The urban water cycle from the environmental, social and health point of view: convergent urban proposals

Abstract

Over the last century and a half, urban water management has been a crucial topic in urban planning, with various theories and solutions featuring recurring design parameters. This paper explores the planning criteria for the urban water cycle in Western urban planning, considered from the perspective of health, environmental impacts, and social inclusion, throughout five historical stages. It presents a narrative review of the literature, comparing discourses and proposals with similar theoretical foundations. The analysis identifies three recurring planning and design parameters: safety, integration, and access. Strategies to achieve these include proposals such as: gray infrastructure for water supply and sanitation, regulation of urban waterways, restoration of waterfronts and riverbanks, integrated water cycle management, and ecological restoration of urban aquatic habitats. The results provide a broad overview of the validity or failure of certain urban strategies used during the analyzed time period, which can facilitate informed decision-making for the future.