Water sensitivity assessment framework for an Indian secondary riverine city: a case study of Paonta Sahib

Urban water management involves urban water supply (import, treatment and distribution of water), urban wastewater management (collection, treatment and disposal of urban sewage) and urban storm water management. Declining groundwater tables, polluted and declining sources of water, water scarcity in urban areas, unsatisfactory urban water supply and sanitation situation, pollution of receiving water bodies (including the ground water), and urban floods have become the concerns and issues of sustainable urban water management. This paper proposes a model for urban stormwater and sewage management which addresses these concerns and issues of sustainable urban water management. This model proposes segregation of the sewage into black water and greywater, and urban sub-watershed level stormwater-greywater management systems. During dry weather this system will be handling only the greywater and making the latter available as reclaimed water for reuse in place of the fresh water supply. During wet weather, the system will be taking care of (collection and treatment) both the storm water and the greywater, and the excess of the treated water will be disposed off through groundwater recharging. Application of this model in the Patiala city, Punjab, INDIA for selected urban sub-watersheds has been tried. Information and background data required for the conceptualization and design of the sub-watershed level urban stormwater-greywater management system was collected and the system has been designed for one of the sub-watersheds in the Patiala city. In this paper, the model for sustainable urban water management and the design of the Sub-watershed level Urban Stormwater-Greywater Management System are described.

The rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and socio-cultural activities along riverbanks in hilly cities are transforming land use and intensifying water infrastructure challenges. Paonta Sahib, a culturally significant town in Himachal Pradesh on the Yamuna River, along the foothills of the Himalayas exemplifies these pressures due to its religious tourism, industrialization, and mining activities. This study explores sustainable riverfront development at Paonta Sahib, addressing socio-cultural, environmental, and technical concerns essential for eco-sensitive urban planning. A Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis highlights strengths such as Paonta Sahib's strong cultural identity and economic potential, alongside weaknesses like limited water infrastructure and unregulated land use. Opportunities for eco-sensitive zoning and circular economy practices are proposed as strategies to mitigate environmental impacts, with financial projections indicating a 68 million INR annual cost recovery over a 35-year development period. Additionally, pollutant scenario analysis is recommended to support effective water quality management. Findings emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts between local authorities, technical experts, and communities to address the extreme hydrological, environmental, and planning challenges faced by riverbank cities. This balanced approach seeks to enhance Paonta Sahib's urban identity while preserving ecological integrity, offering a model for sustainable development in similar hilly settlements. The proposed framework aims to guide future policies for resilient riverfront urbanization, emphasizing adaptive planning, community engagement, and infrastructure that support both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Sustainable urban water management is an increasingly important socio-political objective, however implementation remains ad hoc. While numerous tools and technologies have been developed to achieve sustainable urban water management, significant socio-institutional barriers remain. These impediments include, among others, institutional fragmentation, poor political leadership and technological lock-in. Exacerbated by a lack of theory and conceptual frameworks to link sustainable urban water management principles with on-ground execution, these barriers contribute to low levels of system-wide implementation capacity. Institutional capacity building is advocated in the sustainable urban water literature as a strategy to facilitate implementation; however, institutional capacity building has limited ability to provide an overview of regime operation, considered critical for enabling system-wide change. Focusing on processes, actor agency and institutions, the field of governance studies provides a useful perspective for understanding holistic regime operation and change. Yet the environmental governance literature remains contested; many scholars support a network or market governance approach while others advocate for hybrid approaches. Moreover, the governance systems needed for enabling sustainable urban water management have been given limited attention. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to develop a guiding framework for sustainable urban water governance. Through an emergent research design, systematically drawing on the perspectives of scholars and leading Australian urban water sustainability practitioners, likely attributes of a sustainable urban water management regime were identified. The attributes were focused through the lens of individual, organisational, inter-organisational relationships, and administrative and regulatory regime components. A comparison of the scholarly and practitioner perspectives, together with governance, regime and institutional literatures, explored which governance modes are most likely to enable sustainable urban water management. Overall, this investigation revealed a suite of likely sustainable urban water management regime attributes that are substantially different from traditional and contemporary practice highlighting the considerable regime change required to enable sustainable urban water management. The scholars supported a network governance approach, similar to current adaptive governance and conceptual scholarly urban water management projections, with interdependent actor relations and largely informal administrative arrangements. In comparison, the practitioners advocated hybrid governance arrangements comprising hierarchical and network modes, including a formal administrative framework, with mutually dependent and interconnected actor relationships to facilitate implementation of site specific sustainable urban water management solutions. Both scholars and practitioners supported using a variety of policy instruments, including market governance instruments. The outcomes of this investigation suggest the hybrid governance approach supported by practitioners extends current scholarship by providing detailed information on regime attributes and operation, which can provide insight for practical implementation of network governance approaches which are supported in current urban water management and adaptive governance literature. Additionally, the hybrid approach offers suggestions for successfully integrating the three ideal governance modes and reducing potential tension among the modes. In practice, the proposed framework could be used to design capacity building programs and policy initiatives drawing on mixed governance approaches. To extend this research and improve insight into regime operation and governance dynamics, future research testing the tentative sustainable urban water governance framework in other locations is required.

