A New Sustainability Controlling Approach for Urban Water Systems： Multidimensional Risk Identification and System Analysis

There are many pressures on urban water systems in today＇s highly dynamic world. These include the diverse impacts that are summarized under the term ＂Global Change＂. At the same time, high demands on water utilities to act sustainably do exist. For this purpose, the collaborative project ＂Sustainability Controlling for Urban Water Systems＂ （NaCoSi） introduces an innovative approach with which sustainability risks can be identified and controlled. The sustainability controlling is based on common process-oriented management systems. The starting point is a system of sustainability objectives, which were developed together with practice partners from the German water sector. A method for multidimensional risk identification is introduced to identify sustainability risks. Complex networks of cause-effect relationships are disaggregated into unbranched linear causal chains, which are managed as records in a risk database. The subsequent analysis of the risk database allows the examination of cross-linked risks. Severe risk factors, vulnerable processes and sustainability objectives can thereby be identified and subsequently analyzed. The sustainability controlling was successfully tested and improved by an iterative process of case studies in cooperation with practice partners. The results of the case studies demonstrate the benefit of the project＇s interdisciplinary approach and the applicability of the sustainability controlling.

Urban water system theory and its model development and application

The urban water system theory is an extension of the basin water system science on an urban scale, providing a new systematic solution for the unbalanced human-water relationship and severe water challenges, such as waterlogging, black and odorous water, and ecological degradation caused by urbanization. Most existing studies on urban water systems have focused on individual water cycle processes linked with water supply and sewage treatment plants, but mutual feedback between the water cycle and its associated material circulation and water ecology, as well as human processes, still needs further exploration. In this paper, the concept, theory, and technical methodology of the urban water system were developed based on the water cycle and basin water system science. The Urban Water System 5.0(UWS 5.0) model was developed by integrating the Time Variant Gain rainfall-runoff Model with Urban water system(TVGM_Urban) in different underlying surface conditions for analyzing the natural-social water cycle processes and their associated water environmental and ecological processes and the influence of multiscale sponge measures. Herein, five major simulation functions were realized: rainfall-runoff-nonpoint source pollutant load,water and pollutant transportations through the drainage network system, terminal regulation and purification, socioeconomic water cycle, and water system assessment and regulation. The location for the case study used in this paper was Wuhan City. The findings showed that the entire urban water system should consider the built-up area and its associated rivers and lakes as the research object and explore the integrations among the urban natural-social water cycle and river regulations inside and outside of the city as well as the effects of socioeconomic development and sponge measures on the water quantity-quality-ecology processes. The UWS 5.0 model efficiently simulated the urban rainfall-runoff process, total nitrogen(TN) and total phosphorus(TP) concentrations in water bodies, and characteristic indicators of socioeconomic development. For the rainfall-runoff simulations, the correlation coefficient and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency(NSE) fall under the excellent and good classes, respectively. For the TN and TP concentration simulations, results exhibited good bias and the correlation coefficients exceeded 0.90 for 78.1% of the sampled sites. The simulation of 18 socioeconomic indicators provided excellent bias, correlation coefficient, and NSE values of 100%, 83.3%, and 69.4% to total indicators, respectively. Based on the well-calibrated UWS 5.0 model, the source sponge,artificial enhancement, and source reduction-path interception-terminal treatment measures were optimized, which considerably mitigated waterlogging, black and odorous water, and lake eutrophication, respectively. The mitigation performance revealed that the maximum inundated area for a once-in-10-year rainfall event was reduced by 32.6%, the removal ratio of the black and odorous water area was 65%, the comprehensive trophic state index of water bodies was reduced by 37%, and the green development level of Wuhan City in 2020 increased from 0.56 to 0.67. This study is expected to advance the intersection and development of multidisciplinary fields(e.g., urban hydrology, environmental science, and ecology) and offer an important theoretical and technical basis for solving urban complex water issues and promoting green development of cities.

