Interview J.A.M.H. Hofman and S.H.A. Koop - Creating the Concorde of rainwater harvesting projects

“The former home of the legendary Concorde supersonic aircraft is set to take off once again, but this time with innovation on water in the circular economy.
In Bristol, UK, the Filton airfield is being turned into a new sustainable housing and business greenfield area, with circular water developments at the heart of the redevelopment. Purchased by Malaysian company YTL Development in 2015, a subsidiary of YTL Corporation and sister company of local utility, Wessex Water, the £800 million scheme will create over 2600 new homes and over 60 acres of commercial space, schools and health facilities. “YTL is developing the site in a very sustainable manner, including creating a living environment that includes water recycling,” says Jan Hofman, director of the Water Innovation and Research Centre, University of Bath.”

“Stef Koop, scientific research at KWR Water Research Institute, leading NextGen, says that policy is essential to ensure such systems are truly circular. These pilots are the forefront of new technology, new systems, where policies still have to develop and have to adjust. We must get the message of the key opportunities but also the key barriers to implementing new technologies and new systems. The challenge remains of how do we get that message across from more localised sites to these more centralised policymakers?””

(Citations: Interview J.A.M.H. Hofman and S.H.A. Koop – Creating the Concorde of rainwater harvesting projects – www.smartwatermagazine.com (2021)14 July)