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Review Papers of Urban Water Management 2024

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 12898

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Universitario, Trindade, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Interests: stormwater harvesting; water consumption in buildings; water efficiency; rainwater use in buildings; sustainability; permeable pavements; energy efficiency; buildings; climate change
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The section “Urban Water Management” is inviting esteemed researchers to submit high-quality review papers on the following topics: urban water infrastructure; urban water supply; urban drainage; urban catchment hydrology and modeling; sponge cities; stormwater management; rainwater harvesting; green roofs; permeable pavement systems; urban water contamination; the effects of urbanization; sustainable development; wastewater; urban wastewater reuse; flood risk management; climate change; and any other topic related to urban water management.

Prof. Dr. Enedir Ghisi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • urban water infrastructure
  • urban water supply
  • urban drainage
  • urban catchment hydrology and modeling
  • sponge cities
  • stormwater management
  • rainwater harvesting
  • green roofs
  • permeable pavement systems
  • urban water contamination
  • effects of urbanization
  • sustainable development
  • wastewater
  • urban wastewater reuse
  • flood risk management
  • climate change

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3110 KiB  
Article
The Financial Model for Water and Sanitation Services in Portugal: Lessons from Decades of Subsidies and Questionable Public Policies
by Rui Cunha Marques, Pedro Simões and Eduardo Marques
Water 2024, 16(21), 3087; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16213087 - 28 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1508
Abstract
Despite the billions of euros used as subsidies over recent decades, Portugal’s water sector continues to struggle, being characterized by significant inefficiencies and differences between high- and low-performing water and sanitation services (WSSs). Current subsidy policies lack transparency and are not linked to [...] Read more.
Despite the billions of euros used as subsidies over recent decades, Portugal’s water sector continues to struggle, being characterized by significant inefficiencies and differences between high- and low-performing water and sanitation services (WSSs). Current subsidy policies lack transparency and are not linked to performance results, undermining efforts to promote efficiency and sustainability in both environmental and financial dimensions. To address these issues, this article highlights relevant aspects to be taken into account in the redefinition of funding allocation in the Portuguese WSS sector. By implementing performance-based criteria for subsidy allocation and prioritization, regardless of the identity of beneficiaries or providers, we aim to instigate accountability and efficiency in this process. The analysis draws on empirical data to highlight the shortcomings of existing practices and demonstrates the potential benefits of adopting the “user-pays” principle. This principle is able to improve the definition of tariffs aiming for full cost recovery, while still providing for disadvantaged and vulnerable customers through social tariffs or assistance programs. Key findings indicate that coordinated efforts among government agencies, regulators, public and private utilities, and municipalities are essential to develop and promote effective financing strategies. This stakeholder’s cooperation is essential for managing the urban water cycle sustainably and addressing the sector’s long-term challenges. This research implies that a strategic shift in subsidy allocation is required, to develop accountability, efficiency, and equity in the WSS sector. The allocation of financial resources must be better justified to enhance overall performance in the sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review Papers of Urban Water Management 2024)
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Review

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28 pages, 13161 KiB  
Review
Exploring Herbaceous Plant Biodiversity Design in Chinese Rain Gardens: A Literature Review
by Lin Shi, Sreetheran Maruthaveeran, Mohd Johari Mohd Yusof, Jing Zhao and Ruosha Liu
Water 2024, 16(11), 1586; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111586 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2306
Abstract
Amidst rapid urbanization and escalating environmental degradation in China’s urban areas due to climate change, traditional drainage systems struggle to cope with rainfall, resulting in frequent flood disasters. In response, rain gardens have emerged as ecologically practical stormwater management solutions that integrate urban [...] Read more.
Amidst rapid urbanization and escalating environmental degradation in China’s urban areas due to climate change, traditional drainage systems struggle to cope with rainfall, resulting in frequent flood disasters. In response, rain gardens have emerged as ecologically practical stormwater management solutions that integrate urban flood control with landscape design. Leveraging the dual benefits of rainwater purification and aesthetic enhancement provided by vegetation, herbaceous plant-based rain gardens have assumed a pivotal role in green infrastructure. However, dedicated research on the application of herbaceous plants in rain garden design is limited, especially within China’s water-stressed context. This study employs a literature review and case analysis to explore this critical issue. Initially, it delineates the concept of the sponge city introduced by the Chinese government. Subsequently, it reviews concepts and methods of plant biodiversity design in urban settings and rain gardens and elucidates the structure and function of rain gardens. Four Chinese rain gardens in different urban environments (old industrial areas, university campuses, urban villages, and urban highway green belts) were selected to examine the selection and arrangement of herbaceous plants while identifying deficiencies in their designs. Finally, feasibility suggestions are provided for the design of herbaceous plant diversity in Chinese rain gardens. This study’s findings can provide a reference for the planting design of herbaceous plants in rain gardens for other countries and regions with similar climates and environmental conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review Papers of Urban Water Management 2024)
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24 pages, 6138 KiB  
Review
Urban Water Consumption: A Systematic Literature Review
by Talita Flores Dias and Enedir Ghisi
Water 2024, 16(6), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16060838 - 14 Mar 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7941
Abstract
The study and analysis of urban water consumption habits in different regions contribute to the development of strategies aimed at secure water reduction and distribution. Within this context, knowledge of global water availability and the analysis of factors that influence consumption in different [...] Read more.
The study and analysis of urban water consumption habits in different regions contribute to the development of strategies aimed at secure water reduction and distribution. Within this context, knowledge of global water availability and the analysis of factors that influence consumption in different regions in distinct situations become extremely important. Several studies have been carried out in a number of countries and describe different approaches. The objective of this article is to learn about the strategies used in water consumption forecast and analysis. Most of the studies analysed seek to understand the factors influencing consumption in different building types. When it comes to residential buildings, the number of residents and the influence of economic issues on water consumption have an important role in this matter. In this context, pieces of research present the use of awareness campaigns as a strategy towards water use reduction. As a contribution, this article presents a systemic view of the pieces of research conducted and their contribution to forecasting water consumption in different regions. In conclusion, one observes the importance of analysing the factors influencing water consumption in different regions and scenarios, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article can help managers and researchers understand the main factors that influence water consumption and how this consumption takes place in different regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review Papers of Urban Water Management 2024)
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