Challenges and countermeasures of urban water systems against climate change:a perspective from China

Urban water systems are facing various challenges against climate change,impacting cities’security and their sustainable development.Specifically,there are three major challenges:submersion risk of coastal cities as glaciers melt and sea level rises,more and severe urban flooding caused by extreme weather like intensified storm surge and heavy precipitation,and regional water resource patterns challenged by alteration of spatial distribution of precipitation.Regarding this,two strategies including proactive adaptation and positive mitigation were proposed in this article to realize the reconstruction and optimization of urban water systems,to enhance their resilience,and eventually increase their adaptability and coping ability to climate change.The proactive adaptation strategy consists of 1)construction of sponge cities to accommodate the increased regular rainfall and to balance the alterations of spatial redistribution of precipitation;2)reconstruction of excess stormwater discharge and detention system to increase capability for extreme precipitation events based on flood risk assessment under future climate change;3)deployment of forward-looking,ecological,and integrated measures to improve coastal protection capability against inundation risks caused by climate change and sea level rise.The positive mitigation strategy is to employ the systematic concept in planning and design and to adopt advanced applicable energy-saving technologies,processes,and management practices,aiming at reduction in flux of urban water systems,reinforcement in energy conservation and carbon reduction in both water supply systems and wastewater treatment systems,and thus a reduction of greenhouse gas emission from urban water systems.

Ecological Remediation Technology of Urban Landscape Water Body

Urban landscape water body is not only an important part of urban landscape construction,but also an important way to maintain landscape diversity and biodiversity,carrying the beautiful yearning of urban residents for natural life.A good state of urban landscape water body is crucial to the ecological environment of the city.However,due to the poor kinetic energy of urban landscape water body and the influence of various human factors,the quality of urban landscape water body often declines,and urban population is threatened by water security problems.Through the study of several water body ecological remediation technologies,relevant suggestions are put forward,in order to provide a reference for water pollution restoration and treatment in urban human settlement environment.

Upgrading to urban water system 3.0 through sponge city construction

Facing the pressure of excessive water consumption, high pollution load and rainstorm waterlogging,linear and centralized urban water system, system 2.0, as well as traditional governance measures gradually exposed characters of water-sensitivity, vulnerability and unsustainability, subsequently resulting in a full-blown crisis of water shortage, water pollution and waterlogging. To systematically relieve such crisis, we established urban water system 3.0, in which decentralized sewerage systems, sponge infrastructures and ecological rivers play critical roles. Through unconventional water resource recycling, whole process control of pollutions and ecological restoration, system 3.0 with integrated management measures, is expected to fit for multiple purposes which involve environmental,ecological, economic and social benefits. With advantages of flexibility, resilience and sustainability, water system 3.0 will show an increasingly powerful vitality in the near future.

Digital Twins for Wastewater Treatment:A Technical Review

The digital twins concept enhances modeling and simulation through the integration of real-time data and feedback.This review elucidates the foundational elements of digital twins,covering their concept,entities,domains,and key technologies.More specifically,we investigate the transformative potential of digital twins for the wastewater treatment engineering sector.Our discussion highlights the application of digital twins to wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs)and sewage networks,hardware(i.e.,facilities and pipes,sensors for water quality and activated sludge,hydrodynamics,and power consumption),and software(i.e.,knowledge-based and data-driven models,mechanistic models,hybrid twins,control methods,and the Internet of Things).Furthermore,two cases are provided,followed by an assessment of current challenges in and perspectives on the application of digital twins in WWTPs.This review serves as an essential primer for wastewater engineers navigating the digital paradigm shift.

Assessment of Ground Water Dynamics and Potential Zones in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Voi Town, Kenya

Water plays a role in sustaining all the biotic elements. Unfortunately, in the recent times with persistent climate change impacts, parts of the world are facing cases of inadequate water causing stress and increased vulnerability among the people. This is the case with urban areas across the globe as their populations keep increasing with little to no attention paid to urban planning that allows sustainable management of resources amidst rapid development. Urban areas are surrounded by high yielding aquifers that have better water services from groundwater. However, the urban sprawl phenomena have limited attempts in assessing ground water potential in urban areas contributing to urban water scarcity. Therefore, the study aims to look at the problem of urban water scarcity, by analyzing the levels and distribution of groundwater in Voi town using remote sensing and GIS techniques, in order to suggest suitable sites for underground water exploration in regard to the overall urban water supply. From the analysis, the results showed that the area majorly has low to potential zones of groundwater. High potential areas were very few and were mostly on the western side of the area. Very low potential zones were seen on the east and north side of the area.

