Flexible Tank Reclaimed Water: A Technological Tool to Crack the Water Shortage Crisis

The global water shortage has become a key issue restricting urban development and ecological balance. Data shows that among more than 600 cities in China, about 400 are facing water shortages. Traditional centralized water treatment facilities are difficult to quickly respond to demand due to high pipeline construction costs and poor flexibility. In this context, flexible tank reclaimed water technology has emerged as an innovative solution to address the water shortage crisis, relying on its portability, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness. From old residential areas to ecological governance in the Yellow River Basin, and from urban road greening to water conservation in industrial parks, flexible tanks are reshaping the water resource management landscape through the model of "decentralized treatment and on-site reuse".

一、Flexible Tank Reclaimed Water: Technical Principles and Core Advantages

A flexible tank is a water treatment device made of high-strength, corrosion-resistant flexible materials, achieving rapid deployment through modular design. Its core technologies include:

 

1. Efficient purification process: Combining biological treatment (such as A/O, A²/O processes) with membrane separation technology (such as MBR membranes), it can remove more than 90% of suspended solids, organic matter, and heavy metals from sewage. The effluent quality meets the Urban Wastewater Reuse Standard (GB/T 18920-2020), suitable for scenarios such as toilet flushing, greening, and road spraying.
2. Flexible deployment capability: It does not require large-scale pipeline construction and can be directly connected to existing sewage pipes or collect rainwater, especially suitable for space-constrained old residential areas, temporary construction sites, or remote areas.
3. Low cost and sustainability: Compared with traditional sewage treatment plants, the construction cost of flexible tanks is reduced by 40%, the operation cost is reduced by 30%, and the service life is more than 10 years.

 

Case verification:

 

• A ecological governance project in the Yellow River Basin: After introducing the flexible tank reclaimed water system, it processes 50 tons of sewage per day. The reclaimed water is used for surrounding vegetation irrigation, saving 18,000 tons of water annually and reducing sewage discharge by 60%.
• Renovation of an old residential area in Shandong: By treating bathing wastewater and rainwater with flexible tanks, the reclaimed water reuse rate reaches 70%, residents' water fee expenditure is reduced by 25%, and the green coverage rate of the community is increased by 15%.

二、Multi-scenario Applications of Flexible Tank Reclaimed Water

1. Urban water resource management

 

• Road greening water conservation: Flexible tanks convert rainwater or lightly polluted sewage into reclaimed water for irrigation of vegetation on both sides of roads, reducing tap water consumption.
• Decentralized sewage treatment: In areas such as old residential areas and commercial districts, flexible tanks can replace traditional pipelines to achieve on-site sewage treatment and alleviate urban drainage pressure.

 

2. Water conservation in industry and temporary facilities

 

• Temporary water use at construction sites: Flexible tanks can collect shower wastewater and equipment cooling water, which are treated for toilet flushing or dust suppression, saving more than 10 tons of water per day.
• Emergency water supply: In disaster-stricken areas or remote regions, flexible tanks can be quickly deployed to provide safe drinking water or domestic water.

 

3. Ecological protection and sustainable development

 

• Ecological restoration in the Yellow River Basin: The flexible tank reclaimed water technology reduces dependence on water resources in the Yellow River and simultaneously reduces the damage to river ecology caused by direct sewage discharge.
• Carbon emission reduction contribution: Treating 1 ton of sewage can reduce carbon emissions by 0.5 kg, helping to achieve the "double carbon" goal.

三、Challenges and Countermeasures for Flexible Tank Reclaimed Water

1. Technical bottlenecks

 

• Problem: Extreme water quality fluctuations may affect treatment efficiency.
• Countermeasure: Adopt intelligent monitoring systems to adjust process parameters in real time; combine "pretreatment + advanced treatment" two-stage purification to enhance stability.

 

2. Public awareness and acceptance

 

• Problem: Some residents have doubts about reclaimed water reuse.
• Countermeasure: Improve public trust by transparently displaying water quality data and carrying out water conservation publicity activities.

 

3. Policy and financial support

 

• Suggestion: The government should introduce subsidy policies (such as a 30% equipment purchase subsidy), formulate technical standards, and encourage the PPP model to attract social capital participation.

四、Future Outlook: Flexible Tanks Leading the Water Resource Revolution

With technological iteration, flexible tank reclaimed water systems will show the following trends:

 

1. Intelligent upgrading: Integrate IoT and AI algorithms to achieve remote monitoring, fault warning, and adaptive adjustment.
2. Material innovation: Develop lighter and more weather-resistant flexible materials to extend equipment life.
3. Cross-border integration: Combine with photovoltaic power generation to build a "zero-energy consumption" water treatment system; integrate with the sponge city concept to create a "rainwater-reclaimed water-ecology" cycle system.

 

Flexible tank reclaimed water technology is not only a tool to address water shortage crises but also an engine to promote sustainable urban development. From water-saving renovations in old residential areas to ecological governance in the Yellow River Basin, from water supply 保障 at temporary construction sites to intelligent management of urban greening, flexible tanks are writing a new chapter in efficient water resource utilization with the attitude of "small equipment 撬动 big changes". In the future, with technological popularization and policy support, flexible tanks are expected to become the "standard configuration" for every community and city, allowing every drop of water to maximize its value.