Re-integration of heritage water systems: spatial lessons for present-day water management

Abstract

With increasing global challenges such as climate change and urbanisation, it is essential to relook at ingenious ways that water has been managed in the past and continues to be managed. This paper looks at heritage water management systems that have existed for centuries from an exploratory research approach. The ‘mosaic model’ from the landscape ecology scholarship is applied to understand the spatial components and linkages of these systems. The paper starts with the key features of heritage water systems, then moves to establish a close link between green infrastructure and heritage water systems. Finally, we explore a few select cases by applying the mosaic model to understand the heritage water systems. One of these cases is then further demonstrated to provide an insight into the systems and enable its spatial-wise use in the present fabric.