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

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)

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

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

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

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.

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:

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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 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