Water management for climate change adaptation in Barcelona, Bogotá, and Mexico City
Water management for climate change adaptation in Barcelona, Bogotá, and Mexico City
Motivation
The main objective of the project was to strengthen integrated water management capacities in the metropolitan areas of Bogotá, Mexico City and Barcelona, recognising water management as a key element in building resilience and adapting to climate change. To this end, a series of seminars brought together water management experts from the three metropolitan areas, with two main objectives:
- To identify strategic challenges in integrated stormwater and greywater management and water governance, as well as sharing good practices and experiences.
- To establish an ongoing platform for knowledge exchange and analysis of policies and regulatory frameworks for integrated urban water management, extending beyond the duration of the project and laying the groundwork for future collaborative initiatives among the three metropolitan areas.
Results
The seminars attracted an average of 50 participants, including technical experts and policymakers from the three metropolitan areas. Each session featured presentations from representatives of the participating cities, focusing on a specific topic, followed by an open discussion involving all attendees.
Based on the insights and contributions gathered during the sessions, a report was produced assessing the main impacts of climate change on the entire water cycle across the three metropolitan areas. The report also outlines a series of measures and initiatives related to the topics discussed, each already being implemented in at least one of the three metropolitan areas and offering potential for replication in the other two.
For example, the AMB shared its expertise and experience in reclaimed water management and reuse. Bogotá highlighted the implementation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) as a response to flooding caused by heavy rainfall and insufficient sewerage infrastructure. Meanwhile, Mexico City is pursuing several initiatives aimed at improving wastewater treatment and water reuse, as well as harnessing alternative water sources, such as rainwater harvesting, to address growing water demand.


