Integrated Urban Water Management

Abstract

The challenges facing today’s major cities are daunting, and water management is one of the most serious concerns. Potable water from pure sources is rare, other sources of water must be treated at high cost, and the volume of wastewater is growing. City dwellers in many areas of the world lack good-quality water and fall ill due to waterborne illnesses. As cities seek new sources of water from upstream and discharge their ef uent downstream, surrounding residents suffer the effects. The hydrologic cycle and aquatic systems, including vital ecosystem services, are disrupted. This is the situation today; tomorrow will bring intensi ed effects from climate change and the continued growth of cities. Extreme weather events, from prolonged droughts to violent tropical storms, are poised to overwhelm urban water infrastructure and cause extreme suffering and environmental degradation. Integrated urban water management (IUWM) promises a better approach than the current system, in which water supply, sanitation, stormwater and wastewater are managed by isolated entities, and all four are separated from land-use planning and economic development. IUWM calls for the alignment of urban development and basin management to achieve sustainable economic, social, and environmental goals. Planning for the water sector is integrated with other urban sectors, such as land use, housing, energy, and transportation to overcome fragmentation in public policy formulation and decision-making. Cross-sectoral relationships are strengthened through a common working culture, the articulation of collective goals and respective bene ts, and the negotiation of differences in power and resources. The urban informal sector and marginalised populations are speci cally included. The process begins with clear national policies on integrated water management, backed by effective legislation, to guide local councils. IUWM encompasses all aspects of water management: environmental, economic, social, technical, and political. A successful approach requires engaging local communities in solving the problems of water management. Collaborative approaches should involve all stakeholders in setting priorities, taking action, and assuming responsibility.