Urban Water Quality

Abstract

Steady growth of population, due to overall population increases and continuing migration from rural to urban areas, creates enormous demands and stresses on urban waters with respect to water supply, drainage, flood protection, wastewater management, and beneficial uses of receiving waters and groundwater. Urban water issues are therefore in the forefront of water management priorities in practically all regions of the world, though often for broadly varying reasons. Key issues of urban water management are discussed in this article, which focuses on the evolution of urban drainage infrastructure, characterization of urban drainage, urban runoff impacts on receiving waters, urban drainage management, water, and wastewater reuse and future perspectives and priorities. The discussion focuses on the collection and transport of urban effluents (sewer systems), characterization of urban drainage provided by combined or storm sewers (flows and their quality), impacts of urban drainage effluents on receiving waters, and groundwater and impact mitigation by integrated urban drainage management with the emphasis placed on the management of surface runoff and water/wastewater reuse. While the progress in integrated engineering science, watershed‐based management and new water technologies is impressive, the challenges of maintaining and improving urban water services, particularly in low‐income countries, are formidable and may be further exacerbated by demographic, social, and climate change.

Monitoring of clogging evolution in the stormwater infiltration system and determinant factors

“…up to 300 mg l -1 in our case and often higher according to the literature) and is considered to be poor in organic matter compared to waste water. However, organic matter, if not very high, is present in stormwater (nutrient loads being low in such systems; Ellis, Marsalek, & Chocat, 2005) and its conjunction with solar energy can lead to the development of biofilms.…”

Urban Surface Water Quality, Flood Water Quality and Human Health Impacts in Chinese Cities. What Do We Know?

“…Figure 3 also shows that there has been an increase in emphasis on urban water quality related research after 2011 as the number of publications attributed to urban water quality is steadily increasing. The latter can be attributed to the developments in technology and/or a (global) rising concern about water security [78,79]. Also, the number of studies on flood water quality are less than those on urban water quality.…”

Trends of surface water quality of the Krishna River, India during the urbanization process

“…There are diverse facets of urban water quality management such as impacts of runoff on receiving water, water and wastewater reuse, and future research needs (Ellis et al, 2005). Freni et al (2008) studied integrated modeling as an application for comprehensive urban water quality management on a catchment scale.…”

“…Establishing the relation between landscape and water quality in the river basin for long‐term efficient urban water quality management and the role of urban planning studies are vital to preserve urban water environments (Duh et al., 2008; Goonetilleke et al., 2005; Turner & Rabalais, 2003). There are diverse facets of urban water quality management such as impacts of runoff on receiving water, water and wastewater reuse, and future research needs (Ellis et al., 2005). Freni et al.…”