Innovative methods presently affect all sectors of the national economy contributing to the progress and overall development of the economy, and the living standard worldwide. Innovations are equally necessary both in the private and in public sectors therefore, the original innovative ideas in each sector are greatly accepted. Similar concept is significant for companies dealing with urban water management. New methods are available mainly for capturing and reusing of rainwater in urban areas which leads to a positive impact on sustainable urban water management regarding today's water scarcity problems. This article describes some of the most popular innovative methods and examples used for rainwater harvesting, recycling and reuse. As a result, the evaluation of the most suitable water harvesting techniques related to sustainable water management, and their application in the city of Brno in Czech Republic are described.

The approach to urban water management across European countries is being influenced by growing knowledge about the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, more frequent flooding, and prolonged drought periods place significant pressure on urban water systems and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. The Interreg MAURICE project aims to introduce water management solutions for Central European cities in response to these climate-induced challenges. In this context, a literature review was conducted to analyse the best practices for climate change adaptation in urban water management across Europe. The main interest was to find integrated inter-administrative solutions involving key urban actors. Particular attention was given to comprehensive adaptation frameworks, leading to further analysis of the applicability of the local adaptation support tools promoted by the European Environment Agency. The review was drawn on a selection of case studies from recent literature and national experiences from the MAURICE partner countries, focused on groundwater management, stormwater management, and sustainable urban water management. The Key Type Measures (KTMs) classification was used to group the adaptation actions based on their characteristics.Clear evidence was found of the direction that climate adaptation in urban water management is taking across Europe. Adaptation solutions are often based on governance and institutional measures, as well as nature-based solutions or ecosystem-based approaches combined with physical (grey) measures. In contrast, technological tools, economic and financial instruments, and initiatives for knowledge and behavioural change are less frequently applied. Good practices that reportedly enable successful adaptation are often related to flexible, locally tailored measures designed with a systemic and long-term approach that ensures effective governance structures and community engagement. Frequent gaps in adaptation planning reveal shortcomings in testing the adequacy of adaptation options, addressing economic and legal aspects of adaptation, setting up monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and dealing with uncertainties. This report provides actionable insights to drive effective adaptation of urban water systems, build climate-resilient communities, and systematically integrate scientific knowledge into policy action.

Green infrastructure for sustainable urban water management: Practices of five forerunner cities

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.

