Urban Water Infrastructure Research Articles

Sustainable Water Management Solutions for Urban Areas

The management of water resources is a serious concern in urban areas because of the effects of climate change, aging infrastructure, and rapid population increase. This essay examines the vital significance of sustainable water management in urban settings, emphasizing cutting-edge frameworks for policy and technology that can improve water resilience and efficiency. Successful strategies, such as demand management and diversification of the water supply, are demonstrated by case studies like Windhoek, Namibia. In order to solve the intricate and interrelated problems of urban water scarcity, infrastructure constraints, and environmental repercussions, the essay emphasizes integrated water resources management (IWRM) as a crucial technique that incorporates multidisciplinary viewpoints. In order to guarantee a sustainable urban water future, the importance of inclusive policies and governance is also covered, highlighting the necessity of cooperative and flexible problemsolving techniques.

Sustainability assessment of urban water public‐private partnership projects with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria

AbstractWith the acceleration of urbanization, the sustainability of urban water infrastructure projects has become pivotal to social development. This research aims to construct a comprehensive sustainability assessment model for urban water public‐private partnership (PPP) projects based on the environmental, social, and governance criteria. First, a multi‐level assessment indicator system is established considering the economic, social, ecological, and governance sustainability dimensions. Then, the extended analytic hierarchy process is utilized to determine the weights of indicators based on expert scoring. To address the ambiguity of qualitative linguistic variables, the interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy set method is applied to aggregate expert assessments. An empirical case study of an urban water project verifies the feasibility of the proposed approach. Results demonstrate that experts emphasize economic sustainability, while social sustainability is an overlooked dimension that requires improvement. The research contributes to the field by developing an applied, industry‐specific sustainability evaluation model for urban water PPP projects using advanced decision‐making techniques. This model provides practical tools for stakeholders to enhance the sustainable performance of urban water infrastructure projects.

Water and the Urban Metabolism: Essays on the Remaking of Urban Water Regimes since the Eighteenth Century—Introduction

This introductory article explores the concept of urban metabolism, through which cities’ need for water transforms inputs into biomass and waste products, and its influence on urban water regimes. It provides a summary of existing literature, and explains how a cross-disciplinary approach, drawing on a range of urban experiences, can add value to current policy debates about the costs of urban water management, and environmental problems in general. The case studies presented here examine urban water regimes in Britain, Europe, Asia, and the United States since the eighteenth century. Using methods from a range of historical disciplinary approaches, this special issue identifies the diverse forces that generate a variety of outcomes, with non-linear improvements in urban water infrastructure shaped by contemporary technology and medical knowledge, social inequality, local politics, and path-dependent impact of previous planning and construction decisions.

Did Cholera “Force” the Reform of Urban Water Infrastructure? Lessons from Nineteenth-Century Berlin

This study of Berlin’s nineteenth-century hydrological reconfiguration challenges the popular narrative that Europe’s recurrent cholera epidemics after 1831 motivated an efficient and scientific path to safe tap water supplies and sanitary sewers. Analysis of contemporary discourse reveals that the causal link between cholera and water infrastructure reform is weak and ambiguous, with aesthetic and industrial concerns taking precedence. Far from prompting effective action, miasmatic frameworks and the limited proto-epidemiological tools of the pre-bacteriological era led to inefficient and sometimes counterproductive approaches, potentially worsening urban mortality. Understanding Western Europe’s sanitary past provides important insights into the ongoing struggle for urban sanitation in today’s developing world.

Runoff Control Performance of Three Typical Low-Impact Development Facilities: A Case Study of a Community in Beijing

The development of sponge cities advocates for sustainable urban rainwater management, effectively alleviating urban flood disasters, reducing non-point-source pollution, and promoting the recycling of rainwater resources. Low-Impact Development (LID) serves as a key strategy in this context, providing essential support for urban rainwater control and pollution reduction. To investigate the runoff control effects of LID measures and to reveal the relationship between facility runoff control performance and installation scale, this study focuses on a sponge community in Beijing. A SWMM model was constructed to analyze the rainwater flood control and pollutant load reduction effects of different LID facilities, including bio-retention cells, green roofs, and permeable pavements. Using evaluation indicators such as surface runoff, node overflow, and pollutant control rates, this study examined how facility performance varies with installation scale under different rainfall conditions. The combination scheme of LID equipment optimal configuration is designed by using multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and cost–benefit theory. The results indicate significant differences in performance among the various LID facilities across different rainfall scenarios. Specifically, the optimal installation proportion for runoff and overflow control of permeable pavements were found to be between 30% and 70%. Green roofs demonstrate superior performance in handling extreme rainfall events, while bio-retention cells exhibit significant effectiveness in controlling Total Suspended Solids (TSSs). Through comprehensive performance evaluation, this study identified the optimal combination scale under a 3-year rainfall recurrence interval as 30% permeable pavements, 20% green roof, and 60% bio-retention cells. This combination effectively leverages the strengths of each facility, ensuring system stability and efficiency while also demonstrating optimal management efficiency in cost–benefit analyses. The findings of this research provide valuable insights for future urban water management and infrastructure development.

