Project Impact on Urban Water Management and Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 6 and SDG 11 through Enhanced Water Resource Management

• Project findings have improved the management of urban water resources by identifying the movement and transformation of water within city systems.
• This directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by enabling more efficient resource allocation and faster responses to risks like pollution and overuse.
• By strengthening the capacity of cities to manage water-related challenges such as drought, the project contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), fostering urban resilience and sustainability.

Case Studies: National Implementation and SDG Contributions

1. Costa Rica: Ensuring Water Security

   • German Esquivel-Hernandez of the Universidad Nacional reported that an understanding of seasonal shifts in water sources has improved strategic planning for dry periods.
   • This work ensures a consistent water supply for residents, directly advancing target SDG 6.1 on achieving universal access to safe drinking water.

2. Nepal: Integrating Data into Policy

   • According to Bijay Man Shakya of the Center of Research for Environment, Energy and Water, the project provided tools to trace water origins and changes.
   • This knowledge is now integrated into daily decision-making, supporting the sustainable management of water resources as outlined in SDG 6.

3. Slovenia: Improving Water Quality

   • Klara Zagar from the Jozef Stefan Institute stated that isotope data helped identify water blending zones within the distribution network.
   • This information has allowed for the optimization of water treatment processes, contributing to target SDG 6.3 on improving water quality.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

This is the primary SDG addressed. The article focuses entirely on improving the management of urban water resources, including understanding water sources, ensuring supply, improving quality, and planning for risks like drought and pollution. These are all core components of SDG 6.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The project’s outcomes directly contribute to making cities more sustainable and resilient. By providing tools for better urban water management, the project helps cities plan resource allocation more efficiently and respond to water-related risks, which is a key aspect of sustainable urban development under SDG 11.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

   • The article mentions that the project helps “ensure consistent supply to our residents” in Costa Rica. This directly relates to achieving access to drinking water. The focus on improving water quality also contributes to ensuring the water is “safe.”

2. SDG Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution

   • The project in Slovenia is cited for supporting “real-time improvements to urban water quality” by helping to “identify blending zones in our network and optimize treatment processes.” This directly addresses the goal of improving water quality and treatment. The article also lists “pollution” as a risk that cities can now respond to more quickly.

3. SDG Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals

   • The article states that the project’s findings help cities “plan and allocate resources more efficiently” and respond to “overuse.” The experience in Costa Rica, where understanding “seasonal shifts in our water sources has helped us better plan for dry periods,” is a clear example of managing water resources to increase efficiency and ensure sustainable supply during times of scarcity.

4. SDG Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management

   • The project provides cities with the tools and knowledge to manage their water systems holistically. In Nepal, the findings are now “part of our daily decision-making,” and in general, the project helps cities understand “how water moves and changes within urban systems.” This represents the implementation of integrated water resources management principles at the urban level.

5. SDG Target 11.5: Reduce the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters

   • The article explicitly mentions that the project helps cities “respond more quickly to risks like drought.” Drought is a significant water-related disaster, and improving a city’s capacity to plan for and respond to it directly contributes to this target.

6. SDG Target 11.b: Adopt and implement integrated policies and plans towards resource efficiency and disaster risk reduction

   • The article highlights that the project’s findings are “making a difference in how cities manage their water” and have become “part of everyday planning” in Nepal. This demonstrates the adoption and implementation of integrated plans for resource efficiency (water) and disaster risk reduction (drought, pollution).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 6.1: Consistency of water supply

   • The statement about being able to “ensure consistent supply to our residents” implies a metric related to the reliability and continuity of the water supply, which is a key component of Indicator 6.1.1 (Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services).

2. Implied Indicator for Target 6.3: Water quality data from isotope analysis

   • The use of “isotope data” in Slovenia to “optimize treatment processes” implies the collection and use of advanced water quality data. This data serves as a direct input for measuring progress towards better water quality, aligning with the goal of Indicator 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality).

3. Implied Indicator for Target 6.4: Efficiency of resource allocation and planning for water scarcity

   • The ability to “plan and allocate resources more efficiently” and “better plan for dry periods” suggests a measure of improved water-use efficiency. This aligns with the concept behind Indicator 6.4.1 (Change in water-use efficiency over time) and Indicator 6.4.2 (Level of water stress).

4. Implied Indicator for Target 6.5: Integration of water data into urban planning

   • The fact that the project’s knowledge is now “part of our daily decision-making” in Nepal is a qualitative indicator of the implementation of integrated water resources management, which is measured by Indicator 6.5.1 (Degree of integrated water resources management implementation).

5. Implied Indicator for Target 11.5: Improved response time to water-related risks

   • The article states that cities can “respond more quickly to risks like drought.” This improved response capability is an indicator of an effective disaster risk reduction strategy, which is the focus of Indicator 11.5.1 (Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies), applied here at a city level.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: iaea.org