Research was conducted to meet two objectives. The first was to identify the factors that assisted emergent leaders at a project level (‘project champions’) in publicly-managed Australian water agencies to successfully promote sustainable urban water management (SUWM). The second was to use this knowledge to develop a suite of management strategies to foster this form of the champion phenomenon. The primary rationale for the research was that the champion phenomenon has been an important, but poorly understood, catalyst for the adoption of SUWM in Australia. The research involved three phases. Phase 1 was a review of the international literature. Phase 2 was a multiple case study involving six water agencies and six project champions. Phase 3 was a field experiment where a leadership development program for 20 SUWM champions was designed, delivered and evaluated. The research found that ‘SUWM champions’ were emergent leaders who displayed distinctive personal attributes (e.g. specific traits and behaviours), worked in environments where there was resistance to the SUWM paradigm, and were adept at influencing others to adopt SUWM principles and practices. The research also found that the transformational (Bass, 1985), distributed (Gibb, 1954) and complexity (Uhl-Bien et al., 2007) models of leadership became relevant to, and helped to explain, typical champion-driven SUWM leadership processes at different times. Three conceptual models were developed to describe the factors that assist SUWM project champions in water agencies. The first is a three-phase model of typical champion-driven SUWM leadership processes, which highlights key champion behaviours during each phase, the role of other SUWM leaders and the importance of contextual factors. The second is a model that describes the individual attributes of champions (e.g. strongly developed traits) and enabling contextual factors (e.g. supportive organisational cultures). The third model explains how the champion phenomenon becomes influential as water agencies increasingly adopt the SUWM paradigm and several enabling contextual factors combine to form a ‘critical mass’. The research produced 28 management strategies to provide guidance on how to create a supportive leadership context for SUWM within water agencies, as well as how to attract, recruit, supervise and develop the leadership capacity of project champions. These strategies also address how to foster effective SUWM champions at an executive level, as well as encourage coordinated forms of group-based (distributed) leadership to advance SUWM. The efficacy of one of these strategies was examined by designing, delivering and evaluating the performance of a customised, six-month, leadership development program for 20 nascent project champions. A seven-tier evaluation framework was used that examined multiple dimensions of the program. Evaluation results for all tiers were strongly positive, with the estimated ‘return on investment’ being 190% after one year. The three theoretically-grounded conceptual models have substantially expanded the body of knowledge concerning SUWM champions. For example, these new models have helped to explain why some SUWM champions are more effective than others. In practice, the research has supported broader efforts to foster ‘water sensitive cities’ by producing the first set of evidence-based strategies to foster the champion phenomenon within water agencies.

The Yamuna River in India and the Mississippi River in the United States hold significant commercial, cultural, and ecological importance. This preliminary survey compares the bacterial communities sampled in surface waters at 11 sites (Yamuna headwaters, Mississippi headwaters, Yamuna River Yamunotri Town, Mississippi River at Winona, Tons River, Yamuna River at Paonta Sahib, Yamuna River Delhi-1, Yamuna River Delhi-2, Yamuna River before Sangam, Sangam, Ganga River before Sangam). Bacterial 16S rDNA analyses demonstrate dominance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla. Actinobacteria were also dominant at sites near Sangam in India and sites in Minnesota. A dominance of Epsilonbacteraeota were found in Delhi, India. Principal component analysis (PCA) using unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) resulted in the identification of 3 groups that included the Yamuna River locations in Delhi (Delhi locations), Yamuna headwaters and Yamuna River at Yamunotri (Yamuna River locations below the Glacier) and Mississippi, Ganga, Tons, and other Yamuna River locations. Diversity indices were significantly higher at the Yamuna River locations below the Glacier (Simpson D = 0.986 and Shannon H = 5.06) as compared (p value <0.001) to the Delhi locations (D = 0.951 and H = 4.23) and as compared (p value < 0.001) to Mississippi, Ganga, Tons, and other Yamuna River locations (D = 0.943 and H = 3.96). To our knowledge, this is the first survey to compare Mississippi and Yamuna River bacterial communities. We demonstrate higher diversity in the bacterial communities below the Yamunotri glacier in India.

Chapter 18 - Nature-based solutions and sponge city for urban water management

Accelerated urbanization and climate change intensify the challenges of sustainable urban water management, particularly in emerging and low-income economies.In these regions, recent unplanned urbanization and insufficient or inadequate infrastructure increase population vulnerability to extreme events.The concept of sustainable urban water management has historically evolved under various terminologies-BMP, LID, SUDS, WSUD, Green Infrastructure, and Sponge Cities-reflecting different priorities and cultural contexts.Recently, it has been framed under the new term Nature-Based Solutions (NBS).Urban water management encompasses seven essential components: drainage, detention, retention, infiltration, evaporation, treatment, and reuse.Incorporating as many of these components as possible into stormwater systems ensures sustainable urban water management, fostering resilience and adaptation in cities facing climate change challenges.Additionally, integrating gray infrastructure with technological components and natural elements is a crucial step toward achieving sustainability in these systems, while also providing essential ecosystem services.This study presents a conceptual review of sustainable urban water management, outlining its components, requirements, and steps for implementation.It emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary approaches and strong community involvement in these initiatives.Furthermore, it highlights the need to strengthen regulatory and financial frameworks to encourage the adoption of the necessary measures for achieving sustainable urban water management.

