Using Water-Sensitive City Factors to Evaluate the Performance of Water Management Projects at a Global Scale

Abstract

In recent decades, the effects of climate change, rapid urbanization, and the burdens of economic development have confronted cities with challenges in urban water management. This has resulted in mounting pressures on water resources and contributed to water scarcity and extreme flood events. Water-sensitive cities (WSCs) are cites that are resilient, sustainable, and livable and that offer a range of social, economic, and environmental benefits through water-sensitive urban design (WSUD). This paper bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical applications in stormwater management, presenting new methodologies that can be integrated into current engineering practices. By explicitly defining the concepts of WSC and WSUD, this study provides a clear framework for practitioners and engineers to enhance urban water resilience. The research establishes a set of environmental, social, policy, and economic (ESPE) indicators to evaluate the performance of WSUD projects within urban areas to achieve WSCs. Such indicators apply in three specific phases of WSUD projects: planning and design, implementation, and management and maintenance. The data were collected using a survey that received global responses from 388 water management experts from the aforementioned sectors. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to identify the key factors in achieving WSCs. The outcomes of this analysis provide insights to enable water authorities, academics, and practitioners to evaluate the ability of WSUD projects to achieve sustainable water management.