Efficiency Analysis of Water Conservation Measures in Sanitary Infrastructure Systems by Means of a Systemic Approach

The challenges of urban water management and sanitary infrastructure (water supply (WSS), sewage (SS), urban drainage (UDS) systems) are increasingly frequent in Brazilian cities whether as a combined result of overcrowding and/or a lack governmental interest and hence investments, in the sector. Such an increase in environmental pressure reflects directly on population welfare and well-being related to the availability of drinking water, wastewater treatment, and access to effective drainage systems in order to minimize, or at least reduce, the occurrence of urban flooding and associated public health risks. Thus, alternatives with an integrated approach to urban water management are interesting to the reality of countries such as Brazil. The urban water use (UWU) model is a strategic planning tool with integrated way of thinking, which selects measures to mitigate the urban impacts in sanitary infrastructure and buildings. In this sense, the objective of this research is to apply the UWU model in a case study in Curitiba/Brazil to demonstrate the effect of the systematic approach and its intrinsic synergies in the systems in question, promoting water conservation in urban areas. The results are favorable to integrated systems with synergy use, evidencing quantitatively a greater efficiency in them.

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Urban-Water Harmony model to evaluate the urban water management

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2014.272 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 70 (11) ◽

pp. 1774-1781 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

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A review of nature-based solutions for urban water management in European circular cities: a critical assessment based on case studies and literature

Blue-Green Systems ◽

10.2166/bgs.2020.932 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 112-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Hasan Volkan Oral ◽

Pedro Carvalho ◽

Magdalena Gajewska ◽

Nadia Ursino ◽

Fabio Masi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Urban System ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Well Being ◽

Urban Water ◽

Urban Water Management ◽

Indoor Climate ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Reduction Of Energy Consumption ◽

The Cost

Abstract Nature-based solutions (NBS) can protect, manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems. They are a multidisciplinary, integrated approach to address societal challenges and some natural hazards effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. NBS applications can be easily noticed in circular cities, establishing an urban system that is regenerative and accessible. This paper aims to offer a review on NBS for urban water management from the literature and some relevant projects running within the COST Action ‘Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city’. The method used in the study is based on a detailed tracking of specific keywords in the literature using Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Academia.edu, ScienceDirect and Scopus. Based on this review, three main applications were identified: (i) flood and drought protection; (ii) the water-food-energy nexus; and (iii) water purification. The paper shows that NBS provide additional benefits, such as improving water quality, increasing biodiversity, obtaining social co-benefits, improving urban microclimate, and the reduction of energy consumption by improving indoor climate. The paper concludes that a systemic change to NBS should be given a higher priority and be preferred over conventional water infrastructure.

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Guiding urban water management towards 1.5 °C

npj Clean Water ◽

10.1038/s41545-021-00126-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Simon Parkinson

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Research ◽

Urban Water ◽

Urban Water Management ◽

Ghg Mitigation ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Energy Flows

AbstractReliable access to clean and affordable water is prerequisite for human well being, but its provision in cities generates environmental externalities including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As policy-makers target opportunities to mitigate GHGs in line with the Paris Agreement, it remains vague how urban water management can contribute to the goal of limiting climate warming to 1.5 °C. This perspective guides policy-makers in the selection of innovative technologies and strategies for leveraging urban water management as a climate change mitigation solution. Recent literature, data and scenarios are reviewed to shine a light on the GHG mitigation potential and the key areas requiring future research. Increasing urban water demands in emerging economies and over-consumption in developed regions pose mitigation challenges due to energy and material requirements that can be partly offset through end-use water conservation and expansion of decentralized, nature-based solutions. Policies that integrate urban water and energy flows, or reconfigure urban water allocation at the river basin-level remain untapped mitigation solutions with large gaps in our understanding of potentials.

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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 ◽

10.3390/en14227709 ◽

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.

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Green infrastructure for flood-risk management in Dar es Salaam and Copenhagen: exploring the potential for transitions towards sustainable urban water management

Water Policy ◽

10.2166/wp.2014.047 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 126-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

P. Mguni ◽

L. Herslund ◽

M. B. Jensen

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Green Infrastructure ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Flood Risk Management ◽

Urban Drainage ◽

Urban Water ◽

Urban Water Management ◽

Sewer Systems ◽

Sustainable Urban Water Management

The risk of flooding in urban areas could be better approached by complementing conventional sewer systems with sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) for storm-water management. This may be the case for developing world cities like Dar es Salaam with incomplete sewer services, as well as cities like Copenhagen with fully developed sewer systems. This paper explores some theories relevant to understanding how the implementation of SUDS may be one option for supporting a transition towards sustainable urban water management (SUWM). Using interviews, document analysis and observation, a comparison of the opportunities and barriers to the implementation of SUDS in Dar es Salaam and Copenhagen is presented. The results indicate that a bottom-up approach in Dar es Salaam is important, with the community level taking the lead, while in Copenhagen the top-down approach currently employed is promising. The ability of the institutional frameworks of both cities to support the implementation of SUDS is also discussed.

