The IWA

Principles
for Water
Wise
Cities
2nd Edition
For Urban Stakeholders to Develop a Shared
Vision and Act towards Sustainable Urban Water
in Resilient and Liveable Cities
The IWA Principles for Water-Wise Cities assist leaders to develop and implement their vision for
sustainable urban water. The Principles underlie resilient planning and design for more liveable
cities in the face of the dual pressures of climate change and population growth. The ultimate
goal of these Principles is to encourage collaborative action, underpinned by a shared vision, so
that local governments, urban professionals, and individuals actively engage in addressing and
finding solutions for managing all waters of the city, driven by three paradigm shifts:

1. RESOURCES ARE LIMITED: WE NEED TO DO MORE WITH LESS

With increasing numbers of people living in metropolitan areas, water, energy and materials
need to be used efficiently reused and renewed.

2. CITY DENSIFICATION IS BOTH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC

GROWTH AND A THREAT TO LIVEABILITY
By 2030, over 6 billion people are expected to live in cities. More populated, denser cities
will be required to provide more efficient services. Water is essential for the well-being of
citizens, their safety and social inclusion in cities.

3. AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE UNDERLIES THE PLANNING OF OUR CITIES

Historical development pathways are often not appropriate to plan future water systems.
Climate change and population growth are uncertainties. Planning these systems with
increased modularity and reduced dependencies enable a better reactivity to unforeseen
trends and events.

THIS IS A HUGE TASK. As water professionals, we are determined to inspire a new

shared vision and implement the recently approved Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),
and in particular SDG61 and SDG112 , and other SDGs that go to the heart of liveability in
cities. The SDGs are a bold call for the promotion of sustainable urban water management
for safer, more inclusive and resilient cities. To achieve this we need to harness the power
of collaboration with adapted governance, engagement of stakeholders and active citizen
involvement.

The following Principles establish a framework for transitioning cities to address these
paradigm shifts. Where existing and aging assets are in place, the Principles are to be
applied at the pace of asset renewal, as dictated by wise asset management strategies.
Where assets are to be built, applying the Principles opens opportunities for innovative
systems which best address these paradigm shifts.

The Principles are structured along four increasing levels of action (each enabled by the next
level), accompanied by five building blocks on which the urban stakeholders can deliver
sustainable urban water, becoming a water-wise community - see Figure 1.

DEFINITION OF WATER-WISE AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN WATER

‘Water-wise’ behaviour means that leadership culture, governance arrangements,

professional capacity and innovative technology are all aligned with the objective of
maximising sustainable urban water outcomes.

Sustainable urban water management means that all water within the city (including reservoir
and aquifer water, desalinated water, recycled water and stormwater) is managed in a way
that recognises the connection between services, urban design and the basin, with an
approach that maximises the achievement of urban liveability outcomes, and resilience to
unexpected social, economic or bio-physical shocks, while replenishing the environment.
 17 Principles for Water-Wise Cities

4 Levels of Action
Regenerative Water Services
• Replenish Waterbodies and
their Ecosystems
• Reduce the Amount of Water
and Energy Used
• Reuse, Recover, Recycle
• Use a Systemic Approach
Integrated with Other Services
• Increase the Modularity of
Systems and Ensure Multiple
Options

Water Sensitive Urban Design

• Enable Regenerative Water
Services
• Design Urban Spaces to
Reduce Flood Risks
• Enhance Liveability with
Visible Water
• Modify and Adapt Urban
Materials to Minimise
Environmental Impact

Basin Connected Cities

• Plan to Secure Water
Resources and Mitigate
Drought
• Protect the Ecological Health of
Water Resources
• Prepare for Extreme Events

5 Building Blocks

Water-Wise Communities
• Empowered Citizens
• Professionals Aware of Water
Co-benefits
Vision Governance Knowledge Planning Implementation • Transdisciplinary Planning Teams
& Capacity Tools Tools • Policy Makers Enabling
Water-Wise Action
• Leaders that Engage and
Engender Trust

