Development of an urban water balance model to assess the re-use potential of stormwater and wastewater

The current approach to urban water supply and disposal, of separating infrastructure for potable source water, stormwater, and sewage flow, is now being questioned, viewed as a inefficient use of water. There is now a need to re-evaluate this approach and seek ways to minimise the environmental impact of urbanisation, as well as reduce costs and maintain the current standard of service. In the last few years, there has been a movement towards alternative methods of water supply and disposal, as part of the solution to current problems. These alternative methods are predominantly based on greater utilisation of urban stormwater and wastewater for beneficial purposes. But, at present, there are no "tools" to evaluate the feasibility of such projects at anything finer than the broad brush scale.[…]