Urban surface water system in coastal areas: A comparative study between Almere and Tianjin Eco-city

In the purpose of defining typical urban water management challenges in coastal lowlands in the context of global climate change, a comparative study was conducted between two coastal new towns respectively located in the Netherlands and Northern China. Comparative method is applied to define main functioning patterns of urban water systems in the two cases, then computer simulations were used to furthercompare drainage capacity in order to reveal the trends of urban water management. Major resulthas shown that Almere in the Netherlands generally more advanced in urban water management asmultiple functioning patterns are available.Strong dykes maintain competence for land subsidence and sea level rise. Open water system decreases local runoff and increaseswater retention level. Systematic control ofsluicesand locks which serve for shipping and waterfront landscaping are simultaneously isolating contaminants from outer water body. Tianjin Eco-city in China has shown both strengths and weaknesses. It takes large amount of reclaimed water as main landscaping water source, which adapts to local water pollution and shortage while requires highly centralized facilities. Large water body is reserved and huge scale underground drainage system built, but it is still vulnerable to heavy storms due to the lack of efficient surface water drainage system. Coastal line control does not adequately prevent from increasing storm surge risks in the future. SWMMsimulations have supported the viewpoint ofdistributed surface water with a higher efficiency for storm drainage. Meanwhile, surface water system returns more added values to urban development. The study is corresponding well with the theory of water sensitive city. As a conclusion, urban water system should always incorporate methods to achieve higher system resilience based on multiple functioning patterns.

A Scheme for a Sustainable Urban Water Environmental System During the Urbanization Process in China

Urbanization is a potential factor in economic development, which is a main route to social development. As the scale of urbanization expands, the quality of the urban water environment may deteriorate, which can have a negative impact on sustainable urbanization. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the functions of the urban water environment is landscape, culture, and economy. Furthermore, a the urban water environment, which is associated necessary, including its security, resources, ecology, deep analysis is required of the theoretical basis of with geographical location, landscape ecology, and a low-carbon economy. In this paper, we expound the main principles for constructing a system for the urban water environment （including sustainable development, ecological priority, and regional differ- ences）, and suggest the content of an urban water environmental system. Such a system contains a nat- ural water environment, an economic water environment, and a social water environment. The natural water environment is the base, an effective economic water environment is the focus, and a healthy social water environment is the essence of such a system. The construction of an urban water environment should rely on a comprehensive security system, complete scientific theory, and advanced technology.

Bacterial Communities Associated with An Occurrence of Colored Water in An Urban Drinking Water Distribution System

This study aimed to investigate bacterial community in an urban drinking water distribution system （DWDS） during an occurrence of colored water. Variation in the bacterial community diversity and structure was observed among the different waters, with the predominance of Proteobacteria. While Verrucomicrobia was also a major phylum group in colored water. Limnobacter was the major genus group in colored water, but Undibacterium predominated in normal tap water. The coexistence of Limnobacter as well as Sediminibacterium and Aquobocterium might contribute to the formation of colored water.

Households＇ Assessment of the Water Quality and Services of Multi-model Urban Water Supply System in the Informal Settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

In the global south wide range of studies highlight the limitations of the single-modelled public urban water system to meeting the endogenous water preferences of the urban population. Studies also touched on the complementary roles of private water actors to the single-modelled public water supply system in the urban water supply network. Multiple of urban water supply systems （multi-model） co-exist in the urban landscape of global south. However, it is unclear and largely inconclusive on the suitable and satisfactory urban water supply model that meets the water consumption needs of informal settlement dwellers in the global south. This study draws the experiences of households in the informal settlements using a case-study with cross-sectional survey strategy to assess the suitability of the multi-model urban water supply system for sustainable urban water supply in the informal settlements. A total of 292 households were randomly sampled alongside 35 purposively sampled private water actors and public water departments. The data were collected through face to face interviews. Findings show that water supply services of the multi-model water supply system are inevitably suitable for the water consumption needs of informal settlements’s dwellers. The operation of the multi-model water supply system is flexible and able to accommodate the diverse water consumption preferences and choices of the different socio-economic groups in the informal settlements. We observed that multiplicity of urban water supply system increases households’ access to water but does not necessarily improve the quality of water serve in the informal settlements. The paper recommended for the formalisation and adoption of the multi-model urban water supply system to meet the growing demand for improved water supply and services in the informal settlements.