INVESTING IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 6

Objective: The objective of this article is to examine and address the implementation status of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in improving urban water infrastructure in Africa. Theoretical Framework: Public-private partnerships can play a significant role in enhancing water infrastructure and achieving SDG 6's goal of providing communities with safe drinking water. How these concepts can be used to enhance peoples' quality of life is investigated in the article. Method: The study is qualitative and offers desktop analysis of data available in public domain. The data is compiled through literature and document reviews, and further analysed using document and conceptual analysis. Research Implications: The study identifies various challenges related to water infrastructure development (focus) in African context (locus). The study suggests African governments to partner with private sectors for meeting the needs of delivering water by using proper and maintained infrastructure and able to accommodate the growing population. Originality/Value: The study contributes by suggesting varied resources required by PPPs to implement effective urban water infrastructure in Africa.

Leak and Burst Detection in Water Distribution Network Using Logic- and Machine Learning-Based Approaches

Urban water systems worldwide are confronted with the dual challenges of dwindling water resources and deteriorating infrastructure, emphasising the critical need to minimise water losses from leakage. Conventional methods for leak and burst detection often prove inadequate, leading to prolonged leak durations and heightened maintenance costs. This study investigates the efficacy of logic- and machine learning-based approaches in early leak detection and precise location identification within water distribution networks. By integrating hardware and software technologies, including sensor technology, data analysis, and study on the logic-based and machine learning algorithms, innovative solutions are proposed to optimise water distribution efficiency and minimise losses. In this research, we focus on a case study area in the Sunbury region of Victoria, Australia, evaluating a pumping main equipped with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) sensor technology. We extract hydraulic characteristics from SCADA data and develop logic-based algorithms for leak and burst detection, alongside state-of-the-art machine learning techniques. These methodologies are applied to historical data initially and will be subsequently extended to live data, enabling the real-time detection of leaks and bursts. The findings underscore the complementary nature of logic-based and machine learning approaches. While logic-based algorithms excel in capturing straightforward anomalies based on predefined conditions, they may struggle with complex or evolving patterns. Machine learning algorithms enhance detection by learning from historical data, adapting to changing conditions, and capturing intricate patterns and outliers. The comparative analysis of machine learning models highlights the superiority of the local outlier factor (LOF) in anomaly detection, leading to its selection as the final model. Furthermore, a web-based platform has been developed for leak and burst detection using a selected machine learning model. The success of machine learning models over traditional logic-based approaches underscores the effectiveness of data-driven, probabilistic methods in handling complex data patterns and variations. Leveraging statistical and probabilistic techniques, machine learning models offer adaptability and superior performance in scenarios with intricate or dynamic relationships between variables. The findings demonstrate that the proposed methodology can significantly enhance the early detection of leaks and bursts, thereby minimising water loss and associated economic costs. The implications of this study are profound for the scientific community and stakeholders, as it provides a scalable and efficient solution for water pipeline monitoring. Implementing this approach can lead to more proactive maintenance strategies, ultimately contributing to the sustainability and resilience of urban water infrastructure systems.

Metrics to quantify the degree of co-location of urban water infrastructure.

Co-located infrastructure networks such as road, water, and sewer in theory offer the possibility for integrated multi-infrastructure interventions. However, how closely these networks are aligned in space and time determines the practical extent to which such coordinated interventions can be realized. This study quantifies the spatial alignment of the aforementioned infrastructure networks and demonstrates its application for integrated interventions and potential cost savings. It proposes two metrics, namely 1) shared surface area and, 2) shared trench volume, to quantify the spatial relationship (i.e., degree of co-location) of infrastructures. Furthermore, the study demonstrates how the degree of co-location can be used as a proxy for cost-saving potential of integrated interventions compared to silo-based, single-infrastructure, interventions. Through six case studies conducted in Norwegian municipalities, the research reveals that implementing integrated interventions across road, water, and sewer networks can result in potential average cost savings of 24% in urban areas and 11% in rural areas. Utility-specific savings under different cost-sharing scenarios were also analysed. To identify the yearly potential of integrated multi-infrastructure interventions, future work should add the temporal alignment of rehabilitation of infrastructures (i.e., time of intervention need for the infrastructures).

