Managing flooding: from a problem to an opportunity.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Resource Management
• Urban Planning

Background:

• Traditional water management struggles to achieve sustainability goals.
• Lack of political will hinders the implementation of truly sustainable water services.
• Compromised concepts like resilience and adaptation are currently defining approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the challenges in achieving water management sustainability.
• To examine new ideas and approaches for sustainable water services.
• To highlight the potential of water as an opportunity for anthropogenic needs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis of water management strategies.
• Examination of emerging ideas such as circular economy and nature-based systems.
• Case study analysis of flood management schemes with wider benefits.

Main Results:

• Sustainability in water management is hindered by political will and complex pressures.
• New concepts like circular economy, integrated approaches, and nature-based systems are crucial.
• Flood management can yield broader benefits and contribute to long-term sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Rethinking water management is essential, viewing water as an opportunity.
• Integrating circular economy principles and nature-based solutions can enhance sustainability.
• Innovative approaches are needed to address challenges and achieve resilient urban water systems.