Theme 3

In a 2014 report, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimated that 54% of the global population lived in cities, and this is expected to increase to 66% by 2050. While population growth creates vibrant economies, it also creates heavy demands on natural resources and the social environment which may become unsustainable if left unmanaged. Hence, local governments, urban professionals and individuals are coming together to collaborate and implement solutions towards resilient and liveable cities. Good urban planning must take into account the total urban water cycle to ensure its water systems are properly managed, protected and conserved, and thereby able to provide a safe and secure water supply, and high quality living environment for the population. The implementation of these solutions requires a holistic approach and strong partnerships among the stakeholders - government building on their existing capabilities to govern and plan, professionals becoming more “water-wise” in their area of expertise, and people becoming “water-wise” in their behaviour as citizens.

This theme welcomes success stories and case studies in planning, prioritising, implementing and monitoring effective policies, strategies, and new technologies, which facilitate the integration of sustainable water systems into the urban environment for resilient and liveable cities.

• Regenerative Water Services
  • Replenishing waterbodies and their ecosystems
  • Reduce water and energy usage
  • Reuse, recover, recycle
  • Systemic approach integrated with other services
  • Modularity systems to ensure resilience urban water systems

• Water Sensitive Urban Design
  • Urban design enabling regenerative water services
  • Urban design for increasing resilience to flood risks
  • Enhancing liveability with green infrastructures and blue-green corridors
  • New urban materials to minimise environmental impact

• Basin Connected Cities
  • Plans to secure water resources and mitigate drought
  • Protection of water resources quality
  • Readiness for extreme events

• Water-Wise Communities
  • Empowered citizens in sustainable urban water vision
  • Professionals’ awareness of water co-benefits enabling innovative sustainable solutions
  • Trans-disciplinary planning and operation teams to increase efficiencies and synergies
  • Water-wise actions form policy makers
  • Effective and efficient governance enhancing trust and engagement