Nature-Oriented Paradigms for Urban Water Security: Perspective on Framework, Scale, and Sector

Abstract

Water security in urban areas is threatened by a multitude of direct and indirect drivers. On the one hand, the demand for water is increasing on a daily basis as the urban population and lifestyle needs increase; on the other hand, events such as floods, tropical cyclones, and other natural hazards result in disruption of water provisioning systems and processes. Additionally, climate change impacts such as heat waves and sea-level rise affect the sustainability of water supplies in urban areas. Conventionally, hard engineering structures and strategies have been implemented around the world to address water needs in urban areas and solutions that are often costly and intrusive to the natural environment. Nature-based solutions (NBS) in the past years emerged as a framework for exploring the potential of soft engineering solutions—as an alternative for managing urban planning, building climate resilience, and sustaining water needs of the urban communities. In this chapter, the following points are explained: (a) review of selected nature-oriented conceptual framings and practical options that apply to urban water systems, (b) illustration of existing NBS practices such as permeable pavements, green roofs, and bioretention ponds in urban landscape architecture planning, and (c) future of urban landscapes with comparative context of traditional versus nature-based water management practices. The conclusion draws attention to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) that is aiming to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems globally. The aim is to present a synthesis that can steer integrated development planning while addressing basic water needs, climate resilience, and ecosystems protection in all settings and particularly in urban landscapes.

Appendices

Annexure 1. Examples of Different Concepts Related to NBS (Data Source: Thupalli and Deen [33] and World Resource Institute forum on NBS (2018) and World Bank)

NBS category	Sub-category	Projects	Natural/ecological systems
Urban ecosystem restoration	• Ecological restoration • Ecological engineering • Forest landscape restoration	This approach focuses on the recovery of degraded, damaged/ destroyed ecosystem in urban environments. City of Santa Maria in California, USA (Community-Based Restoration Projects supported by NASA)	• Riverbeds and banks • Sandy beaches and dunes • Upland forests
Sector/resource-specific urban ecosystem-related approaches	• Ecosystem-based adaptation • Ecosystem-based mitigation • Climate adaptation services • Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction	Ecosystem-related approaches vary based on their objective (C.f. [3], Doswald and Osti [8]; Olivier et al. [22])	• Floodplains and bypasses or urban flood control • Forest restoration for carbon sequestration • Constructed wetlands • Inland wetlands
Urban infrastructure-related approaches	• Natural infrastructure • Green infrastructure	Commonly notes in cities (C.f. Ozment et al. [23], Roth [28]) help restore and filter stormwater, avoid cost of stormwater runoff, capture and slow local precipitation, provide energy-saving option for the building	• Parks, open spaces, conservation areas • Green roofs Permeable pavements
Urban ecosystem-based management approaches at large scale and resource governance frameworks	• Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) • Integration water resource management (IWRM)	IWRM, and ICZM embeds the ecosystem-based management and ecosystem protection aspects of conservation and integrated management (c.f. Arkema et al. [1], Leslie and McLeod [19])	• Coastal wetlands • Mangrove forests • Reefs • Salt marches

Annexure 2. Commitments Outlined in the New Urban Agenda [34]

Commitment	Description
Providing basic services for all citizens	These services include access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation
Promoting measures that support cleaner cities	Tackling air pollution in cities by increasing the use of renewable energy, providing greener public transport, and sustainably managing the natural resources
Strengthening resilience in cities to reduce the risk and the impact of disaster	Leaders have now committed to implement mitigation and adaptation measures to minimize the impacts of natural disasters. These measures include urban planning, quality infrastructure, and improving local responses for safety and environmental sustainability
Taking action to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions	Sustainable cities that reduce emissions from energy and build resilience can play a lead role. Leaders committed to involve with local governments and all actors of society to take climate change action and considering the Paris Agreement on climate change
Improving connectivity and support innovative and green initiatives	This includes establishing partnerships with businesses and civil society to find sustainable solutions to urban water challenges in case of flooding or any other risk disaster
Promoting safe, accessible, and green public space	Sustainable urban design plays a key role in ensuring the livability and prosperity of a city. The agenda calls for an increase in public spaces to facilitate human interaction by urban planning