Urban water management
Urban water management takes into consideration the total water cycle, facilitates the integration of water factors early in the land planning process, and encourages all levels of government and industry to adopt water management and urban planning practices that benefit the community, the economy and the environment.
Urban water refers to all water that occurs in the urban environment and includes consideration of natural surface water and groundwater, water provided for potable use, sewage and other 'waste' waters, stormwater, flood services, recycling of water (third pipe, stormwater harvesting, sewer mining, managed aquifer recharge, etc.), techniques to improve water use efficiency and reduce demands, water sensitive urban design techniques, living streams, environmental water and protection of natural wetlands, waterways and estuaries in urban landscapes.
The aim of urban water management is to create cities and towns that are resilient, liveable, productive and sustainable. They interact with the urban hydrological cycle in ways that:
- provide water security through efficient use of the diverse water sources available
- protect and restore the health of waterways and wetlands
- mitigate flood risk and damage
- create public and private places that harvest, clean and recycle water, resulting in water resource, environmental and social liveability benefits.
- provide water for productive, sustainable, liveable and resilient communities.
Further information
Water resource considerations when controlling groundwater levels in urban development