Water as critical infrastructure

Introduction

People around the world are supported by an intricate mesh of water, sanitation and drainage systems. When these systems are neglected for prolonged periods of time or when these systems are exposed to natural hazards and disasters, the systems become vulnerable to collapse. It is crucial to plan for and evaluate the impact of potential stressors at the system level and focus specifically on incorporating resilience into the engineering design of drinking water and sanitation infrastructure.

Water quality can be inconsistent when cities are developing quickly. To meet demand, deep groundwater aquifers are often overexploited. How can we boost water supply resilience?