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The application of a Web-geographic information system for improving urban water cycle modelling

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2014.327 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 70 (11) ◽

pp. 1838-1846 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. Mair ◽

C. Mikovits ◽

M. Sengthaler ◽

M. Schöpf ◽

H. Kinzel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Urban Areas ◽

High Performance ◽

Water Cycle ◽

Urban Water ◽

Urban Water Management ◽

Research Areas ◽

Desktop Computers ◽

High Knowledge ◽

The Impact

Research in urban water management has experienced a transition from traditional model applications to modelling water cycles as an integrated part of urban areas. This includes the interlinking of models of many research areas (e.g. urban development, socio-economy, urban water management). The integration and simulation is realized in newly developed frameworks (e.g. DynaMind and OpenMI) and often assumes a high knowledge in programming. This work presents a Web based urban water management modelling platform which simplifies the setup and usage of complex integrated models. The platform is demonstrated with a small application example on a case study within the Alpine region. The used model is a DynaMind model benchmarking the impact of newly connected catchments on the flooding behaviour of an existing combined sewer system. As a result the workflow of the user within a Web browser is demonstrated and benchmark results are shown. The presented platform hides implementation specific aspects behind Web services based technologies such that the user can focus on his main aim, which is urban water management modelling and benchmarking. Moreover, this platform offers a centralized data management, automatic software updates and access to high performance computers accessible with desktop computers and mobile devices.

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A conceptual framework for addressing complexity and unfolding transition dynamics when developing sustainable adaption strategies in urban water management

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2012.442 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 66 (11) ◽

pp. 2393-2401 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

C. F. Fratini ◽

M. Elle ◽

M. B. Jensen ◽

P. S. Mikkelsen

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Water Management ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Green Infrastructure ◽

Urban Areas ◽

System Optimization ◽

Urban Water ◽

Urban Water Management ◽

Adaptation To Climate Change ◽

Sustainable Transition

To achieve a successful and sustainable adaptation to climate change we need to transform the way we think about change. Much water management research has focused on technical innovation with a range of new solutions developed to achieve a ‘more sustainable and integrated urban water management cycle’. But Danish municipalities and utility companies are struggling to bring such solutions into practice. ‘Green infrastructure’, for example, requires the consideration of a larger range of aspects related to the urban context than the traditional urban water system optimization. There is the need for standardized methods and guidelines to organize transdisciplinary processes where different types of knowledge and perspectives are taken into account. On the basis of the macro–meso–micro pattern inspired by complexity science and transition theory, we developed a conceptual framework to organize processes addressing the complexity characterizing urban water management in the context of climate change. In this paper the framework is used to organize a research process aiming at understanding and unfolding urban dynamics for sustainable transition. The final goal is to enable local authorities and utilities to create the basis for managing and catalysing the technical and organizational innovation necessary for a sustainable transition towards climate change adaptation in urban areas.

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Substance flow analysis as a tool for urban water management

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2011.132 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 63 (7) ◽

pp. 1341-1348 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

N. Chèvre ◽

C. Guignard ◽

L. Rossi ◽

H.-R. Pfeifer ◽

H.-P. Bader ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Heavy Metals ◽

Surface Water ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Flow Analysis ◽

Urban Water ◽

Substance Flow Analysis ◽

Urban Water Management ◽

Substance Flow ◽

Wide Range

Human activity results in the production of a wide range of pollutants that can enter the water cycle through stormwater or wastewater. Among others, heavy metals are still detected in high concentrations around urban areas and their impact on aquatic organisms is of major concern. In this study, we propose to use a substance flow analysis as a tool for heavy metals management in urban areas. We illustrate the approach with the case of copper in Lausanne, Switzerland. The results show that around 1,500 kg of copper enter the aquatic compartment yearly. This amount contributes to sediment enrichment, which may pose a long-term risk for benthic organisms. The major sources of copper in receiving surface water are roofs and catenaries of trolleybuses. They represent 75% of the total input of copper into the urban water system. Actions to reduce copper pollution should therefore focus on these sources. Substance flow analysis also highlights that copper enters surface water mainly during rain events, i.e., without passing through any treatment procedure. A reduction in pollution could also be achieved by improving stormwater management. In conclusion, the study showed that substance flow analysis is a very effective tool for sustainable urban water management.

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Innovative Methods in Sustainable Urban Development and Water Management

TEM Journal ◽

10.18421/tem102-33 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 757-765

Author(s):

Ágnes Agócsová ◽

Zuzana Chodasová

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Sustainable Urban Development ◽

Living Standard ◽

Urban Water ◽

Urban Water Management ◽

Innovative Methods ◽

Sustainable Urban Water Management

Innovative methods presently affect all sectors of the national economy contributing to the progress and overall development of the economy, and the living standard worldwide. Innovations are equally necessary both in the private and in public sectors therefore, the original innovative ideas in each sector are greatly accepted. Similar concept is significant for companies dealing with urban water management. New methods are available mainly for capturing and reusing of rainwater in urban areas which leads to a positive impact on sustainable urban water management regarding today's water scarcity problems. This article describes some of the most popular innovative methods and examples used for rainwater harvesting, recycling and reuse. As a result, the evaluation of the most suitable water harvesting techniques related to sustainable water management, and their application in the city of Brno in Czech Republic are described.

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UNDERSTANDING THE PERFORMANCE OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AROUND HOMES

Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management ◽

10.3846/16486897.2016.1176575 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 278-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Basant MAHESHWARI

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Educational Programs ◽

Urban Water ◽

Urban Water Management ◽

Start Time ◽

Time Duration ◽

Irrigation Systems

This study examines factors that affect the efficiency of outdoor home irrigation in the Sydney Metropolitan Area (SMA). The irrigation systems of 50 home sites were monitored, over a five-month period for flow rate, start time, duration and irrigation date. The monitoring was for quantification of the water use for lawn, garden and other garden areas, understanding of the issues and factors that affect the performance of irrigation. Results show that hand watering was the most common method, accounting for 35% of the areas irrigated by homeowners. Both portable sprinklers and microjets accounted for 20% and fixed sprinklers and drip irrigation accounting for 11% and 8% respectively. The study has implications for developing suitable urban water management strategies, and significant opportunities exist for water conservation through appropriately designed educational programs and the installation of improved irrigation systems, especially for the areas that are smaller or used for home gardens.

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