scholarly journals Interventions to Strengthen Institutional Capacity for Peri-Urban Water Management in South Asia

2021 ◽  
pp. 147-169
Author(s):  
Sharlene L. Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Institutional Arrangements ◽  
Institutional Capacity ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Practical Applications

AbstractInstitutions, defined as social rules which guide decision-making, are an important feature of peri-urban water governance. Peri-urban institutions structure the access to and management of water resources during rural-to-urban transitions. However, peri-urban areas are dynamic in nature and heterogeneous in composition. This generates challenges for the effectiveness of institutional arrangements. Peri-urban spaces of South Asian cities like Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Khulna demonstrate the various ways in which institutional arrangements influence issues of water insecurity, conflicts, and crises in the urbanisation process. This chapter explores this important dimension and demonstrates ways to intervene in the institutional context of water resources in such transitional settings. Two types of interventions to build institutional capacity are presented. First, the Approach for Participatory Institutional Analysis (APIA), is designed to help peri-urban actors frame problems through an institutional lens and offers skills to navigate the solution space. The second approach, Transformative Pathways, facilitates efforts to cope with the uncertain and dynamic nature of urban transitions. Based on the adaptation pathways approach, it helps peri-urban actors work from their existing situation and design pathways towards more sustainable and resilient futures. Practical applications of these approaches in South Asia offer insights on how to intervene institutionally in water problems during rural-urban transitions.

Urban-Water Harmony model to evaluate the urban water management

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 1774-1781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Ding ◽  
Deshan Tang ◽  
Yuhang Wei ◽  
Sun Yin
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Water Management

Water resources in many urban areas are under enormous stress due to large-scale urban expansion and population explosion. The decision-makers are often faced with the dilemma of either maintaining high economic growth or protecting water resources and the environment. Simple criteria of water supply and drainage do not reflect the requirement of integrated urban water management. The Urban-Water Harmony (UWH) model is based on the concept of harmony and offers a more integrated approach to urban water management. This model calculates four dimensions, namely urban development, urban water services, water–society coordination, and water environment coordination. And the Analytic Hierarchy Process has been used to determine the indices weights. We applied the UWH model to Beijing, China for an 11-year assessment. Our findings show that, despite the severe stress inherent in rapid development and water shortage, the urban water relationship of Beijing is generally evolving in a positive way. The social–economic factors such as the water recycling technologies contribute a lot to this change. The UWH evaluation can provide a reasonable analysis approach to combine various urban and water indices to produce an integrated and comparable evaluation index. This, in turn, enables more effective water management in decision-making processes.

Transdisciplinary Design of Adaptation Pathways in Peri-urban India: Planning for Water Needs in a Sustainable Urban Transition 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharlene L. Gomes ◽  
Sarah Luft ◽  
Shreya Chakraborty ◽  
Leon M. Hermans ◽  
Carsten Butsch
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Urban Transition ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Key Steps ◽  
Urban Institutions

<p>This research, conducted within the H2O-T2S project, is located in peri-urban areas of three cities in India: Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata. Peri-urban areas are where the rural to urban transition is most visible. A key challenge for peri-urban areas is sustainable management of water resources. Peri-urban water resources in India are under threat from growing water demand and ineffective institutions. Interdisciplinary research of existing water-based livelihoods, household water use, and peri-urban institutions in these three regions shows that current urban transformations are unsustainable. Given the dynamic nature of peri-urban contexts, short and long-term vulnerabilities must be considered. An adaptation policy pathways approach can help peri-urban actors develop longer-term transformative plans. This study describes the design and execution of a participatory process to design context-specific pathways with peri-urban communities and governments in India.</p><p>This presentation outlines the key steps in our customized pathways approach for the peri-urban context. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, initial plans to implement these steps through a series of stakeholder workshops were replaced by remote pathways design using the Delphi method. We present a step-by-step methodology to engage peri-urban actors in the design of longer-term adaptive plans for water resources in the future. Results are presented for Hadia village (Kolkata), one of the three peri-urban case studies. It reveals the range of future normative scenarios developed for this village and a pathways schematic towards these scenarios.</p><p>Our results demonstrate the value of engaging local actors in the design of adaptive plans for peri-urban water resources. This study offers insights for ways to conduct transdisciplinary research even when face to face interactions are not feasible.</p>