Figure 1: The “Principles for Water-Wise Cities” Framework: four Levels of Action and
five Building Blocks for urban stakeholders to deliver “Sustainable Urban Water” in their cities

Sustainable urban water is defined in this document as “all urban waters within
the city (including reservoir and aquifer water, desalinated water, recycled water and
stormwater) that are managed in a way that maximises the achievement of urban
liveability outcomes and resilience to unexpected social, economic or bio-physical
shocks.”
The Five Building Blocks to Deliver smaller and more frequent investments.
• Integrated services, combined with shorter investment cycles

Sustainable Urban Water and the valuing of co-benefits, bring new funding opportunities,
providing options to overcome the lack of financial capacity for
cities.
SHARED VISION
• Augmenting traditional financing and contracting models with
• A shared vision moves stakeholders from defending solutions
innovative instruments involving private and public financing,
for their own specialties, to defining a set of common drivers
including circular economy mechanisms, opens new funding
for the greater benefit of the urban community.
opportunities which promote regenerative water services.
• A shared vision is an essential prerequisite for ensuring
sustainable reforms and implementation of new policies and
strategies.
The Four Levels of Action:
• A resilient city vision that incorporates water enables The four levels of actions build on the base principle, that all
people to work together at different scales and across citizens have access to water and sanitation services, which
disciplines. It supports the political will needed to invest in requires planning, prioritization, monitoring and reporting of the
long-term measures. It provides consistency beyond political human rights to water and sanitation.4
cycles.
LEVEL 1 - REGENERATIVE WATER SERVICES FOR ALL
GOVERNANCE The main goal is to ensure public health while protecting the
• Governance and institutions provide the framework for urban quality and quantity of water resources for future generations
stakeholders to work together, working across silos to integrate by ensuring the efficient production and use of water, energy
water in all urban services at the building, neighbourhood, and materials. Regenerative water services are an essential
metropolitan and catchment scales. component of climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Policies provide incentives for urban stakeholders to unlock strategies leading to carbon neutrality in cities. Regenerative
the synergies across sectors, maximising the benefits of water water systems are underpinned by five principles:
to cities.
1.1 REPLENISH water bodies and their ecosystems within
the basin by taking from or discharging to them only what
KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITIES
can be given or absorbed by the environment. Reduce water
• Implementing the sustainable urban water vision starts with
abstractions to sustainable levels enabling the environment
the existing capacities and competencies of the different urban
to maintain its capacity to deliver water. Protect the quality of
stakeholders.
these same water sources from wastewater and urban run-off to
• Upgrading existing educational programs with contents
ensure ecosystem health.
related to sustainable management of urban resources and
urban resilience, with integrated approach and a balance to 1.2 REDUCE the amount of water and energy used per capita.
both technological and social challenges. Reduce the demand for water in accordance with storage
• To fully realize the vision, increased capacities and capacities. Minimise the energy used in moving and treating
competencies are needed, through sharing success stories urban waters, including rain water.
from other cities, learning to work differently with new tools,
1.3 REUSE and use diverse sources of water with treatment
pooling resources, and opening to other sectors’ approaches
that matches the use, applying the “fit for purpose” water
and methods.
quality approach and Integrated Water Resources Management
(IWRM5); RECOVER energy from water whether through heat,
PLANNING TOOLS
organic energy or hydraulic energy; RECYCLE and recognise
• Delivering water wise-cities require planning tools to assess
the value of “upcycled” materials, such as nutrients or organic
the inter-relationships between land use planning decisions
matter, using these materials within the systemic approach, as
and all components of urban water systems. The tools include
explained below;
models that analyse the bio-physical and socio-economic
consequences of different system options, at a range of scales. 1.4 Use a SYSTEMIC APPROACH integrated with other
• These tools, developed and used by cross-sectoral teams, urban services. Consider the different parts of a water system as
allow for assessing risks, identifying benefits and co-benefits one system, and connect water to other services such as health,
of projects, defining levels of service, and ensuring ownership transport, food production, waste or energy as a whole system,
by stakeholders and enabling public participation and to enable solutions which reduce and reuse while improving
engagementt. services costs efficiently.

