Best Management Practices for the Transition to a Water-Sensitive City in the South of Portugal

Miguel Rodrigues,Carla Antunes

doi:10.3390/su13052983

Abstract

The uncertainty that arises from future environmental and climatic challenges requires new approaches towards urban water management in Mediterranean cities. In this work, an urban water cycle (UWC) strategy based on the best management practices (BMPs) of water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) is proposed for the transition of a coastal city in the south of Portugal into a water-sensitive city (WSC), in line with the Municipal Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation of Loulé (EMAAC of Loulé). The city’s watershed was identified using the ArcMap Hydrology toolset with geospatial data provided by Loulé’s Municipal Council Operational Unit for Adaptation to Climate Change and Circular Economy (UOACEC). A broad characterisation of the study area was conducted, identifying existing resources to further develop a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. The Hydrology toolset outputs, precipitation events records, and survey results were used to identify flood-prone areas. The opportunities and threats identified were further used to develop the transition strategy, which is focused on critical areas identified and supported by BMPs, including source control, attenuation, treatment and infiltration measures, permeable pavements, rainwater harvesting systems, and bioretention basins. The approach is designed to increase the city’s resilience to climate extremes, as well as community engagement towards UWC management.

Highlights

The rising demand for areas to support urban growth alongside the increased demand for the available capital in cities leads to increased pressures onto services cities provide, especially water services
In the state-of-the-art review, we identified the suitable water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) best management practices (BMPs) according to Technical Design Guidelines for South East Queensland, Water Sensitive Urban Design—
Loulé’s Municipality refer to two climatic models and two scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). These scenarios allow for the anticipation of a worsening of the impacts of the events related to the increase in temperature and frequency of heatwaves, greater intensity and frequency of droughts, and episodes of intense precipitation [15,22]

Summary

Introduction

The rising demand for areas to support urban growth alongside the increased demand for the available capital in cities leads to increased pressures onto services cities provide, especially water services. Urban water management (UWM) relied on water infrastructure to ensure three essential services: supply, public hygiene, and flood protection The success of these strategies in the 20th century solved many of the problems related to cities’ water demand and public health in developed countries [1]. Current and future challenges UWM in cities face in the 21st century increase the uncertainty regarding the quantity and quality of water resources in the management of the UWC. These challenges emerge from population growth; aged infrastructures vulnerable to climate extremes; changes in social priorities and public policies; governance issues; and emerging technologies, namely, natural systems, information technology (IT), and small-scale modular units [2].

Methods

Results

Conclusion