Hybrid Infrastructure: Local, Regional and Global Potential of Nature Based Solutions

Abstract

The traditional approach to water supply and wastewater treatment involves centralized systems designed almost exclusively at protecting community health. Future systems will focus on the provision of an integrated service to customers. Advancing innovations in water efficient strategies will be an integral component of this new water sector. This chapter presents case studies at local, regional and global level which illustrate a new approach to water management. The case studies presented include the Rain Cities of South Korea, Philadelphia Clean City Clean Waters program and Singapore Four Taps National Strategy. NBS will form an integral component of future water infrastructure that comprises a mix of high tech human built engineered (Grey) infrastructure and NBS (Green) infrastructure. This combination of approaches can be termed “Hybrid Infrastructure”. These case studies illustrate the application of this hybrid infrastructure system. This hybrid infrastructure system combines centralised and decentralised systems to optimise the reclamation of water for reuse in a fit for purpose model.