Abstract
Urban water management has recently been questioned because of the fragmented nature of the urban water system and its linear model. The integration and management of water systems are currently recognized as a socio-technical challenge that must be addressed for a more sustainable urban water management. In the short term, a key factor for its transition will be integration of alternative practices that allow for experimentation, learning, and scaling up. This study aims to identify potential shifts supported by two alternative practices for water reuse: nature-based solutions and water reuse technologies, using circular economy principles as analytical categories. The research uses a case study, the Besòs river of the Barcelona metropolitan area, to show that: i) improving biodiversity and water quality helps to regenerate natural capital; ii) water reuse for streamflow augmentation keeps resources in use and promotes synergies, which benefits social livability; and iii) risk management and a potential fit-to-purpose strategy can marginally help to avoid waste externalities. This research has shown that the CE principles are applicable as a framework for identifying the interconnected shifts promoted by water systems. A reflexive understanding of the alternative practices provides deeper insight into the experiences, barriers, and shifts that allow innovative interactions in specific urban contexts and can deliver additional benefits for society. This knowledge can be useful for integrated urban management; however, further integration of cross-sectoral collaboration and flexibility are required.
Highlights
There is growing concern about urban water systems being i) based on linear management models that center on extraction, use, and disposal, and ii) dependent on large-scale and centralized infrastructures and technologies (Heiberg et al, 2020; Hoffmann et al, 2020)
For the case study of the Besos river area, alternative practices were implemented through several actions and circular features along the three CE principles: biodiversity and water quality improve ments, through nature-based solutions (NBS) supporting natural capital regeneration (4.1); water reuse for streamflow augmentation and multi-functional infrastructure, which keep resources in use (4.2); and management of flooding risks and a potential fit-to-purpose strategy for avoiding waste externalities (4.3)
We identified shifts toward sustainable urban water management (SUWM) supported by alternative practices
Summary
There is growing concern about urban water systems being i) based on linear management models that center on extraction, use, and disposal, and ii) dependent on large-scale and centralized infrastructures and technologies (Heiberg et al, 2020; Hoffmann et al, 2020). This linear model of urban water systems is being challenged for its envi ronmental sustainability, as it may cause the deterioration of water and other resources due to the influential presence of pollutants and waste stocks in the environment that are affecting human and ecosystem health (Fuenfschilling and Truffer, 2014; Nika et al, 2020b). Practical applica tions based on comprehensive CE assessments (that use various methodologies and indicators) may be difficult to report due to high levels of complexity (e.g., information flow, economic valuation, feed back loops, and sectoral interdependence) (Nika et al, 2020b)
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