How Can We Save Our Urban Water Systems?

A recent study looks at the need to save existing urban water systems through innovative solutions that work to combine technology and engineering with social systems and institutions. 

According to the article titled "The Innovation Deficit in Urban Water: The Need for an Integrated Perspective on Institutions, Organizations, and Technology," researchers look at the social, economic, institutional and political mechanisms that underline the human-technology interface.

"The Kiparsky paper and the EES special issue are timely and are destined to be among the most influential and important contributions to the field of environmental engineering in recent times," said Domenico Grasso, PhD, Editor-in-Chief and Provost, University of Delaware, via a press release. "The holistic approaches outlined are not only well suited for addressing the complex problems of the urban infrastructure but may serve as a template for addressing many other sociotechnological challenges of the 21st century."

The study involved various guest editors for the special edition of the article, including David Sedlak, Jörg Drewes, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, and Richard Luthy, Stanford University, who worked to compile a series of various articles regarding the topics involving complex and active structures that include urban water infrastructure and management.

"Our modern urban water infrastructure is one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century," said Jennifer Becker, President of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, via the release. "This important issue of EES highlights a paradigm shift in our urban water systems and that technological innovations are urgently needed if the growing demands for water and other resources are to be sustainably met."

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found in the Environmental Engineering Science.