Urban Water Metabolism for Promoting Water-Sensitive Urban Planning Interventions in Adama City, Ethiopia
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Date
2025-01-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Urban metabolism quantifies resource flow within urban boundaries focusing on urban water, energy, nutrients and wastes. However, in developing nations,little research has been done to provide a quantitative picture of how water is consumed and transformed in urban landscape, as well as the water sensitive planning interventions needed to improve urban water security. This research was aimed to analyze the urban water metabolism of Adama city, Ethiopia as a foundation for evidence-based decision-making for water sensitive urban planning and enhance urban water security. The study employed a mixed-methods approach combining Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and urban water mass balance to track and trace water inflows, outflows and losses. Geo spatial tools were used to map water supply source locations, distribution networks, consumption patterns and water stress. Water security was quantified using the Integrated Urban Water Security Index (IUWSI). The study applied the Random Forest algorithm in R version 4.0.5. This algorithm was used to identify factors influencing residential water consumption. Key informant interviews and surveys were conducted to collect data on consumption and conservation behaviours across households, commercial, institutional and industrial water users. The data collection was conducted by combining both the bottom-up and top-down data collection systems. Findings indicated that Adama city is located in a water-stressed geographical location that receives less than 1700 m³ of water per person annually. The city's daily per capita water consumption is 69 liters falling short of Ethiopia's standard of 80 liters. The water distribution network covers only 45% of the area outlined in the master plan. The result also indicated a 38% gap between water demand and supply. Furthermore, nearly 30% of households receive water just at most three days a week. The centralized water supply accounts for 61% of the total consumption with 90% sourced from the distant Awash River indicating the city’s dependency on remote sources. Water conservation practices in Adama are limited. This reflects a linear take-make-use-dispose model that overlooks internal alternative water harvesting s. The urban water security index of 1.95 revealed that Adama lacks water sensitive planning and strategies to ensure the urban water security. The study also revealed that key factors influencing water consumption are family size, housing quality, income levels, the number of rooms, parcel legal status, supply reliability, climate and topography. In conclusion, Adama is experiencing significant urban water insecurity due to both economic and physical water scarcity along with limited water-sensitive interventions. Adama city is heavily dependent on a centralized water source which lacks internalization and diversification practices coupled with underdeveloped conservation practices. Another conclusion that can be drawn is that as long as the city’s business as usual water consumption practice doesn’t change, the water supply problem will worsen over time. Hence, to strengthen urban water security, Adama city should implement water-sensitive urban planning interventions and strategies that encompass community engagement, the adoption of water-saving technologies, water-sensitive urban land use planning and the establishment of a robust water sensitive legal framework to promote urban water security.
Keywords: Metabolism, water mass balance, water stress, water security, water sensitive, Adama, Ethiopia