Active water management uses real-time information to continually respond and adjust to water management needs and situations. To support active water management, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) needs tools to access and understand data and to apply that understanding to operational decisions. The work described herein addresses two objectives in providing decision-support for the TCEQ: (1) methods for including environmental pulse flow regulations in water rights documents, and (2) improved ease of access to information needed for TCEQ watermaster operations, particularly in times of drought. A Pulse Scaling Method for calculating the trigger flow rate, volume, and duration of flow pulses, using known characteristics at a reference location A, that are appropriate at a target location B (with unknown characteristics) was developed from three key relationships found in the written environmental flow regulations for fifteen locations in the Trinity, San Jacinto, Sabine, and Neches basins. Applying the method and analyzing the results shows that the predictions are statistically consistent with original regulations. A Common Operating Picture is a layered web-map allowing simultaneous access to one or more spatially-related datasets that TCEQ watermaster staff need to consider in decision-making. By its very nature as a dynamic map with associated time series, the Common Operating Picture presents data as information in a way that can support water resource management and decision-making. The project is currently in the pilot stage, with a number of data sources included and an interface available, but with additional work planned and further testing needed before larger-scale implementation. / text

The interest in using criteria and indicators for assessing activities in relation to sustainable development is increasing. This dissertation analyses the potential for using economic criteria for assessment of urban water management in relation to sustainable development. The analysis consists of three parts. First, to analyse the basis for economic criteria, there is a need to categorise general frameworks, disciplinary theories and practical assessments in order to explore what the economic dimension of sustainable could imply, depending on general assumptions about challenges, goals and means. Consequently, a number of general frameworks, economic theories and urban water assessments were categorised. Second, based on this analysis, a set of economic criteria was chosen, consisting of maintenance of water infrastructure, affordability, cost-recovery, effectiveness and development potential. For each criterion, one or more indicators are suggested. Third, these indicators were tested in three cases from Swedish municipalities: introduction of volumetric billing in a low-income apartment area, increased water supply in a growing city and introduction of kitchen waste disposers in a city with a stagnant population. On the basis of the application, introduction of volumetric billing in a low-income area resulted in deteriorating affordability and effectiveness, whereas cost-recovery improved. Introduction of kitchen waste disposers in a stagnant area was questionable from an effectiveness viewpoint whereas the water infrastructure was well maintained. In the growing city, increased income and population determined the outcome of the affordability, cost-recovery and development potential criteria, which all improved. The study also found that using economic criteria and indicators for assessment of urban water management in relation to sustainable development requires a continuous balance between the universal and the context specific, that is, between the criteria and indicators used and the water infrastructure change being assessed. This emphasises that criteria used should relate to all dimensions of sustainable development as well as of the decisiveness of involving actors and other stakeholders in sustainable development assessments.

This thesis examines the interaction of political-economic restructuring, sustainability, and the governance of municipal services in the province of Ontario, Canada. Two issues are studied: the restructuring of business models, and programs for sustainable infrastructure management (focusing on programs for the reduction of water consumption and production). The primary data are derived from a province-wide expert survey, archival research, a one-day expert workshop, and seven municipal case studies. Since the early 1990s, political-economic restructuring in Ontario predominantly reflects processes and policy orientations consistent with neoliberalization. Two strands of research posit particular relationships between neoliberalization and sustainability. One (associated with political ecology) asserts that neoliberalization yields negative outcomes for environmental policy. The other (ecological modernization) asserts that neoliberal restructuring leads to environmental improvements. This thesis tests and complicates both sets of claims. Specifically, neoliberalization does not necessarily induce improved programming for sustainability and can, hinder its development. Neoliberalization, however, is not the unique hindrance to progress on sustainability. Rather, a techno-physical approach to service delivery combined with governance arrangements that neither empower nor compel a variety of necessary actors presents a key barrier to sustainability. In terms of the restructuring of business models, I find that the primary neoliberal strategy is the depoliticization of governance through the pursuit of arms length business models for service delivery. This, however, is not readily accomplished in complete or straightforward ways. Municipal governments and anti-neoliberal alliances have complex relationships to neoliberalization that prove important in restructuring outcomes. Specifically, neoliberalization is also contested within municipal government and for environmental advocates, although their best option, the municipal department model remains unsatisfactory. Concerning sustainable infrastructure management, the thesis finds that up-take of supply and demand management in Ontario has been limited to date. This results from incentives created by policy processes associated with neoliberalization (specifically new public management) and technically-driven management methods in the water sector. Moreover, where programs for sustainable infrastructure management currently occur, they are rarely motivated by sustainability concerns. Importantly, however, sustainable infrastructure management is underdeveloped for reasons other than neoliberalization; governance arrangements and the continuing supply-side orientation of water utilities are other factors.

