Sustainable Cities - Water Index

This report seeks to focus solely on water and identify which city is harnessing its water assets for the greatest long-term advantage.

The overall index examines the water sustainability of 50 cities from 31 countries across all continents of the world.

Each of the cities included have distinctive water relationships that helped shape their urban character and define their commercial identity and competitiveness.

The cities are ranked according to not only how sustainably they manage and maintain water, but also against their natural risk and vulnerability across three pillars of water sustainability – resiliency, efficiency and quality. 

Cities: Water Hubs 

Great cities are defined and illuminated by the water that surrounds them or flows through them. Be it the harbors of New York, the river estuaries of London, the Amsterdam canals, the waterfronts of Doha or the beaches of Sydney, water is what gives a city its unique magnetism and attraction factor.

Cities are rarely spontaneous creations. They are often strategic settlements grounded by access to water and linked by transportation. Cities that are truly distinguished by a thriving relationship with their waterscape can make a huge contribution to the quality of life of their residents, attract tourism and investment.

Hungarian physiologist and Nobel Prize winner Albert Szent-Gyorgyi famously said ‘water, the hub of life’. So, too, cities are renowned for being hubs of knowledge, art and commerce that can further enrich and inspire as they leverage their position as water hubs.

The World Economic Forum named water crises as one of the top three highest global risks to economies, environments and people, in terms of impact in 2016. Water demand issues and climate change risks are happening right here and right now.

The cities that best understand this and act first will be the ones that not only help save the planet from an impending water crisis, but will also be the first to attract investment and improve their competitive position.

This report seeks to expand on our annual Sustainable Cities Index to focus solely on water and identify which city is harnessing its water assets to its greatest long term advantage.

It is our hope that city leaders find this ranking to be a valuable tool in helping them to think of water as an opportunity and as a resource for economic development while also meeting the critical needs and safety of their residents and the environment.

Source: Arcadis

Read and download report here