Monitoring and predicting water quality for smart urban water infrastructure

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Coraggio ◽  
Dawei Han ◽  
Theo Tryfonas ◽  
Weiru Liu
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Polluted Water ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Resources Management

<p>Water resources management is a delicate, complex and challenging task. It involves monitoring quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water in order to meet the needs of the population’s usage demand. Nowadays these decisions have to be made in a continuously evolving landscape where quantity and quality of water resources change in time with uncertainty.</p><p>Throughout history, access to clean water has always been a huge desire from urban settlements. People built towns and villages close to water sources. In most cases, streams brought clean water in and washed away polluted water. Nowadays the largest strains on water quality typically occur within urban areas, with degradation coming from point and diffuse sources of pollutants and alteration of natural flow through built-up areas.</p><p>Municipalities are acting to reduce the impact of climate change on existing cities and meet the needs of the growing urban population. In many places around the world costal flood defences were built involving construction of barriers that lock the tide and keep the water coming from in-land rivers creating reservoirs close to the shore.</p><p>These man-made barriers stop the natural cleaning action of the tide on transitional waters. This causes severe water quality problems like eutrophication and high levels of bacteria. On the positive side, these water reservoirs are used as recreational water, drinking water, agricultural water. As many more people are moving to live in urban areas, its overall demand for clean water and discharge of polluted water is constantly growing. Hence monitoring and foreseeing water quality in these urban surface waters is fundamental in order to be able to meet the water demand in future scenarios.</p><p>Many cities have already successfully implemented smart water technologies in many types of the water infrastructures. Monitoring water quality has always been a challenging and costly task. It has been so far the most difficult water characteristic to monitor remotely in real time. Lack of high frequency and accurate data has always been one of the main challenges. Today, using information and communication technologies (ICT) is possible to set up a real time water quality monitoring system that will allow to deepen the understanding of water quality dynamics leading to a better management of urban water resources.</p><p>A case study will be presented where a real time water quality monitoring system for the surface water of Bristol Floating Harbour has been deployed in the UK and water quality data have been analysed using artificial intelligence algorithms in order to understand the link between ambient weather data (i.e., precipitation, temperature, solar radiation, wind, etc.) and surface water pollution. Preliminary results of a water quality prediction model will also be presented showing the capabilities of predicting water quality as a new tool in municipality’s decision-making processes and water resources management.</p>

scholarly journals How Does Digitization Succeed in the Municipal Water Sector? The WaterExe4.0 Meta-Study Identifies Barriers as well as Success Factors, and Reveals Expectations for the Future

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 7709
Author(s):  
Günter Müller-Czygan ◽  
Viktoriya Tarasyuk ◽  
Christian Wagner ◽  
Manuela Wimmer
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Digital Systems ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Industry ◽  
Urban Water Management ◽  
The Future ◽  
German Speaking

Water is increasingly taking center stage when it comes to coping with climate change. Especially in urban areas, negative consequences from heavy rainfall events and prolonged dry periods are rising worldwide. In the past, the various tasks of urban water management were performed by different departments that often did not cooperate with each other (water supply, wastewater disposal, green space irrigation, etc.), as the required water supply was not a question of available water volumes. This is already changing with climate change, in some cases even dramatically. More and more, it is necessary to consider how to distribute available water resources in urban areas, especially during dry periods, since wastewater treatment is also becoming more complex and costly. In the future, urban water management will examine water use in terms of its various objectives, and will need to provide alternative water resources for these different purposes (groundwater, river water, storm water, treated wastewater, etc.). The necessary technological interconnection requires intelligent digital systems. Furthermore, the water industry must also play its role in global CO2 reduction and make its procedural treatment processes more efficient; this will also only succeed with adequate digital systems. Although digitization has experienced an enormous surge in development over the last five years and numerous solutions are available to address the challenges described previously, there is still a large gap between the scope of offerings and their implementation. Researchers at Hof University of Applied Sciences have investigated the reasons for this imbalance as part of WaterExe4.0, the first meta-study on digitization in the German-speaking water industry, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Only 11% of roughly 700 identified products, projects and studies relate to real applications. For example, the surveyed experts of the water sector stated that everyday problems are considered too little or hardly at all in new solutions, which greatly overburdens users. Furthermore, they see no adequate possibility for a systematic analysis of new ideas to identify significant obstacles and to find the best way to start and implement a digitization project. The results from four methodologically different sub-surveys (literature and market research, survey, expert interviews and workshops) provide a reliable overview of the current situation in the German-speaking water industry and its expectations for the future. The results are also transferable to other countries.

