Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Resilient Smart Cities. The MOOC “Sustainable Urban Water Systems” aims to provide knowledge about modern and sustainable solutions for urban water management in water-sensitive cities. The focus is on stormwater control and water supply strategies for the mitigation of effects on the water cycles due to human settlements and climate change. In particular, the integration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into urban drainage systems, the use of alternative water resources, and the reduction of losses and waste, make cities more resilient and add benefits to both the environment and community.
The first week gives an overview of water cycle alteration in urban areas due to human settlement and climate change.
The second week focuses on nature-based solutions for urban stormwater management to achieve resilience in front of evolutionary risks.
The third week focuses on strategies for sustainable water supply, in terms of reduction of losses and waste, rainwater harvesting, and alternative water resources.
The course is structured in 3 weeks.
Week 1 – The Water Cycle in Urban Areas: Natural Processes and Human Activities
Week 2 – Water Sensitive Cities: Increasing Resilience to Evolutionary Risks
Week 3 - Sustainable Water Supply Strategies
By actively participating in this MOOC, you will achieve different intended learning outcomes (ILOs).
Week 1
- Discuss urban water cycle alterations caused by human settlement
- Describe the impact of human activities on water resources
- Identify climate change effects on rainfall and runoff in urban areas
Week 2
- Describe Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems to Restore the Natural Water Cycle in Cities
- Compare Nature-Based Solutions for recovering from Human Impacts on the Water Cycle
- Identify strategies to Make Cities Water Resilient to Evolutionary Risks
- Discuss the role of Green Roofs and Vegetated Walls for Stormwater Management
- Describe the role of Permeable Pavements for Flood Risk Mitigation
- Describe bio-retention areas for Flood Risk and Water Pollution Mitigation
- Explain how to plan Water Square and Blues Roofs for Stormwater Management
- Classify Infiltration Systems for RainWater Control
Week 3
- Identify Sustainable Water Supply Strategies for Water Sensitive Cities in order to make them Resilient to Climate Changes
- Identify strategies to Balance Water Availability, Needs and Uses in Urban Areas
- Discuss Solutions to reduce Water Loss and Waste
- Describe the Use of Non-conventional Water Resources for Sustainable Water Supply
- Explain how to plan Rainwater Harvesting and Reuse as Alternative Source of Water Supply
