Urban water resources sustainable development: a global comparative appraisal

The challenges of water resources sustainable development are enormous. Around the globe, the increasing use of water coupled with environmental deterioration calls for sustainable development of the limited water resources. As a significant part of the world’s population still lacks access to safe water and adequate sanitation, and as global urbanization continues to increase, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated and cooperative water resources management is required for the sustainable future of urban areas. The objective of this study was to assess water resources sustainable development for selected urban areas around the world. Using centralized databases of international agencies for the period of 1993 to 1998, urban information pertinent to water resources were collected, analyzed and modeled. The study database consisted of information regarding urban water accessibility, consumption, price, wastewater treatment, and other pertinent social, environmental and economic indicators. After preliminary evaluation of more than 350 cities around the globe, due to data inaccessibility, incompleteness and missing, 107 cities were selected for detailed analysis. The statistical analyses for the selected cities showed interesting results and relations in connection with urban water resources sustainable development in different regions and countries. For the period of 1993 to 1998, elasticity of database variables were developed. Using elasticities, urban area rankings and addressing water resources sustainable development were suggested. The developed elasticity and rankings were used in taxonomy of the selected 107 cities, and reflected considerable variations in urban water demand and supply development. As each urban area is unique in many historical, geographical, cultural, social, political, environmental and economic aspects, any comparative appraisal needs due consideration of local factors and issues. Nevertheless, the applied comparative appraisal methodology is suggested as a compliment to any other type of appraisal to enhance urban policies in support of sustainable urban water resources development.