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
While some parts of the country rarely face problems of domestic water insecurity, the problem becomes more complex when freshwater resources run along sovereign borders. Per capita water and water usage vary widely around the world. The top five users of water are the United States, Australia, Italy, Japan and Mexico, with the average person using over 300 liters per day. The countries with the highest water poverty are Mozambique, Rwanda, Haiti, Ethiopia and Uganda, which use less than 15 liters of water per person daily (Water Footprint Network, 2013).
The role of the water industry worldwide has proven to be more than just a financial benefit, as clean and reliable water supply is important for the survival of humanity. We are at a time when water scarcity, increasing the amount of wastewater and protecting water resources are very important. Environmental administrators, scientists and government officials are beginning to find solutions to global climate change and how to manage water among more populations. Although about 71% of the Earth's surface water, there is an ever-increasing struggle to reach clean drinking water. Although salt water is a renewable resource, the availability of potable water is limited in many parts of the world. Worldwide, 1.5 million people die each year from water-borne diseases in developing countries (WHO, 2014). In addition, treating wastewater before it is discharged into another body of water. It should not further contaminate water sources. The increase in wastewater eventually led to its reuse and not only led to a pattern shift to avoid further damage to the ecosystem, but also to emphasize the need to protect future water. Furthermore, wastewater is also a resource that needs to be managed effectively.
Biotechnology Complex Facilities
The global demand for water led to the emergence of water conservation facilities. A Biotechnology complex specializing in advanced water purification provides dedicated spaces for: research and development; water purification processes for potable water, desalination and wastewater treatment; and public awareness, education and involvement of communities for the protection of our water resource which will be included in the project.
The emergence of water treatment and conservation facilities has paved the way for better water purification systems and designs, which are also helping to address global water scarcity and conservation issues of water. This is due to technological advances so that communities can now use recycled wastewater instead of putting more pressure on the water supply system.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Environmental and Health
The significance of this study revolves around environmental protection and provision of clean water necessary for life. Water has been one of the essential factors in the development of human settlements. Especially with the increasing population of humans and industry, the demands for the quantity of water and quality of water resources are also increasing (Binnie, 2002). This has become a serious concern as the high quality of water has been very limited due to the contamination of water with municipal, agricultural and industrial waste that has led to a decreasing water quality and the contamination of water bodies due to poor water management being released. This led to water treatment facilities as the public became more aware of the water quality and its effects to health and the environment.
As of 2020, the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic also led to the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygienic conditions, being essential for the protection of human health, as there are emerging evidences on the presence of viral fragments in excreta and untreated sewage (WHO, 2020).
Eco-Tourism
The heart of the facility is its recreational feature; the Mangrove Park which is a facility that purifies the by-products and reject waters of the water purification plant and turning it into a Mangrove Park for public access, education, and will serve as a display of the facility’s contribution to the community and environment. The site also features a 50m long stretch of beach that will be available for public access which makes it ideal for eco-tourism.
Economy
The project also provides livelihood for the locals and community of the site through employment in the facility, which encourages and educates the community itself on the importance and protection of their own resources. The facility also provides global opportunities for the Philippines related to competition for freshwater resources making it a vital part of the country for its economical significance.
PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
PROJECT GOAL
The goal of this project is to conserve and protect the water resources in the Philippines through the development and enhancement of its water purification system. This means that water must be clean enough so that it can be used by people for drinking, washing, and by industry for commercial purposes, and must be clean enough to release into oceans, rivers and lakes after it has been used.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
1. To foster conservation of water and increase system efficiencies which will improve public health and alleviate the threat of economic disruption, social tension, and conflict over water resources at both the domestic and international levels.
2. To preserve the ecological balance and biodiversity of the region by ensuring that quality of by-products are improved to reach the permissible level to be discharged into water bodies and agricultural land, and the underlying negative impacts of the technology used are effectively controlled;
3. To develop the industrial eco-tourism in the Philippines for urban exploration in order to disseminate knowledge on water security and environmental protection, enhance global competitiveness and strengthen the image of the country;
4. To enhance water production, sanitation and wastewater management development which will improve health and livelihood in rural communities;
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
“Bridging the gap between understanding of nature and technology can help to better manage our resources”
The HeadwatersTech Hub will display the most advanced technologies from over different companies in the water sector, in a hybrid landscape that merges water, nature, technology and architecture.
In 2050 the Philippines’ population is expected to grow over 148.3 million people. This leads to additional resource requirements, among others, in relation to safe drinking water, food, and waste. At the same time, it will lead to more urbanization and urban sprawl. In this new paradigm, urban architecture mobilizes new types of communities in recreation and resource awareness.
DESIGN CONCEPT
Biophilic Design: Integration of biophilia with highly developed water technologies
According to a Harvard Biologist Edward O. Wilson, biophilia is “a complex weak genetic tendencies to value nature that are instrumental in human physical, material, emotional, intellectual, and moral well-being. Because biophilia is rooted in human biology and evolution, it represents an argument for conserving nature based on long-term self-interest.” It is becoming increasingly well demonstrated that biophilic elements have real, measurable benefits relative to such human performance as productivity, emotional well-being, stress reduction, learning, and healing. From an environmental standpoint, biophilic features foster an appreciation of nature, which, in turn, should lead to greater protection of natural areas, eliminate pollution, and maintain a clean environment.
In relation to the project water and nature should be a strong pillar and a significant element in Siargao Islands’ green brand. HeadwatersTech Hub should develop a strong platform for national and international branding of Siargao’s proposed Biotechnology Complex for Advanced Water Purification. The activities in the HeadwatersTech Hub has the goal of redefining water through innovative approaches. The water purification system will be composed as part of the landscape and interior spaces of the facility. This creates a number of richly experiential showrooms where ecological technologies are demonstrated.
The HeadwatersTech Hub aims to be a place to meet, a place to explore, and a place to create new knowledge. The Biotechnology Complex will create an inviting landscape the unique natural understanding of technology is demonstrated to visitors encountering water in various forms.
By combining highly developed water technologies, with the creation of green and blue spaces, Siargao can showcase a demonstration landscape for sustainable water technology. The direct experience and opportunities this technology creates for recreational activities will strengthen the branding and know-how of this industry. At the same time, the useful and recreational green and blue urban space is a reminder about the depleting water resources of Siargao and the rest of the country, not just in a form of lecture, but by translating it through design.
DESIGN OBJECTIVES
1. Incorporate both the natural environment and engineered systems to provide clean water, conserve ecosystem values and functions and provide a wide array of benefits to people and wildlife.
2. Integration of biophilia, blue and green infrastructure in the facility to reduce energy consumption, negative impacts in the surrounding environment, improve ventilation and cost-effectiveness.
3. Ensure safety of technologies that are appropriate for the community and environment; and utilizing of appropriate technology for concentrates management and disposal.
SCOPE
The project mainly focuses on the process flow, space requirements for the machines of the water purification facility and only the main components of the facility’s technology that are vital to the design of the facility will be discussed. The provision of a recreational facility on-site, which is the Mangrove Park that will be the main attraction of the project will also have a detailed discussion of the incorporated technology for the purification of the by-products and reject waters that are to be released into bodies of water as this will be an integral part of the design solutions of the project. With this, architectural design of the main water facilities and the water facilities that will be part of the landscape design will also be the highlight of the study, focusing more on its users, other than just the industrial and structural aspect of the project.
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