Discussion about the standard system on urban domestic water saving technology in China

Standard is the technical foundation of national economic and social development, and it is the basic rule of establishing social regulation. Researching and constituting the standard system of urban domestic water saving technology is to offer important science basis for revising standard plan and standardize research plan. This paper introduces the present situation of our urban domestic water saving technical standard system, problem and the development direction in the future, as well as project planning of constructing urban domestic water saving technical standard system.

Rain Water Utilizing System Combing Artificial Wetland and Urban Drainage System

The method of utilizing rain water has been well developed in foreign countries to realize the sustainable development of water recourse while the method is still at the initial level in China. When considering the increasing of water shortage and urban flood, the awareness of utilizing rain water, as an inevitable trend, has been applied to various engineering technologies. This article has analyzed the principle of conventional road drainage system and the application of artificial wetland technology, also proposed to combine the road drainage system and artificial wetland, as a complex drainage system, to utilize the urban rain water, decrease urban flood pressure, and improve urban micro environment. The calculation principle and method for the complex drainage system are included as well.

Planning,Protection and Construction of Ancient Villages in Jiangxi under the Background of New Urbanization: Taking the Water Management System of Mingkou Village in Leping City,Jiangxi Province as an Example

Urbanization is an inevitable trend of economic development. It is an important indicator that reflects the industrialization and modernization of a country. In the long-term urbanization process in China, due to the excessive emphasis on the status of the city and one-sided emphasis on urban development, a serious of urban diseases such as population congestion and environmental damage have been caused. Meanwhile, neglected rural areas have exposed social problems such as aging and hollowing out, making the urban-rural dual structure more prominent. Currently, China s economic and social development has reached a new stage, and the realization of urban-rural integration is a major measure to comprehensively develop the national economy and social undertakings. Vigorously developing the rural areas and revitalizing the countryside has become a national policy. Traditional ancient villages are treasures in the vast rural areas. They should be more protected and developed to eliminate the urban-rural gap, thereby passing down and carrying forward the essence of traditional culture and enhancing China s national confidence and cultural confidence. Focusing on the protection and planning of ancient villages, combined with the current policy background of new urbanization, based on field research on Mingkou Village, Leping City, Jiangxi Province, protective development strategies are put forward for ancient villages and their water management from the perspective of water management in ancient villages to arouse people s attention to the protection of ancient villages.

Urban Water Resource Utilization Efficiency in China

The efficient use of water resources directly affects environmental, social, and economic development; therefore, it has a significant impact on urban populations. A slacks-based measure for data envelopment analysis （SBM-DEA） has been widely used in energy efficiency and environmental efficiency analyses in recent years. Based on this model, data from 316 cities were examined and a category method was employed involving three different sorting techniques to empirically evaluate the efficiency of urban water re- source utilization in China between 2000 and 2012. The overall efficiency （OE） of urban water resource utilization in China was initially low, but has improved over the past decade. The scale efficiency （SE） was higher than the pure technological efficiency （PTE）; PTE is a major determining factor of OE, and has had an increasingly significant effect. The efficiency of water resource utilization varied ac- cording to the region, urban scale, and economic function. The OE score for the eastern China was higher than for the rest of the region, and the OE score for the western China was higher than for the central China. The OE score for urban water resource utilization has improved with urban expansion, except in the case of small cities. The SE showed an inverted U-shaped＇ trend with increasing urban expansion. The OE of urban water utilization in comprehensive functional cities was greater than in economic specialization cities, and was greater in heavy industry specialization cities than in other specialization cities. This study contributes to the field of urban water resource management by examining variations in efficiency with urban ~ezle

Toward Carbon-Neutral Water Systems:Insights from Global Cities

Many cities have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality.The urban water industry can also contribute its share to a carbon-neutral future.Using a multi-city time-series analysis approach,this study aims to assess the progress and lessons learned from the greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions management of urban water systems in four global cities:Amsterdam,Melbourne,New York City,and Tokyo.These cities are advanced in setting GHG emissions reduction targets and reporting GHG emissions in their water industries.All four cities have reduced the GHG emissions in their water industries,compared with those from more than a decade ago(i.e.,the latest three-year moving averages are 13%–32%lower),although the emissions have“rebounded”multiple times over the years.The emissions reductions were mainly due to various engineering opportunities such as solar and mini-hydro power generation,biogas valorization,sludge digestion and incineration optimization,and aeration system optimization.These cities have recognized the many challenges in reaching carbon-neutrality goals,which include fluctuating water demand and rainfall,more carbon-intensive flood-prevention and water-supply strategies,meeting new air and water quality standards,and revising GHG emissions accounting methods.This study has also shown that it is difficult for the water industry to achieve carbon neutrality on its own.A collaborative approach with other sectors is needed when aiming toward the city’s carbon-neutrality goal.Such an approach involves expanding the usual system boundary of the water industry to externally tap into both engineering and non-engineering opportunities.