The adaptive cycle metaphor provides insight into how and why social-ecological systems change. Literature on 'resilience thinking' has built upon this foundation and further developed the concepts of resilience, adaptation, and transformation to describe social-ecological system behavior. The resilience-thinking literature also describes systems that do not change, even when such change is desirable, as being in a trapped state. However, relatively little research has explored why such systems are trapped and how to free them. This thesis is the product of doctoral research which resolves how to identify, evaluate, and free a system caught in a maladaptive system trap. The study setting is water management in Grenada, a small island developing state in the southeastern Caribbean. Four research questions guide this study: (1) To what extent is Grenadian water management in a trap?, (2) To what extent is Grenadian water management transformable?, (3) Do current and recent interventions effectively foster or utilize transformability?, and (4) Which interventions should be pursued to facilitate transformation of water management in Grenada?. The study is informed by literature on social-ecological systems and integrated water resources management. Methodologically, the study is an explanatory single-case study of water management in Grenada, conducted from 2012 to 2013. The study utilizes data from semi-structured interviews (n=19), a questionnaire (n=180), a document review (n>200), and observation. The general strategy was to evaluate attempts to transform Grenadian water management within the 3-phase transformation framework described in the resilience-thinking literature. 'Points of failure' in transformation are defined as the cause(s) of a trap, and interventions to relieve the points of failure are proposed. Results indicate Grenadian water management is in a rigidity trap, although it exhibits some capacity to transform. A key point of failure of attempts to transform the Grenadian water sector into an integrated and holistic management system has been an inability to seize windows of opportunity to pass key legislation. I conclude the primary cause for this failure is poor fit among the problem, as perceived by various stakeholders, the proposed solution prescribed by water sector reform proponents, and political reality. In addition, reform proponents focus on advocating for reform to water sector professionals and do little to broker passage of legislation politically. Finally, reform proponents also assume legislation will be effectively implemented, which is not certain. Contributions specific to the Grenadian setting include a post-mortem on why efforts to reform the water sector have failed, described above. Five recommendations are made for future interventions to foster transformation of Grenadian water management: (1) engage residents as part of a vision to create political pressure for proposed solutions, (2) frame the problem with substantial resident input and focus, (3) craft solutions which take advantage of political realities such as funding restrictions, (4) anticipate and prepare for crises, and (5) enlist one or more people or organizations to serve as brokers. Empirical contributions include support for the three-streams framework of seizing windows of opportunity as fundamental to explain transformation of social-ecological systems. The primary conceptual contribution is the development of resilience thinking to illuminate ways to free trapped systems. I begin by providing a nomenclature to quantify and describe traps, which includes the type of trap, the degree of persistence and undesirability of the trap, and recent changes in these properties. Then, I develop a framework to assess transformability of a given system based on the existing 3-phase framework of transformation. When applied empirically, this framework illuminates points of failure of transformation, which I define as the cause of a given trap. Once identified, specific strategies can be devised to foster transformation and to break free of a trap.

