Abstract
Climate change and urbanization, as well as growing environmental and economic concerns, highlight the limitations of traditional wastewater practices and thereby challenge the management of urban water systems. Both in theory and in practice, it has been widely acknowledged that the challenges of the twenty-first century require solutions that address problems in a more integrated way.Although the demand for integration is obvious, implementation has proved challenging because of the complexity and uncertainty involved. In addition, the urban water literature contains a wide diversity of approaches to integration, each contribution having its own understanding of the term, as well as how to deal with the complexity that comes with it.In this article, we take a first step in supporting both decision-making and decision-makers in urban water systems integration. First, we work towards a more comprehensive perspective on integration in urban water management; one that uses and structures the variety of existing approaches. In so doing, we introduce a typology of urban water systems integration that distinguishes between geographical, physical, informational, and project-based forms. Second, we explore the implications that such integrated solutions bring for decision-makers. They will be faced with additional uncertainty arising (1) at the interfaces of previously unconnected systems and (2) from the social and institutional changes that systems integration requires. Finally, we draft three decision-making challenges that come with integration and provide some possibilities for dealing with them.
Highlights
Cities are under increasing pressure from climate change, population growth, and ongoing urbanization
After we have provided an overview of current urban water literature on integration in Section 2, in Section 3 we go on to develop our typology of urban water systems integration
Building on the insights gained from the urban water literature on integration and the typology introduced above, we provide insights into the implications inherent to urban water systems integration
Summary
Cities are under increasing pressure from climate change, population growth, and ongoing urbanization. We use the definition formulated by Walker et al (2003), which states that uncertainty is “any deviation from the unachievable ideal of completely deterministic knowledge of the relevant system.” When it comes to the sources of uncertainty, we see at least three factors contributing to that associated with integration: the interfaces that emerge where previously unconnected systems become interconnected, multi-actor complexity, and the dynamic nature of the environment in which integration takes place. Adopting a socio-technical systems perspective, this paper (1) develops a typology of urban water systems integration and, (2) explores the uncertainties and decision-making challenges involved with such systems integration. This conceptualization should be helpful to structure and facilitate further discussion on integration, in science as well as in practice.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
