Two thirsty cities’ successful attempts to consume less water

Abstract

Today, there are more people on the planet than ever before; a trend that is most acutely felt in cities. More than half (55%) of the world’s population live in urban areas, a percentage that is set to increase to 68% by 2050. The accumulation of millions of people is putting pressure on the local resources available to sustain them, especially since climatic conditions are becoming more unpredictable. In particular, the availability of water is becoming an increasing concern, and reports of urban areas grappling with waterinsecurity is streaming in from across the globe. Cities that have been listed in international media as facing extreme water shortfalls in future include Tokyo (Japan), São Paulo (Brazil), Bangalore (India), Beijing (China), Cairo (Egypt), Jakarta (Indonesia), Moscow (Russia), Istanbul (Turkey), Mexico City (Mexico), London (United Kingdom) and Miami (United States), and lately Cape Town. This situation necessitates management authorities reach further than before in search of water.

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