Source Water Protection and Diversification For Resilient Urban Water Supply
Summary
Climate change, combined with rapid urbanization and economic development, is increasing pressure on urban water supplies. While source water protection and diversification of water sources have proven to be effective strategies to increase the resilience of water systems to these risks, many low- and middle-income countries have struggled to implement these actions. This study aimed to understand what suite of source water protection and diversification solutions can enhance the resilience of cities’ water supplies and the constraints in their implementation by examining successful examples, challenges, and enablers of (1) planning; (2) negotiation across multiscale regulatory and institutional frameworks; and (3) financing models in cities in low- and middle-income countries.
The study, produced by USAID/Urban Resilience by Building Partnerships and Applying New Evidence in Wash (URBAN WASH), analyzes these topics through a literature review and case studies of seven cities that have documented policies and actions contributing to increased water security and resilience.