The role of natural systems in urban water management in the City of the Future - A 3-step strategic approach

UWM should be considered within the wider context of sustainable development. This means that a holistic approach must be followed, where the management of urban water services is linked to that of water resources and of nutrients. It also means that interventions should not be focussed exclusively at ‘the end of the pipe’, which is extremely costly and ineffective. By applying the principles of cleaner production, we propose the so-called 3-Step Strategic Approach for UWM. The three steps include 1) pollution prevention and minimisation, 2) treatment for reuse, and 3) stimulation of the self-purification capacity of the receiving environment. Examples of possible interventions under each step will be given. The overall aim is to achieve sustainable UWM and nutrient management. Natural systems and processes play a crucial role in the implementation of this strategy. We should therefore aim at maximizing the exploitation of natural systems and processes for the effective management of municipal water resources (water quality), of water supply and sanitation services, and of the municipal water cycle as a whole (water quantity).