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Vicente Santiago-Fandino UNEP-IETC

International Environmental Technology Centre. 6.2.3 Four key questions for the session. How can we use technology to enable us to better manage the urban water cycle?. Is the limiting factor technology or institutional frameworks (or a combination of both)?.

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Vicente Santiago-Fandino UNEP-IETC

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  1. International Environmental Technology Centre 6.2.3 Four key questions for the session How can we use technology to enable us to better manage the urban water cycle? Is the limiting factor technology or institutional frameworks (or a combination of both)? Why have we not yet moved to an integrated approach to urban water management? Would a single digital earth model (e.g. GoogleEarth Integrated Water Model), help us view the urban water cycle in a more holistic way? Vicente Santiago-Fandino UNEP-IETC UNEP

  2. International Environmental Technology Centre Responses from session 6.2.3 How can we use technology to enable us to better manage the urban water cycle? • Technology is something which is very important – but there is room for imagination and new solutions. • Good data is essential for good management. • Technology and management must go together. • But cannot use technology to solve problems without stakeholder involvement – vision and decision making. Vicente Santiago-Fandino UNEP-IETC UNEP

  3. International Environmental Technology Centre Responses from session 6.2.3 Is the limiting factor technology or institutional frameworks (or a combination of both)? • It is a combination of both. Without both there can be no progress. • Of course we are finance limited. • Management of the technology is needed. • The case was made to have a technology-neutral city which is one where decisions are not constrained by the existing technology (infrastructure). • An example was given from Bangladesh where the technology is there but because the need for power dominates catchment management. This results in highly saline non-potable water in water network. • A counter example was given from Iran where very extensive data acquisition networks have been installed (Flood, pollution, power needs). This is fed into a central information exchange which is fully connected with all decision makers. Vicente Santiago-Fandino UNEP-IETC UNEP

  4. International Environmental Technology Centre Responses from session 6.2.3 Why have we not yet moved to an integrated approach to urban water management? • Generally, particularly for developing countries there is a lack of vision. • Politicians try to hold too much power. • Frequently the problems are basin-wide (climate change, flooding issues) but politicians are based in cities. Responses must be open and flexible. • Water management is currently supply driven and needs to change to being demand led. Vicente Santiago-Fandino UNEP-IETC UNEP

  5. International Environmental Technology Centre Responses from session 6.2.3 How can we use new technologies to better understand groundwater process so that we can utilize their potential in the urban context? • We considered the UNESCO model and it certainly is of significant value. • Research effort is still needed to improve the models. • There are failed cities in Europe. Example given in Georgia where infrastructure is too large and complex to be paid for so now people only get water a few hours a day. • Jakarta is a city of 1 million septic tanks which are poorly maintained and lead to wide pollution. Vicente Santiago-Fandino UNEP-IETC UNEP

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