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IETC's INSIGHT Special:

International Symposium Highlights Innovative Ways of Finding Water for Cities

Freshwater supply is the most important prerequisite for sustaining human life and achieving sustainable development. With human populations growing and freshwater demand increasing worldwide, particularly in urban areas, the challenge of supplying adequate water to meet societal needs is one of the most urgent problems facing decisionmakers. UNEP IETC recently held a symposium in Kobe, Japan, to help urban managers understand and prepare for the challenges they face, now and in the future.

Adequate freshwater supply is the most important precondition for sustaining human life and for achieving sustainable development. Nevertheless, over a billion people around the world lack access to satisfactory supplies of freshwater. In many large cites in developing countries, population is increasing rapidly. The issue of supplying adequate water to meet societal needs and to ensure equitable water access for all urban residents is one of the most urgent and critical problems facing decisionmakers.

In considering physical alternatives to ensuring adequate water supply, there are two solutions: finding additional water resources using conventional centralised approaches; or more efficiently utilising the limited water resources already available. To date, much attention has been given to the former, while only limited attention has been given to optimising water management systems. Improved water resource management is necessary, however, to increase the availability of water for urban use, and energy inefficiencies need to be avoided in supplying water. In addition, it is important for administrators and decision-makers in developing countries and countries in economic transition to improve their knowledge base and skills in order to address this problem more effectively.

In an effort to enhance the capacity of urban managers and decisionmakers in water resources management, IETC organised an International Symposium on "Efficient Water Use in Urban Areas - Innovative Ways of Finding Water for Cities," from 8 to 10 June 1999, at the WHO Kobe Centre Conference Room. The Environment Agency of Japan, GEC in Osaka, and ILEC in Shiga co-organised the event. WHO, UNCHS (Habitat), UNU, UNCRD, the American Water Works Associa-tion (AWWA), Fukuoka City Waterworks Bureau, and Environment Australia also supported the conference.

About 150 delegates from 45 countries participated in the symposium, primarily managers and decision/policymakers from national and local governments, senior managers of aid agencies, water supply authorities, urban-planning professionals, and representatives of international agencies and NGOs with an interest in efficient water use.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SYMPOSIUM
The symposium opened with an address by Mr. Takashi Nakamoto, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Osaka, of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Lilia GC. Casanova, Deputy Director of UNEP IETC, then explained to those gathered that the symposium was organised in order to:

• Increase awareness of the need for and benefits of efficient water use;
• Compile available technology options for efficient water use; and,
• Enhance the capacity of administrators and managers in the water sector and encourage them to adopt appropriate sustainable solutions.

KEYNOTE ADDRESSES
Dr. Greg Goldstein, Coordinator of the Healthy Cities Programme, WHO, presented the first address, "The Health Implications of Efficient Water Use in Urban Areas." Dr. Goldstein emphasised that health and sanitation need to be considered in the planning of water supply systems, especially since the lack of sanitation remains one of the greatest threats to urban populations.

Dr. Graham Alabaster, Human Settlement Officer, UNCHS (Habitat), made a presentation on the Joint UNCHS/UNEP Regional Initiative on Managing Water for African Cities, currently underway. He stressed that governments must give top priority to the current water crisis in Africa, and focus on establishing long-term capacity and changing people's attitudes toward water resources.

Mr. Seiji Ikkatai, Director, Water Quality Management Division, Environment Agency of Japan, presented "Toward an Ensured and Sound Hydrological Cycle." He outlined how the Japanese Government is approaching a comprehensive national water use program by studying the country's natural hydrological cycle and human impacts, plus the diverse interests of various government agencies and consumers.

TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS DISCUSSED
The symposium was divided into six sessions, and 26 papers were presented on various approaches for securing water through efficient use of existing water sources to avoid water shortages in urban areas. Presentations and discussions in each session covered the advantages, special features, and characteristics of each approach, including obstacles and barriers to be overcome.

Harvesting and Utilisation of Rainwater
This session addressed a wide range of case studies, including applications in villages and large cities at the household, community, and institutional/commercial levels. Various topics were addressed, including: planning and design of rainwater collection and utilisation systems; water quality and regulatory aspects; costs and innovative financing options; public acceptance; and, institutional barriers. The session also emphasised the need for an integrated approach to improving water resource management, leading to the establishment of a more resilient, autonomous hydrological cycle at the local level.

