Integrated Urban Water Management

he global urban population rose dramatically from 732 million (29%) in 1950 to 3.6 billion (52%) in 2011 and is projected to reach 60% (4.9 billion) by 2030. Most of this growth is taking place in lower and middle income countries where current water management systems cannot keep up with the demand. With the growing demand for water amongst an increasing number of actors, jurisdictions, economic activities, and consumers of water resources, an integrated approach to managing the urban water cycle becomes even more crucial especially given the increasing scarcity of water resources in certain areas, and the potential consequences for environmental sustainability that will affect future populations. Raw water sources risk becoming more contaminated through changes in land use patterns, poor solid waste management, inadequate waste water treatment and aging infrastructure. Growing demand for water, competition among users and interactions at the river basin level make urban water management interdependent with the wider catchment and its other users. Recognizing that addressing these issues is imperative, the International Water Association launched in 2011 the “Cites of the Future Program” to highlight the increasing importance of taking a city level approach to future urban water challenges and to help manage water in a holistic manner. The World Bank has prioritized Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) as one of its key themes to support metropolitan areas throughout the world tackle these challenges. This webinar is intended to present and discuss the theoretical framework for IUWM, as well as the linkages between water allocation, environmental management, and land-use planning, within the context of large urban areas.