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Decentralization of sewage systems in megacities: necessity, challenges, and actionable pathways - insights from
Wenchong Tian1, Chao Rong2, Ruigang Bi3
1School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
Abstract:
Rapid economic development has spurred the rise of polycentric megacities, yet their sewage systems remain entrenched in a centralized model. This structural misalignment increases operational complexity and creates severe fiscal strain, making centralized infrastructure increasingly unsustainable. Although decentralized sewage systems offer compelling environmental and urban planning advantages, their translation into practice is blocked by three underaddressed challenges: dense built environments obstructing network retrofitting, strong spatiotemporal heterogeneity causing high uncertainty, and constrained fiscal conditions threatening financial viability. Here we argue the necessity of transitioning from centralized to decentralized systems and propose three complementary actionable pathways that may tackle these challenges: digitally enabled long-term system planning, customized technological innovation supported by industry-research collaboration, and government-utility cooperation for fiscal governance and market development. Implementing this framework resolves the core mismatch between sewer infrastructure and polycentric urban expansion, fosters a market-driven innovation paradigm for urban environmental services, and provides a scalable blueprint for sustainable wastewater management in megacities worldwide.
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