1. Managing Wastewater in the City of the Future
29 April 2019
Striving for Sustainability in Urban Water Management

2. Definition of sustainable development
29 April 2019
Definition of sustainable development
“development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
(World Commission on the Environment and Development, 1983)

3. Dimensions of sustainability
29 April 2019
Dimensions of sustainability
Sustainability
Economics
Natural environment
Society
Financial capital
Society’s demands:
- nutrition
- health
- safety
- education
- recreation
- culture
- energy
Natural capital/ biodiversity/ ecology
Description of the three pillars of sustainability and how these are interlinked
Society:
- needs vs. desires??
- includes other aspects such as production and energy creation

4. Dimensions of sustainability
29 April 2019
Dimensions of sustainability
No shifting of issues in terms of
Time: now - future
Space: here - elsewhere
Sectors: this sector - other sectors
All three dimensions have to be met together
All three dimensions may not jeopardise/compromise achieving sustainability in other geographic areas, in future times or in other fields of management
Meeting the objectives of all three dimensions in the urban area may not affect meeting these objectives in areas beyond urban boundaries
Meeting the objectives of all three dimensions now may not negatively affect meeting them in the future
Meeting the objectives of all three dimensions within urban water management may not negatively affect meeting them in other fields of urban management

5. Sustainability in urban water management - aspirations
29 April 2019
Sustainability
Economics
Natural environment
Society
To ensure the necessary financing for managing the water resources and for meeting society’s needs
To preserve / restore the water resources and their biodiversity/ ecosystems
To meet society’s needs for water in a fair way … and protect it from risks caused by water
Social:
To meet the water and sanitation needs of all water users in the urban area in a fair way
Health
To protect all citizens from the potential damages of stormwater
Ecological:
To preserve – or restore – natural balance of aquatic ecosystems
Carbon emissions
Economical:
To cover all costs

6. Sustainability in urban water management - aspirations
29 April 2019
Time: now - future
Place: here - catchment, river basin
Sectors: this sector - energy, planning, ...
Sustainability
Economics
Environment
Society
All three dimensions have to be met together
All three dimensions may not jeopardise/compromise achieving sustainability in other geographic areas, in future times or in other fields of management
Problem: how can I measure? Question of indicators etc.

7. Assessing the sustainability of urban water management options
29 April 2019
Assessing the sustainability of urban water management options
Example:
1. Does option contribute to:
- preserving / restoring the water resources and their biodiversity/ecosystems?
- meeting society’s needs for water in a fair way … and protect it from risks caused by water?
- to ensuring the necessary financing for managing the water resources and for meeting society’s needs?
2. Does option avoid shifting environmental issues:
- to future times
- other locations
- other sectors?
3. Does option avoid shifting social issues:
4. Does option avoid shifting economic issues:

8. Assessing wastewater management options for their contribution to sustainability
29 April 2019
Group work:
Assess options for wastewater management by considering matrix
Decide on ‘level of sustainability’ by ticking scale: (1) individually - (2) as a group
All three dimensions have to be met together
All three dimensions may not jeopardise/compromise achieving sustainability in other geographic areas, in future times or in other fields of management
Meeting the objectives of all three dimensions in the urban area may not affect meeting these objectives in areas beyond urban boundaries
Meeting the objectives of all three dimensions now may not negatively affect meeting them in the future
Meeting the objectives of all three dimensions within urban water management may not negatively affect meeting them in other fields of urban management