Water BOOST Enabling Innovation for Future Ready Cities 2025

1 Urban water systems are under growing pressure from multiple, interconnected risks. Whether the issue is too much (flooding), too little (scarcity) or too polluted water, cities face intensifying water-related shocks and stresses.17 Fragmented governance and limited investment capacity further exacerbate these risks, leaving many cities unprepared to respond at scale. The risks are often cascading, such as floods that contaminate drinking water18 or droughts that concentrate pollutants and increase health hazards.19 Addressing this complexity requires innovation grounded in a systems-based view of the water sector and its key dimensions (Figure 1), which include resources, users and core functions.201.1 The need for urban water innovationUnlocking water innovation To scale water innovation, cities need systems-based approaches and coordinated action across sectors and stakeholder ecosystems. Dimensions of the water sector: resources, users, core functions and end-of-cycle pressures, where waste water, treatment and challenges convergeFIGURE 1 Source: Adapted from Wehn, U., & Montalvo, C. (2018). Exploring the dynamics of water innovation: Foundations for water innovation studiesWaste water and grey water Treatment and water reuse Challenges and needs Challenges NeedsRain waterResour cesSurface and ground waterAtmospheric waterBrackish/saline water Scarcity Excess (flooding) Quality Allocation Mitigation of water -related disastersUniversal access to water and sanitationCare of resour ces and their ecosystemsAgricultur e Industry HouseholdsUsers Management (institutions and knowledge)Infrastructur e (natural and man-made)Services (utilities and economics)Core functions10% 20% 70%End-of-cycle pressures Water-BOOST: Enabling Innovation for Future-Ready Cities 8