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Newsletter and Technical Publications
<Proceedings of the International Symposium on Efficient Water Use in Urban Areas
- Innovative Ways of Finding Water for Cities ->

I. INTRODUCTION

Aiming to enhance the capacity of urban managers and decision-makers 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 Environmental Agency of Japan, the Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC) in Osaka and the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC) in Shiga co-organised the event. The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) (UNCHS (Habitat)), the United Nations University (UNU), the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Fukuoka City Waterworks Bureau, and Environment Australia also supported the symposium.

A. Background

The United Nations General Assembly identified freshwater as a global priority at its nineteenth special session in June 1997. Furthermore, the Commission on Sustainable Development, at its sixth session in April 1998, focused on building a consensus on the necessary actions to implement a strategic approach for the sustainable use of freshwater.

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 cities in developing countries, population is increasing rapidly and the issue of supplying adequate water to meet societal needs and to ensure equitable access to water for all urban residents is one of the most urgent and critical problems faced by decision-makers.

With respect to the physical alternatives to fulfil sustainable management of freshwater, there are two solutions: finding alternate or additional water resources using conventional centralised approaches; or better utilising the limited amount of water resources available in a more efficient way. To date, much attention has been given to the first option and only limited attention has been given to optimising water management systems.

Specifically there is a need to:

  • Improve management of water resources and increase the availability of water for urban use;
  • Avoid water shortages and energy inefficiencies in supplying water;
  • Avoid human health hazards due to contaminated water; and
  • Improve the knowledge base and skills of administrators and decision-makers in developing countries and countries in economic transition.

B. Objectives of the Symposium

The objectives of the Symposium on Efficient Water Use in Urban Areas were to:

  • Increase awareness of needs for efficient water use in urban;
  • Increase awareness of benefits, including improved health, from efficient water use in urban areas;
  • Compile available technology options and sound practices for efficient water use, and encourage the adoption of appropriate solutions;
  • Enhance the capacity of administrators and managers to understand and identify sustainable options in the water sector; and
  • Profile case studies where more efficient water use and water resource management practices have been applied.

C. Scope and Structure

The Symposium featured various approaches for water augmentation in cities. The topics of the Symposium included the following areas:

  • Direct approaches for water augmentation with alternative sources to supplement or substitute for available water, including;
  • Harvesting and utilisation of rainwater
  • Water reuse for non-potable applications
  • Indirect approaches for water augmentation by increasing the potential for water, including augmentation of groundwater resources through aquifer recharge.
  • Indirect approaches for water augmentation through the efficient management of existing water supply, including leakage control and the reduction of unaccounted-for water.
  • Demand side approaches for water augmentation.
  • Integrated approaches for efficient water use.

The contents of each session focused on:

  • The advantages of each approach;
  • The special features and characteristics that must be taken into account in applying each approach;
  • Specific technologies for each approach;
  • Why each approach has not been applied although there are many advantages and technologies have been developed;
  • Solutions to overcome obstacles and barriers;
  • Ways of promoting the adoption of appropriate solutions;
  • Actual examples of each approach including successes and failures.

D. Participants

The Symposium involved 145 delegates from 45 countries, mostly managers and decision/policy-makers in either national or local governments; senior managers of aid agencies, water supply authorities, urban planning departments, international agencies nd NGOs with an interest in efficient water use.

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