Are Rainwater and Stormwater Part of the Urban CE Efficiency?

Abstract

Circular economy (CE) means efficient resource use. It is a matter of better available resource management. Understanding the characteristics, potential, use advantages and disadvantages, and management systems, in each context, is the basis to construct a feasible CE framework to deal with climate change and economic scarcity challenges. Urban stormwater has potential importance in CE when addressed as a useful resource rather than as waste. Its use can replace part of the water supply (reduce principle), brought from distant sources using energy-consuming and emission-producing systems. Thus, it can be a source of energy savings and emission reduction since stormwater can be used and stored near the place where rainwater falls or infiltrates to supply groundwater (reuse principle). Urban agriculture can also gain benefits by using, e.g., green infrastructures (GIs) (recycling principle). The main gap still lies in the implementation of the efficiency mentality, reducing expenses and consequently improving revenues, profits, and environment issues, such as emissions. It is a big paradigm shift. The creation of policies, institutions, and regulations aligned with each other, together with urban planning and water cycle efficiency, from a CE perspective is fundamental. Urban stormwater as a CE component is a moving paradigm shift based on a change in mindset.