Sustainable resource management strategies
The agenda of attaining sustainability gained momentum in recent times, following concerns over climate change and depletion, or otherwise scarcity of resources to support the ever-increasing human population and that of other living organisms. As such, the world is shifting towards green technologies to provide solutions to current problems in sustainable ways. An overview of urban and peri-urban centers paints a picture of unsustainable resource utilization and management. For this reason, therefore, there is a need for effective and sustainable resource management strategies that are eco-friendly and lead to the greater good of society. An important resource that is key to human survival is water, hence the need for sustainable management and conservation. Apart from that, air pollution is so dire in urban centers, yet there is a lack of the much-needed ecosystem to facilitate the natural purification of air. The Role of Constructed Wetlands as Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Water Management by Alexandros Stefanakis presents and gives suggestions on how to integrate green technology in urban settings to provide effective and sustainable solutions to urban and peri-urban challenges.
Application of Green Infrastructure in Urban Centers
The first approach suggested by the author is a shift from the conventional grey infrastructure predominant in urban areas to green infrastructure (GI). The term Green Infrastructure was originally used to describe green spaces within urban centers to establish runoffs and manage stormwater to help in the reduction of impacts associated with urban heat islands and to improve the quality of air. In recent times, however, the term was broadened to encompass services such as setting up of ecosystem, the establishment of new habitats for wild animals, and measures to reduce global warming. Therefore, Green Infrastructure is a representation of sustainable solutions aimed at protecting and preserving urban environments.
According to Stefanakis, the increased rate of urbanization coupled with the massive expansion of modern commercial centers has resulted in a number of issues concerning urban runoff and effective management of stormwater. A majority of cities still depend on old concrete infrastructure to facilitate drainage and harvesting of stormwater, and are no longer sustainable. In addition to the aging storm management infrastructure, urban centers across the globe experience increased frequency of storm events, deforestation of the natural watershed in the vicinity, extensive degrading of natural wetlands, and overutilization of the scarcely available impermeable surfaces. As a result, urban centers have become more vulnerable to flooding and contamination of water sources. These challenges have been worsened by the current impacts of climate change, hence the need for more effective and mitigating strategies to deal with the looming crisis.
The solution to current problems, as suggested by Stefanakis, is the application of Green Infrastructure (GI). As established, climate change continues to have a great impact on current problems facing urban centers, hence the need for strategies that not only are effective in dealing with the issues but also put into consideration the issue of climate change. In addition, populations in urban centers are only going to increase, leading to more pressure on resources and consequently the demand for better sanitary and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the increased demand for water by the high population of urban dwellers coupled with freshwater withdrawal signals the need for efficiency in water management. The author recommends a shift towards a circular economy to achieve efficiency in water management and sustainable distribution. The circular economy is based on the 5Rs rule, i.e., reduce wastage, reuse, recycle, restore, and recover useful resources from wastewater. This is in line with the sustainable development of the global community considering the fact that urbanization is arguably one of the main catalysts of climate change.
Sustainable Urban Water Management through Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure brings to the table a fresh perspective, particularly in stormwater management and treatment of wastewater. The main problem facing modern urban centers in this respect is the effective management of stormwater runoff. According to Stefanakis, incidences of combined sewer overflows are common, especially in cities that treat wastewater centrally. This is because, at times, treatment centers lack the capacity to handle high volumes of wastewater. Hence the excess is disposed into rivers, lakes, and other water bodies. This results in contamination of the environment and degradation of the ecosystems. However, the application of GI, specifically by the use of eco-friendly technology (constructed wetlands), in the management of wastewater will be the most viable route to take as it is environmentally friendly and cost-effective at the same time.
The Technology of Constructed Wetlands
Constructed wetlands (CWs) are simply technologically enhanced systems that replicate the wastewater treatment process of natural wetlands but are more enhanced. According to Alexandros, apart from giving the same value and utilities as natural wetlands, CWs offer a variety of ecosystem services; there is enough proof that Constructed Wetlands have value in relation to flood and stormwater management, and they improve the quality of water and promote the restoration of biodiversity. Features of CWs, including their design, make it easy for them to be integrated into the constructed environment by city planners, designated engineers, and assigned landscape architects. The CWs can be classified into three categories based on their function and purpose; these include:
- Constructed wetlands for habitat creation: besides the main function of water treatment, these types of CWs also offer ecological benefits.
- Constructed wetlands for flood control: these kinds control and receive runoff in the course of flood events. Installation of these systems increases the capacity of stormwater storage and permeation volumes while limiting the water capacity that reaches the treatment plants.
- Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment: these systems are constructed solely for the purification of wastewater from different places by utilizing natural treatment processes.
Increased urbanization and rapid growth of the urban population come with their fair share of challenges. Challenges facing modern cities continue to experience scarcity of resources despite the rising demands for consumption. Meeting these demands has often resulted in the degradation of natural resources and environmental pollution. Existing systems based on grey infrastructure are not quite effective in handling challenges facing modern cities due to their unsustainable mode of operation. Hence, the need for more sustainable solutions that promote circularity and increase the resilience of urban centers. In this article, the author presents and suggests the adoption of green technologies for the management of wastewater and landscaping. Various types of Constructed Wetlands are presented and discussed in great lengths in regard to their purpose and functionality. According to the author, Constructed Wetlands offer sustainable solutions to various challenges affecting modern cities. In addition, CWs provide more value in relation to flood and stormwater management; they improve the quality of water and promote the restoration of biodiversity.