Water management in a water sensitive city

Abstract

A critical challenge to urban communities is its design for resilience to the impact of climate change and population growth, particularly with regards to the sustainable management of water resources and the protection of water environments. With the widespread realisation of the significance of climate change, urban communities are increasingly seeking to ensure resilience to future uncertainties in urban water supplies, yet change seems slow with many cities facing ongoing investment in the conventional approach. While there is not one example in the world of a Water Sensitive City, there are cities that lead on distinct and varying attributes of the water sensitive approach. This paper proposes three key pillars that need to underpin the development and practice of a Water Sensitive City. These include: (i) access to a diversity of water sources underpinned by a diversity of centralised and decentralised infrastructure; (ii) provision of ecosystem services for the built and natural environment; and (iii) socio-political capital for sustainability and water sensitive behaviours.