Urban Water Resources Assessment and Environmental Governance

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1458

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Interests: contaminant fate and transport; groundwater surface water interactions; climate change

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urbanization is a defining trend in the 21st century, with cities housing over 55% of the global population and projected to grow further in the coming decades. As urban areas expand, they face increasing challenges related to water resource management, infrastructure sustainability, and environmental governance. Urban water systems are critical to supporting economic growth, public health, and environmental well-being. However, these systems are under strain from climate change, aging infrastructure, and rapid population growth, leading to vulnerabilities in water supply, quality, and distribution. Addressing these challenges requires integrated and adaptive approaches that consider governance frameworks, resilient infrastructure, and innovative adaptation strategies.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore innovative approaches and cutting-edge research on the intersection of urban water systems, environmental governance, and resilience planning. By addressing the scientific and practical aspects of urban water management, this issue aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and highlight solutions that ensure the sustainability of urban water resources in an era of global change.

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

  • Innovative governance framework for urban water systems;
  • Socio-environmental trade-offs in urban water governance;
  • The design and retrofitting of resilient urban water infrastructure;
  • Addressing aging water infrastructure in rapidly growing cities;
  • Smart water systems and digital innovation for water resource management;
  • Case studies on successful implementation of sustainable urban water practices;
  • Multi-scale and interdisciplinary approaches to urban water challenges;
  • The role of data analytics and AI in urban water planning and decision making.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sabina Rakhimbekova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • data science in water governance
  • climate change
  • resilient water infrastructure
  • integrated urban water management
  • water scarcity
  • flood management
  • urban water quality
  • big data for adaptation
  • digital water solutions
  • urban sustainability

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 520 KB  
Article
Urban Infrastructure Policy to Adapt to Technological and Social Change
by Neil S. Grigg
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(9), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9090350 - 2 Sep 2025
Viewed by 598
Abstract
Examples from urban infrastructure in the United States show that high-level policy reports focused on investment neglect performance improvement, as well as changes in society and technology. A study methodology using systems approaches, institutional analysis, and examples from US situations was used to [...] Read more.
Examples from urban infrastructure in the United States show that high-level policy reports focused on investment neglect performance improvement, as well as changes in society and technology. A study methodology using systems approaches, institutional analysis, and examples from US situations was used to probe causes and remedies of this policy shortcoming. A conceptual systems model of services and the Maslow hierarchy of needs identified essential services spanning water, energy, transit, and streets management. Drinking water services have greater clarity and were selected to assess actor roles, responsibilities, and actions. The institutional analysis and development framework was used to organize the actors, settings, norms, incentives, rules, and action arenas. Data from the drinking water sector indicated that infrastructure policy reports mix issues and obscure significant impacts on specific sectors. They assume a static view and do not consider transformations in social contracts, alternative technologies, and service delivery methods. Without policy reform, public trust in government services will diminish, but political and administrative realities constrain rational and comprehensive approaches. The drinking water social contract is unlikely to change, but partnerships can incentivize reforms like performance assessment and agency accreditation. Development of a road map for urban infrastructure policy reform will require research by task forces of leading-edge practitioners within categorical arenas like drinking water, electric power, transit, and public works. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Water Resources Assessment and Environmental Governance)
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16 pages, 1064 KB  
Article
Water Supply, Sanitation, and Irrigation in Vega Alta (Murcia, Spain)
by José M. Gómez-Espín, Miguel B. Bernabé-Crespo, Encarnación Gil-Meseguer, Ramón Martínez-Medina and José M. Gómez-Gil
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(9), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9090345 - 30 Aug 2025
Viewed by 474
Abstract
Climate change is projected to significantly reduce water availability, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, which makes hydrological planning essential given the increasing competition for water resources. Inefficient consumption patterns exacerbate water depletion and highlight the importance of water quality management. Promoting sustainable [...] Read more.
Climate change is projected to significantly reduce water availability, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, which makes hydrological planning essential given the increasing competition for water resources. Inefficient consumption patterns exacerbate water depletion and highlight the importance of water quality management. Promoting sustainable practices, reducing consumption, and enhancing water recycling contribute to a more resilient approach. The aim of thIS study is to evaluate the reuse of reclaimed water in the Vega Alta region, which accounts for almost 15% of the total water mix (about 99 hm3/year) as it reuses 92.52% of the treated wastewater, most of which is pumped to irrigation areas targeted for consolidation, also creating new landscapes. These figures place the Region of Murcia as the leading autonomous community in Spain for water reuse, although challenges remain regarding water volumes and the associated costs, investment, and maintenance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Water Resources Assessment and Environmental Governance)
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