1.5 INCREASE THE MODULARITY and ensure there are

IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS
multiple resource, treatment, storage and conveyance options
• Regulations3 can drive innovation and incentives. If based
available throughout the system for ensuring service levels and
on quality assurance, equity, transparency, accountability
resilience of urban water systems in the face of either gradual
and sound financing, they can provide a solid frame for
or sudden changes — gradual changes as a result of persistent
stakeholders to invest in sustainable urban water.
stresses, sudden changes as a result of shocks to the system
• Financial tools, linked to rigorous asset management plans,
and failure to cope any longer with persistent stresses.
enable long lasting improved service levels with a well-
maintained infrastructure.
LEVEL 2 - WATER SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN
• Financing tools, which value the ability of solutions to adapt to
seeks the integration of urban planning with the management,
changes or recover from disasters, allow cities to adopt more
protection and conservation of the total urban water cycle
efficient solutions and transition towards systems requiring
to produce urban environments that are ‘sensitive’ to water
sustainability, resilience and liveability co-benefits. This level of requires a holistic approach and strong partnerships. This
action includes four principles: fourth level of action is about people building on their existing
capacities to govern and plan; professionals becoming
2.1 PLAN AND IMPLEMENT URBAN DESIGN THAT
more “water-wise” in their area of expertise, so that they can
UNDERPINS REGENERATIVE WATER SERVICES.
integrate water across sectors, highlighting the co-benefits
Design domestic and industrial precincts and buildings in
of integrated solutions to unlock investments. It is also about
ways that enables regenerative water services. This can
people becoming “water-wise” in their behaviours as
lead to reduced water, energy and carbon footprints at a
citizens. This level of action is where the transition starts; it
local scale. It also leads to cleaner waterways, benefiting
is where each stakeholder realises the role they have to play
ecosystems and people, while also improving social and urban
to make a difference. It’s about inspired people instigating
amenities. It includes building green infrastructure to capture
the following five key actors of change to transition to these
and treat stormwater for a range of co-benefits.
“water-wise” communities:
2.2 DESIGN URBAN SPACES TO REDUCE FLOOD
4.1. CITIZENS involved in the sustainable urban water vision.
RISKS. Increase resilience to flood risks by developing
Water-wise citizens can drive urban planning and design
improved drainage solutions integrated with urban
with their understanding of the risks (flooding, scarcity) and
infrastructure design so that safe flooding spaces are provided
opportunities (the liveability outcomes their community values,
and the city acts as a “sponge”, limiting surges and releasing
resource recovery opportunities, reducing dependency on
rain water as a resource. Plan vital infrastructure to enable
uncertain future resources, and increased well-being). In
quick disaster recovery.
working collaboratively to achieve these outcomes, water-wise
2.3 ENHANCE LIVEABILITY WITH VISIBLE WATER from citizens may also adapt their behaviour. They will develop their
roadside green infrastructure to major blue-green corridors as acceptance to solutions enabling regenerative water services,
opportunities for social inclusion: recreation, inclusive public and their willingness to pay for such services while mandating
space, economic development and transportation, creating their officials to ensure affordability.
multi-purpose spaces and infrastructure. Urban water services
4.2. PROFESSIONALS WITH VARIOUS EXPERTISE
are essential for ensuring sustainable irrigation of parks and
(FINANCE, TECHNICAL, SOCIAL) who understand the
gardens, providing habitats for plant and animal species,
co-benefits across urban sectors so that they may plan
shade and mitigation of heat islands.
and implement the best solutions for urban dwellers and
2.4 MODIFY AND ADAPT URBAN MATERIALS TO businesses. Synergies and dependencies exist between water
MINIMISE THEIR IMPACT ON WATER POLLUTION. and urban planning, architecture, landscaping, and energy,
The urban materials of roofs, walls, surfaces, roads, and urban waste and transport services: water services require energy
furniture ought to be carefully selected to prevent the release but conversely urban water can be used to produce energy
of pollutants when exposed to sun and rain. locally; green urban space requires water that can be provided
by collecting rainwater or reusing water from treated effluent to
LEVEL 3 - BASIN CONNECTED CITIES recycle nutrients in vegetated areas. Professionals, realising the
The city is intrinsically connected and dependent on the market and non-market value of the co-benefits associated to
water basin it is part of and the surrounding basins. an integrated urban agenda, will enable innovative sustainable
Proactive engagement in managing water resources in the solutions.
basin aims to secure water, food and energy resources,
4.3. TRANSDISCIPLINARY PLANNING AND OPERATION
reduces flood risk and enhances activities contributing to
TEAMS integrating water in city planning. All waters
the economic and environmental health of the basin. This
(freshwater supply, rain, rivers, seas and wastewater) are
third level of action includes three principles:
interconnected with each other and other urban systems
3.1 SECURE THE WATER RESOURCE using an WRM (parks, roads, energy and waste) so that efficiencies and
frameworkand plan for drought mitigation strategies by sharing synergies arise from a coordinated approach. A city planning
between users in the basin, namely ecosystems, agriculture, organisation recognising these inter-relations and bridging
industry, energy, and other cities who all contribute to the over existing individual departments is needed to enable urban
basin’s and city’s economy. professionals to implement sustainable urban water.

