Sustainable Water Resources Management in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of water resources management (WRM) has increased in recent decades due to rapid increases in global populations, not least in urban areas. Simply put, this means that more supplies are required to cover the increasing demand for water from different end-users (and uses). However, water resources (WRs) are finite, and in some regions, such as arid and semi-arid regions, they are limited or scarce. Therefore, careful planning and the appropriate sustainable management of these resources in these regions in the 21st Century are highly significant to avoid any future water crisis that might affect current and future generation(s), including water shortages and deterioration in water quality.

Indicator-based frameworks are needed to evaluate and improve sustainable water resource management (SWRM) in all regions, not least in arid and semi-arid regions. However, whilst many generic SWRM systems exist for the former, very few include the unique characteristics and local context and conditions of the latter. Improvements in water-using behaviour and technological efficiency, either incentivised or legislated or other allied approaches, are required to seek alternative supply sources. Public acceptability and understanding of these are key to their success, and a lack of overall water awareness could be a key driver in this space. Combining this with issues such as maintenance and upgrading issues and of legacy infrastructures, as well as more broadly with aspects of water justice and governance, the field of sustainable water resources management poses challenges, but it also creates many opportunities.

Rapid growth and changes in the dynamics of cities, combined with the challenges associated with climate change and net-zero, impact urban populations in all regions globally. These challenges are more pronounced and nuanced for arid and semi-arid regions, where the ability of cities to appropriately provision for essential urban infrastructures is fraught with difficulty. Water therein is very scarce due to low expected rainfall and high rates of evaporation. This exacerbates water supply for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses. Water is an amenity, but it is also a necessity for cities to both function and thrive for their current populations and future generations; therefore, sustainable water resource management is key to its success. Indicator-based frameworks are needed to evaluate and improve sustainable water resource management (SWRM), not least in arid and semi-arid regions. However, whilst many generic SWRM systems exist, very few include the unique characteristics, local context, and conditions of these areas.

To address this gap, this Special Issue focuses on the latest research and current thinking within the field of SWRM, identifying how developed and developing societies might draw from a wealth of opportunities to use SWRM to help improve water infrastructure decision making. Drawing on this knowledge base will help to assess whether and how water resource management can be made more sustainable, improving the decisions being made for people who live in these regions.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assessment frameworks for sustainable water resource management;
• Sustainable water infrastructure provision for the 21st century;
• Decision-making for water supply;
• Sustainable water resource management (SWRM) for the 21st century;
• Achieving net-zero in the water industry.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Dexter Hunt
Dr. Soroosh Sharifi
Guest Editors

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• sustainability
• infrastructure
• planning
• sustainable indicators