Knowledge-based decisions for asset management of urban water infrastructure in Iran and Brazil using a nominal-based multi-criteria group decision method

ABSTRACT Asset management of the Urban Water Infrastructure (UWI) is typically faced with limitations regarding uncertain operational data. This shortcoming can be improved using the knowledge-based decisions of experienced experts. However, since knowledge-based decisions depend on decision-makers’ knowledge and experience, verifying their results in various regions is essential. This subject was addressed in this research. Hence, four groups of experts in Iran and Brazil collaborated to assess the criteria effective in the Maintenance-Rehabilitation Planning (MRP) of urban water pipes. For this purpose, a nominal-based multi-criteria group decision-making method was developed. To verify the results of this method, the viewpoints of non-weighted and weighted decision-makers were investigated and compared pairwise. The findings of this research improved the asset management of the UWI in Iran and Brazil by identifying the criteria applicable to the MRP of the pipes based on knowledge-based decisions. Likewise, it was found that weighting the experts has no decisive effect on the results and is only effective in groups where the decision-makers’ weights are identically distributed. Moreover, it was shown that there is a relationship between the similarity of results and the similarity of experts’ profiles in knowledge-based decision groups of various countries such as Iran and Brazil.

Integrated urban land cover analysis using deep learning and post‐classification correction

AbstractThe quantification of urban impervious area has important implications for the design and management of urban water and environmental infrastructure systems. This study proposes a deep learning model to classify 15‐cm aerial imagery of urban landscapes, coupled with a vector‐oriented post‐classification processing algorithm for automatically retrieving canopy‐covered impervious surfaces. In a case study in Corpus Christi, TX, deep learning classification covered an area of approximately 312 km2 (or 14.86 billion 0.15‐m pixels), and the post‐classification effort led to the retrieval of over 4 km2 (or 0.18 billion pixels) of additional impervious area. The results also suggest the underestimation of urban impervious area by existing methods that cannot consider the canopy‐covered impervious surfaces. By improving the identification and quantification of various impervious surfaces at the city scale, this study could directly benefit a variety of environmental and infrastructure management practices and enhance the reliability and accuracy of processed‐based models for urban hydrology and water infrastructure.

Carbon footprint assessment of water and wastewater treatment works in Scottish islands

Quantifying the global warming potential of existing water infrastructure is an important step in realising the water industry's commitment to net-zero carbon. Whilst there has been an improved understanding of the global warming potential of centralized urban water infrastructure, rigorous analyses of smaller-scale rural systems are rare. This work adopts a life cycle assessment to ascertain the global warming potential of existing drinking water treatment works and wastewater treatment works associated with five Scottish islands: Arran, Iona, Jura, Barra, and Vatersay. The water systems, from source to sink, along with the use of chemicals, transportation, energy, and the reuse of waste products from water infrastructure are considered. The global warming potentials of the island's drinking water treatment works ranged from 0.18 to 0.79 kgCO2-eq/m3 of drinking water, while that for wastewater treatment works were 0.51 to 1.14 kgCO2-eq/m3 of wastewater. The global warming potential for water services on the islands can be as much as 7-times of that water services across Scotland as previously reported. Major global warming potential contributor in drinking water treatment works was the electricity consumed by the membrane bioreactors. The modelled direct emission of methane from sludge in septic tanks and for land reclamation made the largest contribution to global warming potential. It was also highly sensitive to model parameters, which highlights the need for a comprehensive exploration of process emissions from septic tanks and sludge handling. This analysis of existing rural water infrastructure is a baseline against which potential alternative low-carbon technology configurations can be compared.

When does infrastructure hybridisation outperform centralised infrastructure paradigms? – Exploring economic and hydraulic impacts of decentralised urban wastewater system expansion

We explore the dynamics of centralised and decentralised wastewater infrastructure across various scenarios and introduce novel insights into their performance regarding structural vulnerability, hydraulic capacity, and costs. This study determines circumstances under which infrastructure hybridisation outperforms traditional centralised infrastructure paradigms. We combined system analysis to map out the modelling problem with the model-based exploration of the transition space using the novel TURN-Sewers model. System diagramming was used to identify the parameters or combinations of parameters that significantly influence the performance indicators being assessed. This allowed the creation of relevant simulation scenarios to identify circumstances where a decentralised sewer system could outperform a centralised one. TURN-Sewers was applied to model the infrastructure maintenance and generation of new infrastructure over 20 years for a municipality on the Swiss Plateau, considering a population growth rate of 0.03 a−1. Results show that decentralisation in expansion areas with higher densification can outperform the hydraulic performance and structural vulnerability of expanding centralised sanitary wastewater infrastructure. Decentralised systems can also offer economic advantages when capital expenditure costs for small-scale wastewater treatment plants are significantly reduced compared to current costs, particularly at higher discount rates, e.g. reaping effects of economies of scale. The findings of this study emphasise the potential of transition pathways towards decentralisation in urban water infrastructures and the value of models that allow the exploration of this transition space.