It has been acknowledged, in Australia and beyond, that existing urban water systems and management lead to unsustainable outcomes. Therefore, our current socio-technical systems, consisting of institutions, structures and rules, which guide traditional urban water practices, need to change. If a change towards sustainable urban water management (SUWM) practices is to occur, a transformation of our established social-technical configuration that shapes the behaviour and decision making of actors is needed. While some constructive innovations that support this transformation have occurred, most innovations remain of a technical nature. These innovative projects do not manage to achieve the widespread social and institutional change needed for further diffusion and uptake of SUWM practices. Social theory, and its research, is increasingly being recognised as important in responding to the challenges associated with evolving to a more sustainable form of urban water management. This paper integrates three areas of social theories around change in order to provide a conceptual framework that can assist with socio-technical system change. This framework can be utilised by urban water practitioners in the design of interventions to stimulate transitions towards SUWM.

Climate adaptation and climate change prevention have become essential aspects of city planning. Urbanization and changing climatic conditions pose a threat to the sustainability of cities, and excess stormwater exacerbates these challenges by causing flooding and pollution of the receiving water bodies. To address these issues, cities must enhance the sustainability and climate resilience of their stormwater management systems. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) offer a sustainable alternative to traditional grey infrastructure by providing water retention, detention, and pollutant reduction capabilities. Despite their numerous benefits, the adoption of NBS lags behind, with conventional solutions often being favored. Effective policy measures are crucial for promoting the integration of NBS into urban water management systems and aligning them with overall sustainability goals. This study uses multilevel analysis that begins with an examination of EU policies and national legislation to understand the regulatory landscape. The focus then shifts to local stormwater regulation practices, which are explored through interviews with stormwater experts from various cities. These interviews provide insights into the practicalities, functionality, and shortcomings of stormwater regulation practices. Finally, this study focuses on Turku, analyzing the impact of the Blue-Green Index (BGI), which has been used to direct new constructions to use Green Infrastructure and NBS. The analysis of Turku's construction plans serves as a real-world case study to evaluate the actual effects of BGI on NBS implementation.This research adds to the academic conversation by examining the complex relationship between regulatory measures and the practical application of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in urban water management. By analyzing decision-making processes at various levels, this study offers detailed insights into the difficulties and potential opportunities associated with promoting environmentally sustainable water solutions in cities. The findings of this research have significant implications for policymakers, urban planners, and environmental practitioners and could help inform strategies that encourage the adoption of NBS and create more resilient and sustainable urban water management systems.

Small urban centres in the South West Pacific face many challenges regarding urban water management in the light of future uncertainties and climate change. Without implementing sustainable urban water management (SUWM), they risk adverse environmental and public health impacts, but little is known regarding the receptivity of urban water professionals towards its principles and practices. This paper assesses the willingness and ability of urban water managers from the region to implement SUWM. Results demonstrate that whilst aware of current failures, there was limited awareness of sustainable solutions, and a limited ability to identify benefits arising from SUWM implementation. There is a need to increase the opportunities for urban water professionals in the region to acquire skills and implement SUWM. This study identifies the capacity development needed in the region to increase receptivity to SUWM.

IntroductionThe Water Flow Diagram (WFD) is a novel advocacy and communication tool that presents urban water supply and management in a simple visualization. Rapid urbanization, growing populations, and the climate crisis increase the pressure on water resources, particularly in urbanized areas. The WFD aims to foster a dialogue around conflict of interests and opportunities among different stakeholders, and trigger actions toward more sustainable urban water management (UWM), as well as a water secure future.MethodThe WFD is produced from data on water abstraction, water use of different sectors, water treatment, water recycling and contamination risks. The data were obtained from government services, wastewater and water utilities, large industries, universities and reports of intergovernmental organizations. If these sources did not have data, reports from NGOs or consultants, comparable contexts, default values or expert judgements were considered. The annual water flows are presented in a Sankey Diagram. An intuitive color code highlights the flows as “problematic” or “appropriate” and points to areas where UWM practices should be improved.Results and conclusionsThe final diagrams are a concise instrument that identifies challenges of UWM in the four application cases presented in this article. Key challenges that became evident included: pollution from agricultural production, the lack of wastewater and sanitation infrastructure, high water losses in the distribution networks, water exports leading to a lack in local supply and sewer overflows during heavy rainfalls. Opportunities identified were the need to: invest in sanitation and wastewater to protect resources, create coordination bodies to align conflict of interests, and/or invest in blue-green infrastructure for rainwater retention. The WFD triggered local actions, such as in-depth discussions between relevant actors, the formation of integrated water use committees and the interest of the national ministry in Senegal to replicate the diagram for other locations. This article presents the methodology, discusses the four case studies and deliberates on the prospective use of the WFD.