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Resilience in Water Infrastructures: A Review of Challenges and Adoption Strategies

Author

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  • Apurva Pamidimukkala

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA)

  • Sharareh Kermanshachi

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA)

  • Nikhitha Adepu

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA)

  • Elnaz Safapour

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA)

Abstract

An increase in the number and strength of natural catastrophes experienced over the past few decades has accelerated the damage sustained by infrastructures. Drinking water and wastewater infrastructure systems are critical aspects of a healthy environment, and their ability to withstand disasters is vital for effective disaster response and recovery. Although numerous studies have been conducted to determine the challenges that natural disasters render to water infrastructures, few extensive examinations of these challenges have been conducted. The goal of this study, therefore, was to identify and categorize the challenges related to the resilience of drinking water and wastewater infrastructures, and to determine the strategies that most effectively minimize their unintended consequences. A comprehensive evaluation of the existing literature was conducted, and 537 publications were collected. After extensive screening, 222 publications were selected for rigorous evaluation and analysis based on the data collection methods and other criteria. A total of fifty-one (51) challenges were determined and classified, within the following five categories: environmental, technical and infrastructure, social, organizational, and financial and economic. The challenges were then ranked within each category according to their frequency of occurrence in previous research. The results reveal that climate change, aging infrastructure, lack of infrastructure capital, population growth, improper maintenance of water infrastructure, and rapid urbanization are the most frequently cited challenges. Next, 30 strategies and approaches were identified and categorized into either preventive or corrective actions, according to their implementation time. The findings of this study will help decision- and policymakers properly allocate their limited funding to enhance the robustness of their water infrastructures before, during, and after natural hazards.

Suggested Citation

  • Apurva Pamidimukkala & Sharareh Kermanshachi & Nikhitha Adepu & Elnaz Safapour, 2021. "Resilience in Water Infrastructures: A Review of Challenges and Adoption Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-15, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:12986-:d:686391
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Krishna R. Reddy & Valeria Kandou & Rachel Havrelock & Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi & Teresa Cordova & Matthew D. Wilson & Braeden Nelson & Citlalli Trujillo, 2023. "Reuse of Treated Wastewater: Drivers, Regulations, Technologies, Case Studies, and Greater Chicago Area Experiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-68, May.
    2. Giada Felisa & Giulio Panini & Pietro Pedrazzoli & Vittorio Di Federico, 2022. "Combined Management of Groundwater Resources and Water Supply Systems at Basin Scale Under Climate Change," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(3), pages 915-930, February.
    3. Fatemeh Asghari & Farzad Piadeh & Daniel Egyir & Hossein Yousefi & Joseph P. Rizzuto & Luiza C. Campos & Kourosh Behzadian, 2023. "Resilience Assessment in Urban Water Infrastructure: A Critical Review of Approaches, Strategies and Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-24, July.
    4. Xian Liu, 2022. "Analysis of Crop Sustainability Production Potential in Northwest China: Water Resources Perspective," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, October.

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