Energy Transition in Urban Water Infrastructures towards Sustainable Cities

The world’s water infrastructures suffer from inefficiencies, such as high energy consumption and water losses due to inadequate management practices and feeble pressure regulation, leading to frequent water and energy losses. This strains vital water and energy resources, especially in the face of the worsening challenges of climate change and population growth. A novel method is presented that integrates micro-hydropower plants, with pumps as turbines (PATs), in the water network in the city of Funchal. Sensitivity analyses evaluated the microgrid’s response to variations in the cost of energy components, showing favorable outcomes with positive net present value (NPV). PV solar and micro-wind turbines installed exclusively at the selected PRV sites within the Funchal hydro grid generate a combined 153 and 55 MWh/year, respectively, supplementing the 406 MWh/year generated by PATs. It should be noted that PATs consistently have the lowest cost of electricity (LCOE), confirming their economic viability and efficiency across different scenarios, even after accounting for reductions in alternative energy sources and grid infrastructure costs.

Public-Private Partnerships to Improve Urban Water Infrastructure Development

Public-Private Partnerships to Improve Urban Water Infrastructure Development

Using Machine Learning to Improve Vector Control, Public Health and Reduce Fragmentation of Urban Water Management

Urban waters (UW) are complex environments, and their definition is related to water systems in urban zones, whether in a natural system or an urban facility. The health of these environments is related to public health and the quality of life because public health is the focal point of environmental and anthropic impacts. Infrastructure is paramount for maintaining public health and social and economic development sanitation. Insufficient infrastructure favors disease vectors. The population and environment suffer from deficient urban water infrastructure in Brazil despite government efforts to manage the existing systems. In this work, machine learning (regression trees) demonstrates the deficiency of sanitation and UW management fragmentation on public health by using the Aedes aegypti infestation index (HI) and water supply, wastewater, stormwater and drainage indicators (SNIS data). The results show that each Brazilian region faces different problems. The more infested regions were Northeastern, Northern and Southeastern. Moreover, municipalities with better SNIS data have lower infestation rates. Minimizing problems related to sanitation through the integrated management of water and urban areas is extremely important in developing countries. UW governance is connected to public health. Water management fragmentation leads to more complex issues, and managers must confront them to improve the quality of life in urban zones.

Urban Flood Analysis and Early Warning Solution for Disaster Resilience

The objective of this work is to present the experimental findings of an urban flood early warning system developed by combining a mesoscale numerical weather prediction model (WRF) forecast with a distributed hydrologic modelling system. Hydrodynamic models have been used in the simulation of intricate and interrelated dynamic systems, such as urban watersheds and urban water infrastructure. The use of these models in assessing the flood hazard, vulnerability, and risk is well-established. On the other hand, the Numerical weather prediction (NWP) such as WRF model output are crucial to increase the lead time for the flood forecasting. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is employed for the purpose of generating precipitation forecasts, which are subsequently utilized to conduct hydrologic and hydrodynamic simulations. In accordance with the climatology of the study area, the WRF model forecast is juxtaposed with the observed rainfall data for days 1, 2, and 3. Statistical indicators of accuracy assessment suggest acceptable degree of correlation with the observed precipitation. The experiment successfully designed and implemented a comprehensive web-based urban flood forecast and early warning system. The system is able to predict possible inundation areas within the catchment due to projected rainfall. Additionally, the study develops a web-based Flood Management Information System (MIS) that is fully automated and disseminate early warning with a lead time of 72 hours.