scholarly journals Unravelling intractable water conflicts: the entanglement of science and politics in decision-making on a large hydraulic infrastructure project

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonatan Godinez-Madrigal ◽  
Nora Van Cauwenbergh ◽  
Pieter van der Zaag
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Science Policy ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Epistemic Uncertainty ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Conflicts ◽  
Use Of Models

Abstract. Global trends suggest that cities around the world are increasingly depleting available water resources. A common strategy is to opt for supply augmentation infrastructure. However, this response can be a financial and social burden for many cities, because they entail developing expensive infrastructure and can trigger social conflicts. Science is often expected to play a key role in informing policymakers and social actors to clarify controversies surrounding policy responses to water scarcity. However, managing conflicts is a socio-political process, and the use of models may have the effect of de-politicizing such processes; conveying the idea that optimal solutions can be objectively identified despite the many perspectives and interests at play. This raises the question whether science can depoliticize water conflicts, or whether instead conflicts politicize science-policy processes? We use the Zapotillo dam and water transfer project in Mexico to analyze the roles of science-policy processes in water conflicts. The Zapotillo project aims at augmenting urban water supply to Guadalajara and León, two large cities in Western Mexico, but a social and legal conflict has stalled the project until today. To analyze the conflict and how stakeholders make sense of it, we interviewed the most relevant actors and studied negotiations between different interest groups through participant observation. To examine the role of science-policy processes in the conflict, we mobilized concepts of epistemic uncertainty and ambiguity and analyzed the design and use of water resources models produced by key actors aiming to resolve the conflict. While the use of models is a proven method to construct future scenarios and test different strategies, the parameterization of scenarios and their results depend on the knowledge and/or interests of actors who own the model. We found that in the Zapotillo case, scenarios reflected the interests and strategies of actors on one side of the conflict, resulting in increased distrust by the opposing actors. We conclude that the dilemma of achieving urban water security through investing in either large infrastructure (supply augmentation) or alternative strategies (demand-side management), cannot be resolved if some key interested parties have not been involved in the scientific processes framing the problem and solution space.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Urban Water Security in a Severe Water Stress Area–Application to Palestinian Cities

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2060
Author(s):  
Samah Jabari ◽  
Isam Shahrour ◽  
Jamal El Khattabi
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
Water Losses ◽  
Severe Water Stress

This paper presents an assessment of the urban water security in a severe water stress area using a semi-quantitative risk-based approach. Water security indicators are selected according to the recommendations of international institutions, the literature review and the opinion of a panel of water experts. Selected indicators cover three fields: water resources, water services and water governance. The field of water resources is described by indicators related to the water resources availability, annual precipitation and the ratio of treated water, while the water services field is described by indicators related to the water service coverage, water losses and the continuity of water supply. Water governance includes three indicators: role and responsibility, access to water information and stakeholder engagement. Water security assessment is conducted in three stages: (i) data collection for five Palestinian cities in the West Bank of Jordan, (ii) determination of the risk score for each indicator using collected data and an expert’s opinion, (iii) determination of the global water security score and water security index using the matrix risk assessment and the wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) methods. Results show that water risk is ranked as extreme for all cities. Risk related to water resources is a major contributor to global risk, followed by water governance.

scholarly journals A review of the design and implementation of Ghana's National Water Policy (2007)

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Frimpong ◽  
Ronald Adamtey ◽  
Anders Branth Pedersen ◽  
Esther Wahaga ◽  
Anne Jensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Institutional Capacity ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
National Water

