networks-group

International Platform

Transition Management of Water Infrastructures - International Communication Platform

Municipal water management is founded upon a central system of water supply and sewage disposal facilities and networks which evolved over a long period of time. Until now the generally accepted rule was that in areas with mid to high population densities, centralized and uniform systems held decisive technical and economical advantages over de- or semi-centralized systems. With the emergence of the phenomenon of (socio-demographic) contraction an entirely new problem arose: quantitative functional thresholds were reached as a result of under-utilization. Another challenge is the climate change that will result for example in more frequent and severe extreme events (floods and droughts) and will have impacts in the design of the urban water and wastewater system.

All things considered, climate change and demographic transformation combined with falling capacity utilization of existing facilities highlight the necessity to contemplate possible transformation of existing systems. In this context small units and self-sufficient systems may gain importance, as well as secondary supply systems at central level (process water). To enable the switchover to semi-centralized facilities, existing systems must be successively reconstructed and adapted, without endangering the functionality of the system as a whole. Thus, satisfying economic requirements as well as security of service supply is of major concern. At the same time this transformation must follow in a way which is ecologically and socially feasible. Development of innovative water supply and waste water management strategies is particularly necessary in shrinking regions. Both municipalities and their water management companies have to meet this challenge.

A paradigm shift in water supply and sewage disposal is also an issue in other countries, but with different premises: within a broad discourse on the subject of urban infrastructure, problems are different to those outlined above for Germany. Focus is on the interaction of climate change, demand for refurbishment, protection of resources, demand on investment, but the demographic change (esp. shrinkage) as initial cause for considering infrastructural transitions is the exception rather than the rule.

If we look at the current stage of implementation of alternative concepts, we can notice that

there are new models for rural areas, often sparsely populated,
for developing and threshold countries there are several "ecological sanitation" concepts and
there are examples for revitalisation in urban spaces (in particular in the UK)

In several European countries, there have been noteworthy innovations in the past two decades in the field of alternative water supply and sewage disposal technology. To date, however, these innovations have only been implemented in a few, small-scale pilot projects. The specific experiences gathered through experimental housing and urban development projects do not, however, provide sufficient basis to draw general conclusions or do not indicate that the innovations are applicable in current terms for implementation on a larger scale and combined with existing facilities and networks.

So we come to the conclusion that there are experiences and projects at different spatial levels, predominantly on the level of single objects. But there is no systemic effort of activities. Often there are only general statements on the need for transitions; the analyses top priority is in identification the pressure to action and necessity to adapt. In the first place, the international debate is on sustainable infrastructure, assessment and methods. And there is a discussion on comparison of central and decentral systems under aspects of sustainability. But there is a deficit in research on effects of new technology concepts on existing urban infrastructures (e.g. water, energy, waste).

Against this background the netWORKS Research Association organised an international expert discussion "Sustainable Urban Water Infrastructure – Possibilities of Adaptation and Transformation", which took place in September 2008 in Berlin. As one main result the participants stated, that the central question of a purposive design of the transition to a new infrastructure system is of high relevance and should be discussed more intensively at international level. To take this into account this international communication platform was created, in order to continue the dialogue of the initiated expert discussion and to invite further experts worldwide to discuss and exchange aspects regarding “Transition Management of Water Infrastructures”.

If you want to become a member of the communication network, please fill in the contact form with a brief explanation of your activities and interests regarding the topic “Transition Management of Water Infrastructures”.