The sanitary sewer unit hydrograph model: A comprehensive tool for wastewater flow modeling and inflow-infiltration simulations

Sanitary sewer systems are critical urban water infrastructure that protect both human and environmental health. Their design, operation, and monitoring require novel modeling techniques that capture dominant processes while allowing for computationally efficient simulations. Open water flow in sewers and rivers are intrinsically similar processes. With this in mind, we formulated a new parsimonious model inspired by the Width Function Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph (WFIUH) approach, widely used to predict rainfall-runoff relationships in watersheds, to a sanitary sewer system consisting of nearly 10,000 sewer conduits and 120,000 residential and commercial sewage connections in Northern Virginia, U.S.A. Model predictions for the three primary components of sanitary flow, including Base Wastewater Flow (BWF), Groundwater Infiltration (GWI), and Runoff Derived Infiltration and Inflow (RDII), compare favorably with the more computationally demanding industry-standard Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). This novel application of the WFIUH modeling framework should support a number of critical water quality endpoints, including (i) sewer hydrograph separation through the quantification of BWF, GWI, and RDII outflows, (ii) evaluation of the impact of new urban developments on sewage flow dynamics, (iii) monitoring and mitigation of sanitary sewer overflows, and (iv) design and interpretation of wastewater surveillance studies.

The state of Water Infrastructure Development in Zimbabwe

The article explores the history of urban water infrastructure management in Zimbabwe focusing on water sector reforms and water infrastructural development strategies. The challenges experienced in the implementation of the water sector reforms in the country by examining the legal and institutional frameworks that guide public private partnerships (PPPs) in general and those that guide PPPs in the water sector, particularly in the development of urban water infrastructure in Zimbabwe are explored. Using the qualitative approach, the article aims to answer research question such as what water reforms and public private partnership projects have been implemented in Zimbabwe? The article presents a discussion of water sector reforms in Zimbabwe and proposed strategies for urban water infrastructural development that include policy frameworks and institutional arrangements proposed a decade ago. Findings explore that there are gaps in research pertaining to the implementation of water sector reforms in Zimbabwe. The study concludes by proposing the implementation of PPP initiatives in Zimbabwe in general and urban water infrastructural PPP initiatives, in particular, as a solution to improve water infrastructure. Keywords: Public private partnerships, Qualitative, Water infrastructure, Zimbabwe

“Quenching the thirst of others while suffering”: Embodied experiences of water vendors in Ghana and Kenya

Informal water sellers (commonly known as water vendors) have emerged as part of urban water infrastructure systems in many low- and middle-income countries to meet the water needs of unserved urban populations. These vendors include water tanker operators, those who sell water from private standpipes and boreholes, and those who use hand carts, bicycles, tricycles to transport water around for sale. However, we know little about the embodied impacts of their work on their health and wellbeing. In this article, we consider how embodied experience can add to our understandings of water access and decent work in urban centers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study examines health risks associated with informal water vending in three cities, Accra and Wa (Ghana) and Kisumu (Kenya), where close to 48%, 65%, and 26% of residents respectively rely on vendors for their drinking water needs. We used in-depth interviews to explore the lived experiences of 59 water vendors and perspectives of 21 local stakeholders. Water vendors were mostly exposed to injury, environmental pollution, stigma, and work-life balance. Vendors who transport water in containers using bicycles or hand-pushed carts and those who carry water around complained about harsh weather conditions, poor physical terrain, and abuse from customers. Female water vendors also complained about pregnancy complications, baldness and water related diseases. Female water vendors experience unique physical threats that may put them at greater risk for chronic health and safety impacts. Gaining a better understanding of the health risks faced by these water vendors will provide policy makers with greater insight into how water vendors can be better supported to provide more improved services to enhance greater access to safe water. Findings from this work are also important for contributing to social protection policies, promoting inclusive growth, and designing empowerment programs for women.

Identification of suitable sites for rainwater and storm water harvesting through spatial analysis and smart sustainable urban water infrastructure in Lahore, Pakistan.

Sustainable and water-wise cities maintain an eco-friendly urban hydrological cycle (UHC). Regrettably, the UHC of Pakistani cities is not consistently eco-friendly. Pakistan is situated within the influential area of the world's largest monsoon weather system. Cities like Lahore face simultaneous vulnerabilities to urban flooding and water scarcity due to extreme climate change events. Therefore, Pakistan's urban areas necessitate Urban Water Infrastructural Transformation (UWIT), achievable only after identifying suitable Rainwater and Stormwater Harvesting Potential Sites (RSWHPS) in Lahore. Hence, we conducted spatial analysis to pinpoint these RSWHPS within Lahore city for 2020, utilizing the World View Water Index (WV-WI). The results indicate 85.54 km2 of available areas for rain and stormwater harvesting potential during monsoon rains in Lahore. The area with the highest potential in Lahore is Wagha town, featuring 19.96 km2 of stagnant water. Additionally, RSWHPS is classified into four categories based on potential: high, medium, low, and water bodies in Lahore. Urgent transformation is required for the identified storm and rainwater harvesting sites. Consequently, this study will serve as a snapshot for policymakers to systematically address water shortage and urban flooding, making Lahore's hydrological cycle eco-friendly and sustainable.