Turning water from a problem into a resource: the challenge of sustainable cities – Materia Rinnovabile | Renewable Matter

Report on Transforming Urban Water Management for Sustainable Development

Introduction: The Urban Water Challenge and the Imperative for a Circular Model

Urban environments face significant challenges related to water management, including scarcity, pollution, and extreme weather events amplified by climate change. In alignment with the European strategy for water resilience, a paradigm shift from a linear to a circular and intelligent resource management model is essential. This report outlines the critical need to transform water from a perceived problem into a valuable resource, a transition fundamental to the development of sustainable cities and the achievement of global sustainability targets.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The promotion of circular and intelligent water resource management is integral to achieving several key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This strategic approach provides a direct pathway to fulfilling global commitments by integrating environmental, social, and economic objectives.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: A circular model directly addresses targets for improving water quality, increasing water-use efficiency, and implementing integrated water resources management. By treating and reusing wastewater, cities can ensure the availability and sustainable management of water for all.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Effective water management is a cornerstone of urban resilience. By mitigating flood risks, ensuring a stable water supply, and reducing the environmental footprint of cities, this approach makes human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This goal is advanced by embodying circular economy principles. Transforming wastewater from a liability into a source of reusable water, energy, and nutrients promotes sustainable production patterns and minimizes waste.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Intelligent water management enhances adaptation to climate change impacts such as droughts and intense rainfall. It strengthens resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, contributing directly to climate action.

Core Strategies for Circular Water Management

According to insights from Michele Falcone, General Manager of Gruppo CAP, a comprehensive strategy is required to operationalize the circular water economy in urban settings. The following actions are critical for this transformation:

1. Advanced Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: Implementing technologies that treat wastewater to a high standard, allowing it to be safely reused for agriculture, industry, or urban greening. This reduces pressure on freshwater sources, directly supporting SDG 6.
2. Resource Recovery from Water Cycles: Extracting valuable resources such as nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), biogas for energy, and cellulose from wastewater streams. This aligns with SDG 12 by creating value from waste and reducing reliance on virgin resources.
3. Intelligent and Resilient Infrastructure: Deploying smart technologies, including sensors and data analytics, to monitor water networks in real-time. This optimizes efficiency, minimizes losses, and enhances the resilience of infrastructure, contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
4. Integration of Nature-Based Solutions: Developing green infrastructure like permeable pavements, green roofs, and retention basins to manage stormwater naturally. This approach enhances biodiversity, improves urban aesthetics, and supports SDG 11 and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Conclusion: A Pathway to Water and Urban Resilience

The transformation of urban water management is fundamental to the development of sustainable cities. By adopting a circular and intelligent approach, municipalities can address critical water challenges while simultaneously advancing their commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Reframing water as a valuable resource to be recovered and reused is not merely a technical challenge but a strategic imperative for building resilient, resource-efficient, and sustainable communities for the future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The article’s title and description highlight several interconnected issues that directly relate to the Sustainable Development Goals. Based on the focus on water management, urban sustainability, and circular economy principles, the following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most central SDG, as the article’s main theme is “Turning water from a problem into a resource.” It directly addresses the management, resilience, and circular use of water.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article explicitly frames the water issue within “the challenge of sustainable cities.” It discusses strategies for urban water resilience, which is a core component of making cities sustainable and safe.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The mention of “intelligent resource management” implies the need for innovative technologies and resilient infrastructure to manage water systems effectively in cities. This aligns with building sustainable infrastructure to support urban communities.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The concept of “promoting circular… resource management” is a direct link to this goal. It suggests moving away from a linear model of water use towards a system of reuse and recycling, which is a key principle of sustainable consumption and production patterns.

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

The article’s content points to several specific targets under the identified SDGs:

1. Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The idea of turning water “from a problem into a resource” through “circular… management” directly supports this target by emphasizing the treatment and reuse of wastewater.
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors. The call for “intelligent resource management” implies using technology and better practices to optimize water use and reduce waste, which is the essence of this target.
2. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the… economic losses… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters. The mention of a “European strategy for water resilience” directly addresses the need to protect cities from water-related shocks like floods and droughts.
   • Target 11.b: By 2030, substantially increase the number of cities… adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resource efficiency… and resilience to disasters. The article describes a city-level initiative (Gruppo CAP in Milan) focused on integrated water management and resilience, which aligns perfectly with this target.
3. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The promotion of “circular and intelligent resource management” for water is a direct application of this target, aiming to use a critical natural resource more sustainably.

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

The article does not mention explicit numerical indicators. However, the concepts discussed strongly imply the types of metrics that would be used to measure progress:

• Implied Indicator for Target 6.3: The focus on circular management implies a need to measure the proportion of wastewater safely treated and reused. An increase in this proportion would indicate progress in turning water from a problem into a resource.
• Implied Indicator for Target 6.4: The goal of “intelligent resource management” implies tracking water-use efficiency. Progress could be measured by the volume of economic output per cubic meter of water used, showing that the city is doing more with less water.
• Implied Indicator for Target 11.5: The emphasis on “water resilience” suggests that a key metric would be the reduction in economic losses and number of people affected by water-related disasters (e.g., urban flooding) over time.
• Implied Indicator for Target 12.2: The principle of circularity implies measuring the city’s water footprint or the volume of recycled water as a percentage of total water consumption. This would directly measure the efficiency and sustainability of water resource use.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: renewablematter.eu