Urban water quality and the Triple Bottom Line - Can we reconcile the irreconcilables?
(2003) Urban water quality and the Triple Bottom Line - Can we reconcile the irreconcilables?. In Douglas, Bob and Furnass, Bryan and Goldie, Jenny, Eds. Proceedings In search of sustainability.
Full text available as: |
Abstract
The adoption of a triple-bottom line approach is advocated to safeguard urban water quality. Ecosystem functions need to be addressed initially followed by social and then economic needs. This calls for a cultural change towards urban water resources rather than the current piecemeal approach. Water and water environments are valuable community assets. Urban land use coupled with anthropogenic activities alters the stream flow regime and degrade water quality. Urban water pollution is difficult to cost in terms on conventional monetary measures. True costs extend beyond immediate human or the physical boundaries of the urban area and affect the function of surrounding ecosystems. Current approaches to safeguard water quality are largely ineffective. They are generally based either on, insufficient design knowledge, faulty value judgements or inadequate consideration of life cycle costs. The problem of urban water pollution can only be remedied through innovative planning and the courage to implement sustainable practices.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Keywords: | urban water quality, triple bottom line, water quality treatment |
| Subjects: | 290000 Engineering and Technology > 290800 Civil Engineering > 290802 Water and Sanitary Engineering 290000 Engineering and Technology > 291100 Environmental Engineering > 291104 Environmental Technologies 290000 Engineering and Technology > 291100 Environmental Engineering > 291103 Environmental Engineering Design |
| ID Code: | 4105 |
| Deposited By: | Goonetilleke, Ashantha |
| Deposited On: | 18 May 2006 |
| Copyright Owner: | Copyright 2003 (please consult author) |