Water Sustainability in Cities Unit 1: Module Introduction (Photos and Graphics by Steve Burian)

Unit 1 Learning Goals  Identify challenges and solutions to water sustainability in cities  Define water sustainability in the context of cities  Explain systems thinking, triple bottom line, cradle to grave, and other sustainability concepts and describe their relationship to water  Describe using systems thinking terminology the interconnections of a water system to infrastructure, governance, people, economy, and other systems in cities

What are the Challenges?

Complex System of Systems (Based on graphic from Jim Ehleringer)

Population Growth (Graphic by Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, University of Utah and accessed from

Aging Infrastructure (Picture by Scott Erhardt and accessed from wikipedia.com) (Picture by Defresne Group Consulting Group and accessed from wikipedia.com)

Climate Change (Graphic by U.S. Global Change Research Program, and accessed from

What are the Solutions?

(Graphic accessed from

Your Solutions (Graphic by Steve Burian)

Module Goal Goal: to enable students to help achieve water sustainability in cities. Unit 1: Concepts and Definitions Unit 2: Water Cycle Unit 3: Urban Climate Unit 4: Water Use and Landscapes Unit 5: Water Independence of Buildings Unit 6: Rainwater Harvesting Unit 7: Low Impact Development Unit 8: Extreme Events Unit 9: Decision Making

Activity 2. Definition

Sustainable Development Achieving prosperity of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to be prosperous. Environment Economy Society

Elements to consider for water sustainability in cities (modified from Mays 2007):  Availability of freshwater supplies throughout periods of climatic change, droughts, population growth, and to leave supplies for future generations  Infrastructure to provide water supply for human consumption and food security, and to provide protection from water excess (e.g., floods)  Infrastructure for clean water and for treating water after it has been used by humans  Institutions to provide for both water supply management and water excess management  Equity and resiliency to provide a safe and reliable water services for all Water Sustainability in Cities

Sustainability Concepts

Triple Bottom Line Definition: framework for measuring performance against economic, social, and environmental parameters Environment Economy Society

Definition: from creation to disposal; throughout the life cycle Cradle-to-Cradle TM Guiding Principle: upend “cradle to grave” and institute a philosophy of total material re-use Core tenets:  Use environmentally safe materials  Design for material reutilization  Maximize renewable energy / energy efficiency  Maximize water efficiency  Protect water and air quality  Choose socially responsible strategies

Systems Thinking Sustainable water system Local System City / Region Social System Global ecological systems

Activity 4: Mind Map

Water System Mind Map (Graphic accessed from wikipedia.com)

Unit 1 Learning Goals Identify challenges and solutions to water sustainability in cities Define water sustainability in the context of cities Explain systems thinking, triple bottom line, cradle to grave, and other sustainability concepts and describe their relationship to water Describe using systems thinking terminology the interconnections of a water system to infrastructure, governance, people, economy, and other systems in cities