How to stop our cities getting thirsty
How can we enhance our knowledge and action perspectives to make the built environment more resilient to water shortages, now and in the future? This is the central question in the research project ‘Thirsty Cities’, which is being funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). The project is part of the National Science Agenda for The Netherlands.
With Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences as the lead partner, Deltares will work on developing action perspectives in collaboration with universities, knowledge institutions and partners from the field. Deltares is the co-leader of the studies looking at the ‘urban water balance’ and ‘joint action perspectives’. Nanco Dolman is an expert on water-resilient cities at Deltares and the project leader for Thirsty Cities. He says: “These two studies fit in well with our mission to link theoretical and practical knowledge”.
Urban water shortages have a broader impact
Deltares is active in urban areas with applied research projects relating to, for example, the sustainable construction of swales to alleviate difficulties with excess water, but also the monitoring of water quality. In an earlier study, the Council for the Living Environment worked with Deltares to determine the potential damage to foundations caused by water shortages.
Dolman says: “Discussions about water shortages in cities often focus on foundation damage and land subsidence. And rightly so: they affect local people and require major investments. Even so, the negative impact in urban areas is much broader. It extends to water availability and distribution, a range of water interests, nature and ecological water quality in the city. These difficulties are not immediately apparent but they also require measures to be taken now so that we will be as prepared as possible for water shortages. That’s why I’m happy with the focus on these issues in Thirsty Cities.”
The Thirsty Cities research is important because, as our knowledge and that of the people who have to get things done in practice improves, better, accessible, action perspectives emerge. This is an important contribution to a water-aware, climate- and drought-resilient urban area.
Nanco Dolman, expert water-resilient cities
Collaboration
The following parties are collaborating on this research: Delft University of Technology, Deltares, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Twente University, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam City Authority, Eindhoven City Authority, Dommel water authority, De Stichtse Rijnlanden water authority, Delfland water authority, Schieland en Krimpenerwaard water authority, Utrecht City Authority, Amsterdam City Authority, Nijmegen City Authority, Enschede City Authority, Groningen City Authority, Deventer City Authority, Stichting Toegepast Onderzoek Waterbeheer (STOWA), Stichting RIONED, Netwerk Samen Klimaatbestendig, Treeport BCT Partners BV.
