ENVSCI738 COURSE: WATER SOCIETY How Can We transition to Water sensitive cities? words essay based on: On transitioning to the Water Sensitive City (WSC) Consider social, institutional and/or...

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How can we transition to Water sensitive cities?
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Abstract
Diminishing water resources and high degree of urbanization is posing significant threats to the
appropriate water resource management. It urges detrimental changes in the traditional water
resource management and transition based development to water sensitive city. The water
sensitive city is the futuristic concept which works on basis of diversified and decentralized
procurement and distribution frameworks and optimizes the institutional governance based
social awareness system to enhance environmental protection concerns for the public. In order to
achieve the sustainable urban water resource management it seems crucial that this socio-
technological and institution governance based system will be well utilized to cover to inclining
demand of soceity.
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Introduction
In consideration to the global needs of effective water management and significant
concerns of environment, institutional bodies of urban water professionals are putting great
efforts to optimize the transition to more sustainable urban water management (SUWM) so that
certain challenges like environmental degradation, the extended growth of urban population and
climate change impacts can be managed or controlled. (Brown, Keath & Wong, 2008) As there
has been observed significant growth in the world’s population residing in urban environment, in
comparison to the population residing in rural environment, it became crucial that effective urban
water management system should be developed which can not only minimize the climate change
impacts but can also ensure security of water supplies and protection of the water environments.
Although significant initiatives have been taken towards the development of sustainable
urban water treatment in the form of innovation in technological systems and transformation of
communal values towards waterways and environment, but its pace was quite low in comparison
to the desired state of change. Adversity of environmental and social consequences have exerted
significant stress on optimal utilization of diminishing water resources and enhanced the issues
related to water quality and water allocation. Such significant stress compels water analysts
towards adoption of innovation in techno-scientific and behavioral modifications in water usage
and allocation. (Lach, Rayner & Ingram, 2005)
In order to achieve the effective and sustainable urban water management the most
significant approach which has been formulated and adopted by the different cities are related to
the transition or transformation of the water supply system. In general the transition is carried out
in systematic phases, where the accomplishment of objective at one stage creates the base for
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initiation of the next stage. A typical transition framework of a city contains transformation in
sequential phases, where a city which is initially focused on water supply security gradually
starts focusing attention towards sewage system improvements, development of drainage or
flood prevention system. (Ison et. al, 2009)
Considering the importance of transition in water sensitive cities this paper intends to
analyze the overall concept of transition captures significant insights regarding social, technical
and institution aspect of water sensitive cities. It also explores the different methodologies being
utilized in effective transition of cities in water sensitive cities.
Characteristics of Water Sensitive Cities
The basic objective behind the development of concept of Water Sensitive City was to
formulate a framework of developing effective and sustainable water management system, which
induces optimal utilization of the available diminishing water resources. In respective system it
has been assumed that innovative socio-technological system and significant community based
behavioral changes will be fabricated to generate the desired benefits of appropriate water
allocation and water quality management. (Shove and Walker, 2010) Significant insight about
the core characteristics of the water sensitive cities can be understood through analysis of the
different operational and behavioral aspects of the sustainable urban water management.
On basis of such evaluation the basic characteristics of water sensitive cities can be
denoted as: focus on the creation of adaptability and flexibility in water resources, development
and use of green infrastructure and technology and the creation of sophisticated and water smart
city through the establishment of social and institutional capital. Thus it has been propounded
that a typical water sensitive city will deploy integrated and decentralized system of water
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procurement and distribution. It should have to minimize the reliability on a single source of
water supply and should be enthusiastic towards the use of diverse water resources like recycled
wastewater, storm water, desalinated water and sewer mining, etc. Adoption of eco-friendly
procurement and distribution technology and use of collaborative institutional framework for
sophisticated and water smart cities are certain other important aspects of water sensitive cities.
(Ison et. al, 2009)
Transitioning to Water Sensitive Cities
Considering the diminishing state of water resources and other consequences of social
and environmental mistakes in the past, it became necessary that water analyst and institutional
bodies start developing integrated water management system and deploy the advantages of the
water sensitive cities. Transition in water sensitive cities contains their own benefits which
constitutes decentralized and green technology based infrastructure to diversify the procurement
and distribution of water resources. Water sensitive cities are considered to be highly regulated
and confined to drought, flood or any climate changes situations. Enhanced communication
technology based information system and high degree of community awareness towards optimal
use of water resources are the key benefits of the water sensitive cities. Water sensitive urban
design of the water management framework helps in stimulating the use of diverse water
resources and integrated distribution or...