3.2 PROTECT THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH of water 4.4. POLICY MAKERS enable the implementation of the
resources together with the other basin stakeholders, Principles for regenerative water services, water sensitive
to ensure fit for purpose quality water is achieved with urban design, and basin-connected cities. Water-wise
minimal treatment and energy requirements, and to ensure policy makers establish policies and financing mechanisms
the ecological health of receiving water bodies (rivers and (tariffs, partnerships, that are responsive and adaptive to
streams, wetlands, groundwater, marine environments) in future changes) to drive and enable sustainable urban water
terms of both the water quality and quantity is enhanced. through incentivising and rewarding innovative solutions. They
phase out the existing subsidies and tax advantages that are
3.3 PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO EXTREME
environmentally harmful. They monitor, evaluate and adjust the
EVENTS, such as floods and droughts by managing flow
policies based on future needs as they change over time.
regimes in rivers, storage and adequate vegetation in the
basin. Invest in coastal storm risks mitigation as well as flood 4.5. LEADERS provide the progressive vision and support
and drought early warning systems. a governance structure to coordinate work at four scales
(catchment, metro, neighbourhood and building) and across
LEVEL 4 - WATER-WISE COMMUNITIES
disciplines. The people governing at the national and local
The implementation of the previous three sets of Principles levels can enable sustainable urban water through coordination
and integration, leveraging “effective and efficient governance
enhancing trust and engagement7” . Leaders also need
to have a constructive culture that drives innovation and
collaboration.

Water-wise communities will use the building blocks to put

the principles into action. The progressive implementation of
the principles at three levels: 1/ regenerative water services
for all, 2/ water sensitive cities, and 3/ basin connected cities,
will strengthen each of the 5 key actors of change of the city’s
water-wise communities.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank the active contributors of this initiative

Jean-Luc Bertrand-Krajewski INSA

Rob Skinner Monash Sustainable Development Institute
Corinne Trommsdorff IWA
Tom Williams IWA

and many other supporters!

REFERENCES
1 SDG6 “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” –

More details on https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg6

2 SDG11 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” –

More details on https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg11

3 Refer to the Lisbon Charter
4 Refer to “IWA’s manual of the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation for Practitioners”.

http://www.iwapublishing.com/
5 Integrated water Resources Management is a process which promotes the coordinated development

and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare in an
equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
6 Refer to Basin of the Future Charter (in drafting)
7 OECD Principles on Water Governance, 2015

inspiring change

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