Multi-variable grey model (MGM(1,n,q)) based on genetic algorithm and its application in urban water consumption

Urban water consumption has some characteristics of grey because it is influenced by economy, population, standard of living and so on. The multi-variable grey model (MGM(1,n)), as the expansion and complement of GM(1,1) model, reveals the relationship between restriction and stimulation among variables, and the genetic algorithm has the whole optimal and parallel characteristics. In this paper, the parameter q of MGM(1,n) model was optimized, and a multi-variable grey model (MGM(1,n,q)) was built by using the genetic algorithm. The model was validated by examining the urban water consumption from 1990 to 2003 in Dalian City. The result indicated that the multi-variable grey model (MGM(1,n,q)) based on genetic algorithm was better than MGM(1,n) model, and the MGM(1,n) model was better than MGM(1,1) model.

Urban Fresh Water Resources Consumption of China

From the point of view of urban consumption behavior, urban fresh water consumption could be classified as three types, namely, direct, indirect and induced water consumption. A calculation approach of urban flesh water consumption was presented based on the theory of urban basic material consumption and the input-output method, which was utilized to calculate urban fresh water consumption of China, and to analyze its structural change and causes. The results show that the total urban flesh water consumption increased 561.7× 10^9m^3, and the proportion to the total national flesh water resources increased by 20 percentage points from 1952 to 2005. The proportion of direct and induced water consumption had been continuously rising, and it increased by 15 and 35 percentage points separately from 1952 to 2005, while the proportion of indirect water consumption decreased by 50 percentage points. Urban indi- rect water consumption was mainly related to urban grain, beef and mutton consumption, and urban induced water consumption had a close relationship with the amount of carbon emission per capita. Finally, some countermeasures were put forward to realize sustainable utilization of urban fresh water resources in China.

Modelling of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for Urban Water Management—Investment and Outscaling Implications at Basin and Regional Levels

This manuscript is an attempt to demonstrate effectiveness of nature-based solutions (NBS) and measures to reduce risk of flooding and environmental impact in urban settings. The nature-based solutions (NBS) were assessed as scenarios from experience of urban storm drainage and sewerage systems based on practices that improve urban water management through modelling using urban stormwater management model (SWMM). The model has been applied in a typical urban environment in the second city in Botswana, the City of Francistown, which has a population of more than one hundred thousand. By considering the 2-yr and 10-year storm events in a calibrated SWMM, NBS scenarios from a mix of low impact and drainage measures were considered. The considered NBS scenarios were used to determine their effectiveness in terms of reducing and controlling peak runoff, flood volumes, infiltration and evapotranspiration in the study area, which are vital in assessing the opportunity and challenge for sustainable management of water resources and associated tradeoff of investments in the urban contexts. The study demonstrates the usefulness of implementing effective measures for achieving NBS in urban context and possibility of outscaling at basin and regional levels.

Characteristics of groundwater and urban emergency water sources optimazation in Luoyang,China

The construction of emergency water sources is the material basis for ensuring urban water safety,and it is also an inherent requirement for maintaining social stability and development.The hydrogeological characteristics of groundwater in Luoyang City from the aspects of the division of groundwater aquifer groups,water yield property and groundwater dynamics were described in this paper.Two emergency water sources were selected on basis of comprehensively considering groundwater resources and ecological environmental effects,groundwater quality and exploitation technology,etc.Then it further analysed the aquifer types,water yield properties and groundwater recharge,runoff and discharge conditions of the two emergency water sources,and evaluate the groundwater resources quantity of the water sources.The results are that the shallow underground aquifer in Luoyang City is thick,coarse,and stable in lithology and thickness.The two water sources enjoy good exploitation potential and can be used as backup water sources to supply water in the event of a water source crisis.