Report outlines the future of urban water

Arup and Sydney Water have launched the report ‘The Future of Urban Water: Water Utilities in 2040’. The study draws on a range of future scenarios in mapping how water supply in Sydney and other major cities could look in 25 years in the face of population growth, increasing scarcity of water and continued budget pressures.

The report highlights over 100 social, economic, environmental, political and technology trends, outlining four key scenarios which will guide the long-term planning of Sydney Water. Each scenario sees the industry move in a new direction with various opportunities for customers, infrastructure and governance.

Some scenarios find that water bills could become lower as customers are more empowered to reduce consumption, through the introduction of services such as real-time monitoring. Others suggest more extensive changes, such as self-management of water supply by local communities and a greater role for private industry in building and operating site-specific water systems.

Arup Australasia Water Leader Daniel Lambert said the joint planning study is one of the most imaginative and forward looking of its type undertaken by any water utility. He said it is “imperative that Sydney continues to remain at the forefront of innovative thinking as to what the future of water supply may look like” and that this thinking “should consider demand, operating models and adoption of technological innovation to ensure value is able to be realised by the community”.

“Jointly with Sydney Water, Arup has been able to consider and assess scenarios that could transform the operating model for water utilities,” Lambert said. “Arup believes our population will be best served if water authorities migrate towards a hybrid model which incorporates greater decentralisation and autonomous management of water supply, greater participation of additional service providers and smarter management of the water grid.”

Estimates are that Sydney faces rapid urbanisation, with an additional 1.3 million people predicted to move into the city over the next decade, along with urban renewal projects. As a result, Sydney Water is exploring options for future supply models that complement the existing centralised system to provide affordable and timely servicing options that support urban planning and design aspirations.

The scenarios and trends identified in the study offer a glimpse into the hybrid model of water management that could take shape in Sydney in the face of demographic and economic pressures. They also offer the potential for wider application, such as opportunities presented by water utilities in the generation of energy and the recovery of resources from wastes.

“We recognise that there are big changes ahead for the industry and that it is vital for us to take a leadership role that is proactive in responding to change and planning for the future,” said Sydney Water Manager Liveable City Programs Kaia Hodge.

“This Arup study is an exciting step towards securing innovative and efficient management of our water resources for the next several decades.”