Solution

Systems approaches for urban water management & health

This solution addresses health problems related to water management in internationally for general population

Problem Description

"Scientists and decision-makers have recently begun to appreciate that, as in the case of other urban systems, the linkages between water management, health and sustainability are complex in ways that undermine the effectiveness of traditional approaches. Unprecedented urban populations and densities, intra-urban inequities, and inter-urban mobility pose serious new problems, and climate change adds a novel and uncharted dimension. This has, in some cases, led to worsening urban health, or to increased risks—for instance, some water-associated diseases like dengue are on the rise globally while others, like cholera, nominally controlled in the developed countries, continue to pose serious threats elsewhere; many regions face increased food and water scarcity, and many urban slums present conditions that challenge effective water management." Quote from: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-016-0107-2

Building Blocks

Story

"Water is an elemental part of the fabric of urban lives, providing sustenance and sanitation, commerce and connectivity. Our fundamental needs for water have always determined the location, size and form of our cities, just as water shapes the character and outlook of their citizens. Urban health is inextricably linked with water. From the first cities, planners have appreciated the potential linkages of water with health and the need for consistent water supplies. Indeed, the modern field of public health owes a strong debt to the sanitary engineers who strove to provide potable water and safe disposal of human wastes in burgeoning cities of the Industrial Revolution."
Quote from: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-016-0107-2

Resources

Contributed By

  • L.C. Rietveld, TU Delft

Solution Stage

One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more
STAGE SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING FINANCE REQUIRED KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED GOAL
Generating ideas2
Ideation and facilitation of creative thinking
  • Creativity methods
  • Design tools
  • Crowdsourcing
  • Open innovation
  • Awards and rewards
  • Challenge prizes
  • High failure rate should be an explicit expectation
  • Visible senior leadership essential
HIGH
  • Usually grants, occassionally convertible
LOW
A clear account of change or likely causation, supported – but not overly constrained – by evidence
An idea or set of ideas to develop and test

Submitted By

Janae Futrell
Activity