24/04/2025
Turning the Tide: Sustainable Water Supply through Surface Water Treatment
Engr. Md. Shahjahan Alam
With less than 1% of Earth’s water accessible for drinking, over-reliance on groundwater is depleting vital reserves. Surface Water Treatment Plants (SWTP) offer a sustainable alternative by treating rain, lake, and river water for community use. Powered by solar energy, these systems reduce environmental impact while supporting long-term water security.
Water is often seen as abundant — after all, it covers nearly 75% of our planet. But when we look closer, the picture becomes more sobering. Only about 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and nearly two-thirds of that is locked away in glaciers. That leaves us with less than 1% of all water on Earth as accessible, drinkable freshwater.
Traditionally, communities have relied heavily on groundwater — tapping deep aquifers to supply water through piped systems. But this approach is taking a toll. We are extracting groundwater faster than it can naturally replenish, causing water tables to fall and wells to run dry. On top of that, the energy required for traditional water extraction, treatment, and distribution is significant, adding pressure to our already stretched resources.
So, what’s the way forward? One sustainable solution lies right on the surface — in rainwater, lakes, and rivers. By treating surface water and converting it into safe, drinkable water, we can ease the burden on underground sources while moving closer to global water conservation goals. This is the foundation of the Surface Water Treatment Plant (SWTP) approach.
At Triangle Engineers Ltd. (TEL), we believe in community-based piped water supply systems that treat surface water through compact, energy-efficient technologies. These systems can be scaled to meet the needs of rural or semi-urban communities and, importantly, they require minimal energy — energy that can often be generated through solar power, making the solution both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
This isn’t just a concept — it’s a practical, sustainable water strategy that aligns with the needs of the present without compromising the future.
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27/11/2025