Water Reuse for Non-potable Applications
Three presentations covered the advantages and problems associated with the reuse of wastewater for non-potable applications. It was noted that reuse of treated human wastes is a major source of water often ignored, and on-site decentralised treatment and reuse should be analysed in terms of cost-effectiveness, health risks, ecological implications, and overall benefits. It was noted that reliable measures are required to prevent the use of raw sewage on edible crops, while at the same time it is necessary to promote and create incentives to connect flows of treated effluents to agricultural areas. It was recommended that governments create an enabling environment to promote mechanisms for reuse by providing adequate budgets, incentives and disincentives, especially in water-scarce cities and regions.

Augmentation of Groundwater Resources through Aquifer Recharge
Prof. Peter Fox, Arizona State University, USA, made a presentation on the advantages of aquifer recharge. It was noted that decentralised treatment with subsequent aquifer recharge in strategically located recharge sites represents a cost-effective option for mega-city systems. Prof. Takashi Asano, University of California at Davis, USA, spoke on regulatory perspectives. He stressed that the level of nitrogen in aquifer recharge water must be controlled and monitored. Dr. Peter Dillon, Centre for Ground-water Studies and CSIRO Land and Water, Australia, spoke on technology, risks and implementation issues. He explained that storm water aquifer storage and recovery has been proven viable and should be further developed as one of the benefits of establishing storm-water detention ponds in urban areas.

Leakage Control and the Reduction of Unaccounted for Water (UFW)
Mr. Jose A. Hueb of WHO gave a comprehensive talk on managerial approaches for reengineering traditional water supply services, both public and private. He noted that these approaches should be not only cost effective through the reduction of UFW, but also capable of directing the newly available water to people in under-serviced urban areas who are more vulnerable to water-related health risks. The presentation addressed the need for new approaches to reducing water loss -- specifically the types of leaks related to pipe material performance, age, and other technical considerations, as well as labour costs, with a view to more cost-effective management. Mr. Hueb also provided an example of a planned and structured approach to protecting limited availability of water resources.

Water Demand Management
Mr. Saul Arlosoroff, a water resources management consultant from Israel, addressed the social and economic characteristics of managing water resources. Water conservation is the cheapest and largest available source of water within cities, he stressed, and appropriate water management should be seen as an integral element in all national strategies for sustainable development. Although water management alone can not completely solve water resource problems in the long term, it can delay marginal expenditures by postponing expensive capital projects. Complete metering is a basic tool for demand-side management, as is the introduction of progressive tariffs. Mr. Arlosoroff also emphasised the importance of raising public awareness through education.

Ms. Madeleen Wegelin-Schuringa, IRC Inter-national Water and Sanitation Centre, The Netherlands, addressed water demand management in low-income urban areas in developing countries. Often the urban poor only have access to expensive water, and thus these people possess a high level of awareness about water conservation. The key issue is not reduction of consumption among the poor, but how to provide water to the vast majority of the urban population; this implies conservation by the more affluent sectors. A significant amount of water is also lost due to leakage. Motivation to reduce these water losses is key. For this reason, education in schools is important, because children can teach their parents about appropriate water use.

Presentations were also made on water demand management in Germany and on the residential use of water in the United States. It was emphasised that no single approach is sufficient to significantly reduce water consumption, and that reducing the amount of water used by toilets and eliminating leaks are two of the most efficient approaches to water conservation.

Integrated Approaches for Efficient Water Use
Eight case studies, from Singapore, India, Israel, South Africa, Barbados, Maldives, Mexico City and Fukuoka, Japan, were also presented. These described the application of more efficient water use and water resource management practices.

As the symposium came to a close, concluding remarks were made by Mr. Masaharu Yagishita, Director, Planning Division, Global Environmental Department, Environment Agency of Japan, and Ms. Lilia GC. Casanova, Deputy Director, UNEP IETC.

The symposium, seen as a success by participants and organisers alike, provided an array of sustainable options in the water sector based on theories and examples presented by international and country experts. The event also provided participants with a good opportunity to interact and establish contact with fellow professionals from around the world.

A report on the proceedings of this symposium has been published by IETC. IETC will also compile all the case studies presented at and contributed to the symposium in a monograph for publication. The report of proceedings and the monograph of case studies will be distributed free of charge to all those in developing countries, as well as to symposium participants and experts.

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