In the heart of Namibia, a country where vast stretches of desert define the landscape, one can find the capital city of Windhoek. Despite being in one of the driest countries in southern Africa, 99 percent of the city’s residents enjoy access to safe drinking water. This is all thanks to pioneering technology that involves processing and recycling sewage water into drinking water.
Windhoek’s population increased rapidly in the 1950s, resulting in severe water shortages throughout the city. This disaster prompted the creation of an innovative system. In 1968, the Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant became the world’s first establishment to produce drinking water directly from sewage. This process is referred to as direct potable reuse (DPR). Wastewater from around the city is collected at the plant, where it undergoes a multi-barrier treatment that eliminates pollutants and harmful organisms. Nowadays, the water is also continuously monitored by online instruments, and workers ensure that only water meeting WHO guidelines is distributed. If any impurities are detected, the system goes into recycle mode, halting distribution until water quality is restored.
The Windhoek DPR plant generates up to 5.5 million gallons of drinking water per day, which accounts for up to 35 percent of the city’s water usage. Most importantly, the plant has never been linked to the spread of diseases caused by unclean water. The plant’s success has drawn global attention, with representatives from countries including the US, India and Australia visiting Windhoek, hoping to gain insights into how to solve their own water shortage problems. As this issue intensifies globally due to climate change, more countries will likely follow in Windhoek’s footsteps. The city has proved that DPR can not only gain public acceptance, but also serve as a viable and sustainable resource to ensure a water-secure future for Windhoek’s residents.
Photo: Freepik / 照片：Freepik
在納米比亞的中心地帶，一個以廣袤沙漠地形為特色的國家，你能找到首都溫荷克。儘管位於非洲南部其中一個最乾燥的國家，這座城市有 99% 的居民能夠享有安全的飲用水。這都歸功於一種將污水處理和回收轉化為飲用水的開創性技術。
在西元1950年代，溫荷克的人口迅速增加，導致整個城市遭遇嚴重的水荒。這場災難促使了一個創新系統的誕生。在西元1968年，溝倫家伯再生水廠成為全球第一個直接從污水中生產飲用水的機構。這個過程被稱為直接飲用水再利用（DPR）。城市各地的污水被收集到這個水廠，經過多層次處理以排除污染物和有害生物。如今，水質還受到線上儀器持續的監控，且工作人員確保只有符合世界衛生組織（WHO）準則的水才被分送。如果檢測到任何雜質，系統就會進入循環模式並停止分送，直到水質恢復。
溫荷克的DPR廠每天產生高達550萬加侖的飲用水，占該市用水量的35%。最重要的是，該水廠從未與因不潔淨的水而引起的疾病擴散有關聯。這個水廠的成功引起了全球關注，包括來自美國、印度和澳洲等國的代表參訪了溫荷克，希望藉此深入了解如何解決自己國家水資源短缺的問題。隨著這個問題因氣候變遷而在全球加劇，更多國家可能會效仿溫荷克的做法。這座城市證明了DPR不僅能獲得公眾接受，而且還能成為切實可行的永續資源，確保溫荷克居民未來不用擔心缺水。
MORE INFORMATION
sewage n. 污水
reclamation n. (對廢品的)回收利用
potable adj. 可飲用的
wastewater n. 廢水
pollutant n. 污染物
impurity n. 雜質
KEY VOCABULARY
1. shortage n. 缺乏；短缺
The sudden increase in patients created a shortage of medical supplies at the hospital.
醫院的病人數量突然增加，造成了醫療用品短缺。
2. disaster n. 災難；禍患
The factory explosion was a disaster, injuring several people and causing damage to nearby buildings.
工廠爆炸是一場災難，造成多人受傷並損害附近的建築。
3. prompt vt. 促使；引發
Paul was prompted to reconsider his plan after his friend pointed out several issues with it.
保羅的朋友指出了他的計畫中的幾個問題後，促使他重新考慮內容。
4. eliminate vt. 排除；消滅
The students worked hard to eliminate all errors from their report to ensure the quality of their work.
學生們努力排除報告中的所有錯誤，以確保作業的品質。
5. monitor vt. 監控；監視
The researcher set up cameras to monitor the behavior of wild animals in their natural habitat.
這位研究人員設置攝影機來監控野生動物在其自然棲息地中的行為。
6. guideline n. 準則；指導方針
The company has guidelines for employees that detail acceptable behavior within the workplace.
公司為員工制定了準則，詳細說明了工作場所內可接受的行為。
7. halt v. 停止；終止
The construction crew had to halt their work temporarily due to the sudden downpour.
施工人員因突如其來的大雨，不得不暫停工作。
8. acceptance n. 接受
Violet knows that whatever decision she makes about her career will be met with acceptance by her parents.
維爾莉特知道她對職業生涯做出的任何決定都會獲得父母的接受。
9. viable adj. 可行的；可存活的
Before starting a project, it’s essential to assess whether it’s viable given the available resources and time.
在開始一個項目之前，評估其在現有資源和時間內是否可行是至關重要的。
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