Water Sensitive Design and Nature-Based Solutions for the Circular Management of Urban Water: Challenges and Missed Opportunities in the Auckland Region

This chapter investigates current approaches to urban water management outcomes in the Auckland region as a case study and considers challenges and missed opportunities in order to achieve a circular urban water management initiative within existing practice. The chapter begins by providing an overview of the current state of urban water management in the region and the drivers of change. The use of the case study approach is a valuable tool for understanding and improving the circular management of urban water, as it allowed us to deep dive into the existing implementation mechanism of water utilities, including strategic planning, and to consider the complex interplay of various factors that influence the role of water and its management practices. The review of current strategic planning, technical guidance and policy processes on urban water management presented in the Auckland context provided an opportunity to identify challenges, missed opportunities, and governance issues surrounding the problem that inhibits emerging alternatives of circular management of urban water solutions in Auckland. Chapter discussions also consider the understanding between people, technology, natural systems, and processes and how they interact with local planning systems and WSD guidelines, identifying and analysing barriers to the uptake of circular urban water management in the Auckland region. The conclusion of the chapter identifies the main barriers and enablers to the wider adoption of circular urban water through these approaches in the Auckland region and provides recommendations for policy and practice.