Abstract Access to water is a matter of daily survival for people around the world. Water is crucial for human survival and also central to the development of every nation. The recent literature on world water suggests that the water crisis being experienced is related to governance and not a real crisis of scarcity and stress. This paper aims at identifying water governance practices and the challenges associated with water governance in Ghana. The paper reviews the literature on the implementation of policy directives and actions with specific focus on water resources governance aspects of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Ghana. Ghana's National Water Policy is expected to turn the fortunes of the country around in terms of water resources management. Concerning water resources management, the policy advocates for an IWRM approach. Since its implementation, certain setbacks have been challenging the effectiveness of the policy, such as inadequate institutional capacity, inadequate funding, ineffective enforcement of existing regulations, inadequate legal framework, and lack of adequate data. The paper suggests, among other things, the building of both human and institutional capacity, and making the environment a government priority, as ways to contribute to the effective implementation of the National Water Policy.

scholarly journals Socio-political processes must be emphasised alongside climate change and urbanisation as key drivers of urban water insecurity

Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Fallon Grasham ◽  
George Neville
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Key Drivers

Abstract Urban water security is of critical global and local importance. Across many parts of low- and middle-income countries, urban water security either remains elusive or is becoming stressed. Rapid urbanisation and climate change are two key drivers of resource insecurity and at the forefront of urban water discourse. However, there are manifold and complex socio-political processes functioning alongside these megatrends that are often underemphasised. Drawing on three urban case studies in Ethiopia, we highlight these structural issues and the need for their continued consideration to fully understand and address urban water insecurity. Household water-use surveys, semi-structured interviews and participatory exercises with community residents, stakeholders and informal water vendors were used as part of a mixed-method approach in three urban areas. We found that government-managed urban water supplies were intermittent and unsafe, resulting in economic, health and time-use burdens for households, and that the socio-political dimensions reproducing urban water insecurity have historical roots. We argue that the uncertainty of climate change and unprecedented urbanisation do not offer sufficient explanation for why urban water insecurity persists. Moreover, we call for caution in only employing these narratives, to avoid obscuring deeply rooted challenges within socio-political systems. We call for socio-political processes to continue to be a central component of future interventions that seek to improve urban water insecurity.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Rural Urban Water Flows and Implications on Peri-urban Water Security

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anushiya Shrestha ◽  
Rajesh Sada ◽  
Ashutosh Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Urban Form ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Water Transfer ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Rural Landscapes

The rapid and haphazard urbanization in Kathmandu and expansion of built-up area to the peri-pherial rural landscapes has resulted to formation of peri- urban areas which are now themselves transforming into urban form. Simultaneously, the water being diverted or transferred from these peri-urban areas is rapidly evolving. This paper describes the changing modes of urban oriented water flow from the peri-urban landscape of Kathmandu and the implications of this water transfer on water security of peri-urban areas. Through series of semi-structured interviews, formal and informal discussions with local people and key informant interviews, the study found that Matatirtha, a peri-urban village, has traditionally been a source of water for the domestic water demand in Kathmandu. However, the social and economic developments have induced a paradigm shift in urban water transfer from the area and promoted the economic benefits as a way of compensating the loss of local water resources. Moreover, the increasing opportunities of economic benefits through water in absence of regulatory mechanism have facilitated exploitation of resources. This, therefore, created need of strong mechanism, promoting insights for sustainable management of water resources and contribute to improve rural urban linkages through optimal use of water resources.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v15i1.12025 Nepal Journal of Science and TechnologyVol. 15, No.1 (2014) 99-106

scholarly journals Urban water resilience in Hindu Kush Himalaya: issues, challenges and way forward

Water Policy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. 33-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishal Singh ◽  
Anvita Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Blind Spot ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Resilience ◽  
Hindu Kush ◽  
Key Issues

Abstract The urban population is expected to rise up to 68% by 2050, adding 2.5 billion people to the urban areas of the world. The majority of the rise is expected to be in the low-income countries of Asia and Africa. Several cities/towns in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region are expanding at a rapid pace, putting additional pressure on water services and basic amenities for urban dwellers. Selected case studies undertaken by the authors suggest that the demand for water far exceeds municipal supply. Water governance in the HKH region remains a blind spot and challenges pertaining to urban water resilience are poorly understood. The paper is divided into three parts: the first outlines the development of towns and their water infrastructure through selected cases in the HKH, followed by key issues and challenges faced by urban systems and suggested measures to build urban resilience in order to deal with the projected rise in population, governance issues and anticipated changes in climate.

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