From Nearly Zero Water Buildings to Urban Water Communities: The Need to Define Parameters to Support the New Paradigms
In the context of freshwater scarcity, effective water resource management is essential. This study explores techniques to optimise the use of local water sources and promote conservation, proposing a model to balance the supply and demand of non-potable water in urban environments. The model serves...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2566 |
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| author | Sara Bona Armando Silva-Afonso Ricardo Gomes Carla Pimentel-Rodrigues Fernanda Rodrigues |
| author_facet | Sara Bona Armando Silva-Afonso Ricardo Gomes Carla Pimentel-Rodrigues Fernanda Rodrigues |
| author_sort | Sara Bona |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the context of freshwater scarcity, effective water resource management is essential. This study explores techniques to optimise the use of local water sources and promote conservation, proposing a model to balance the supply and demand of non-potable water in urban environments. The model serves as an alternative or complement to public water supplies, particularly in drought-prone regions. Through a qualitative analysis of national and international regulations, specifications, and technical standards, this research identifies key trends in the use of alternative water sources and highlights knowledge gaps in urban water management, which are addressed through the proposed model. The study emphasises the transition from Nearly Zero Water Buildings (NZWBs) to Urban Water Communities (UWCs) as a sustainable and resilient solution, integrating decentralised water management approaches and resource recovery from wastewater. Additionally, a case study in a Portuguese urbanisation area illustrates the application of these principles and assesses their potential in real-world scenarios. The findings contribute to the development of comprehensive guidelines and public policies for sustainable urban water management, supporting the implementation of decentralised and integrated solutions that enhance resilience, water security, and resource efficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d0936a8ee9dd4ade9252a1967a62d2c1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-d0936a8ee9dd4ade9252a1967a62d2c12025-08-20T02:05:23ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01155256610.3390/app15052566From Nearly Zero Water Buildings to Urban Water Communities: The Need to Define Parameters to Support the New ParadigmsSara Bona0Armando Silva-Afonso1Ricardo Gomes2Carla Pimentel-Rodrigues3Fernanda Rodrigues4CERIS—Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCERIS—Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalINESC Coimbra—SMAS de Leiria, Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2 Morro do Lena—Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, PortugalCERIS—Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCERIS—Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalIn the context of freshwater scarcity, effective water resource management is essential. This study explores techniques to optimise the use of local water sources and promote conservation, proposing a model to balance the supply and demand of non-potable water in urban environments. The model serves as an alternative or complement to public water supplies, particularly in drought-prone regions. Through a qualitative analysis of national and international regulations, specifications, and technical standards, this research identifies key trends in the use of alternative water sources and highlights knowledge gaps in urban water management, which are addressed through the proposed model. The study emphasises the transition from Nearly Zero Water Buildings (NZWBs) to Urban Water Communities (UWCs) as a sustainable and resilient solution, integrating decentralised water management approaches and resource recovery from wastewater. Additionally, a case study in a Portuguese urbanisation area illustrates the application of these principles and assesses their potential in real-world scenarios. The findings contribute to the development of comprehensive guidelines and public policies for sustainable urban water management, supporting the implementation of decentralised and integrated solutions that enhance resilience, water security, and resource efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2566integrated water managementsustainable citiesurban water resiliencewater efficiencywater reuse |
| spellingShingle | Sara Bona Armando Silva-Afonso Ricardo Gomes Carla Pimentel-Rodrigues Fernanda Rodrigues From Nearly Zero Water Buildings to Urban Water Communities: The Need to Define Parameters to Support the New Paradigms Applied Sciences integrated water management sustainable cities urban water resilience water efficiency water reuse |
| title | From Nearly Zero Water Buildings to Urban Water Communities: The Need to Define Parameters to Support the New Paradigms |
| title_full | From Nearly Zero Water Buildings to Urban Water Communities: The Need to Define Parameters to Support the New Paradigms |
| title_fullStr | From Nearly Zero Water Buildings to Urban Water Communities: The Need to Define Parameters to Support the New Paradigms |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Nearly Zero Water Buildings to Urban Water Communities: The Need to Define Parameters to Support the New Paradigms |
| title_short | From Nearly Zero Water Buildings to Urban Water Communities: The Need to Define Parameters to Support the New Paradigms |
| title_sort | from nearly zero water buildings to urban water communities the need to define parameters to support the new paradigms |
| topic | integrated water management sustainable cities urban water resilience water efficiency water reuse |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2566 |
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