As cities and towns globally are grappling with the challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation, communities and governments are recognising the importance of water in supporting urban liveability, sustainability and resilience for a city’s long-term prosperity.
In Australia, the concept of the water sensitive city (WSC) is now widely used to represent an aspirational state in which efficient, sustainable and productive water use and management is integrated throughout the urban system. Originally the concept was coined to refer to metropolitan areas but is equally relevant to regional cities. In a WSC, people can enjoy reliable water supplies, resource-efficient sanitation, protection from environmental threats, healthy ecosystems, beautiful landscapes, new business opportunities, and cultural and recreational pursuits that help build community resilience.
A Water Sensitive City incorporates innovative infrastructure, design and governance solutions. For example, water recycling at different scales through wastewater recovery and stormwater harvesting provides a diversity of water sources and improves the health of downstream rivers and creeks by reducing pollution and flow impacts. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) integrates nature-based infrastructure into the landscape to provide hydraulic and water treatment functions, as well as amenity benefits such as an aesthetic environment and mitigation of urban heat island effects. Integrated and collaborative land use and water planning results in catchment-scale approaches to enhancing flood resilience and connecting areas of green and blue to create ecosystem and recreation corridors throughout the city. Citizens are active in caring for water and the environment as their sense of place and collective identity is nurtured through their connection with water.