Tyrimo objektai: Sportininkų rengimo ir reabilitacijos centras M.K. Čiurlionio g. 115a, Druskininkai, Žemės ūkio technikos prekybos ir aptarnavimo centras, Saviečių k., Pelėdnagių sen., Kėdainių raj. sav., Administracinio pastato 1G3p rekonstravimas Savanorių pr. 118/ Aukštaičių g. 1, Kaunas. Tyrimo tikslas: išanalizuoti vandentvarkos projektų įgyvendinimo sąmatų sudarymo pagrindines problemas ir pasiūlyti galimus jų sprendimo būdus. Tyrimo uždaviniai:  Išanalizuoti sportininkų rengimo ir reabilitacijos centro M.K. Čiurlionio g. 115a, Druskininkuose parengtas sąmatas ir palyginti jas tarpusavyje;  Išanalizuoti žemės ūkio technikos prekybos ir aptarnavimo centro, Saviečių k., Pelėdnagių sen., Kėdainių raj. sav. parengtas sąmatas ir projektą;  Išanalizuoti administracinio pastato 1G3p rekonstravimo Savanorių pr. 118/ Aukštaičių g. 1 projektą ir palyginti su sąmata;  Apibendrinti visų objektų problemas ir pasiūlyti galimus jų sprendimo būdus. Tyrimo metodai: analizavimui buvo panaudotas statistinės analizės metodas, buvo išanalizuoti trys skirtingi projektai ir nustatytos pagrindinės problemos, kurios iškyla skaičiuojant sąmatas vandentvarkos projektams. Tyrimo rezultatai: ○ Pirmoje dalyje aptariama projekto samprata literatūroje. Taip pat apžvelgiama, kokie yra šiuo metu Lietuvoje vykdomi pagrindiniai ir svarbiausi vandentvarkos projektai. Šiame skyriuje aptariamos pagrindinės sąmatinės programos ir jų skirtumai. ○ Antrojoje dalyje dėmesys skiriamas Sportininkų rengimo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Objects of the research: projects of Sports Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Druskininkai, Farm Machinery Sales and Service Center in Saviečiai village (Eldership of Pelėdnagiai, Kėdainiai districtrict Municipality), Office Building 1G3p Reconstruction in Savanorių str.118 / Aukštaičių str. 1 in Kaunas. Aim of the research: analysis Problems of Creating Estimates for Water Management Project Implementation and propose possible solutions. Objectives of the research: 1. To analyze Sports Training and Rehabilitation Center in Druskininkai prepared estimates and compare them with each other; 2. To analyze Farm Machinery Sales and Service Center in Saviečiai (Eldership of Pelėdnagiai, Kėdainiai districtrict Municipality) prepared estimates of the project; 3. To analyze Office Building 1G3p Reconstruction project in Kaunas and compared with estimate 4. To summarize all facilities issues and propose possible solutions. Research methods: The statistical analysis method was used for the survey: three different projects were examined and the main problems that arise in calculating the estimates for water management projects were determined. Research results: ○ Part One discusses about what is the project. Also addresses what is currently implemented water projects in Lithuania. This section presents the basic budgeting programs and their basic principles. ○ Part Two focuses on the projects of Sports Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Druskininkai, Farm... [to full text]

Irrigation is central to the functioning of the southern Alberta economy. Irrigation also uses a significant amount of what is expected to be an increasingly scarce resource: water. The Alberta government is embarking on a long-term water management strategy in which irrigation water management will be pivotal. The government is considering a range of economic instruments to assist in this management. One instrument already implemented is the ability of private irrigators and irrigators within irrigation districts to trade irrigation water rights on a temporary and permanent basis. This has established the foundation for water markets. The research presented in this thesis centers on establishing the characteristics of irrigation water markets in southern Alberta. The research also aims to determine whether the markets are behaving according to basic economic principles and whether they are supporting government's goals of increased water productivity, efficiency and conservation. The findings reveal that characteristics of irrigation water markets in southern Alberta. The research also aims to determine whether the markets are behaving according to basic economic principles and whether they are supporting government's goals of increased water productivity, efficiency and conservation. The findings reveal that characteristics of water markets in southern Alberta are very similar to markets elsewhere and the markets are behaving in a manner one would expect. However, markets are also creating activity that at one and the same time support and contradict government's water management goals. In addition, the small degree of market activity in general suggests that if government is relying on markets to contribute to these goals to any significant extent, it will need to create conditions that promote greater water market activity. / x, 184 leaves : ill., maps ; 29 cm.

Irrigation infrastructure provides many ecosystem service (ES) benefits that enhance the well-being of Albertans and is central to economic activity in southern Alberta. Management of irrigation infrastructure and water resources is becoming increasingly challenging as Alberta’s population and economy grows. Past water allocation decisions have not generally considered the need of ecosystems leading to declining ecosystem health, and changes to provision of ES benefits in Alberta. The goals of current Alberta government policy include changing how water and land is managed to ensure that ecosystem health and ES provision is maintained. The research in this thesis concentrates on establishing the value of recreational ES benefits provided by the Chestermere Lake Reservoir, and obtaining information on the spatial aspects and visitor characteristics. A mixed method approach is used combining a qualitative discussion with a quantitative analysis using a geographic information system (GIS) and the travel cost method (TCM). The selection of the mixed method and combined GIS-TCM approach was based on past success in previous studies. The findings reveal a substantial value for recreational ES benefits provided by the Chestermere Lake Reservoir occurring within a limited area similar to other studies of recreational benefits from reservoirs. The findings of this research provide information for decisions makers, water infrastructure managers, and water transfer participants when assessing the impact of planned actions. Further research is recommended to build upon the findings of this study and further expand the available information on ES benefits to include all ES provided by southern Alberta. / x, 125 leaves : col. ill. ; 29 cm

Umgeni Water was established through Government Notice No. 114 on 14 June 1974. The establishment was facilitated via the legislation operating at that time, namely the Water Act (Act No. 54 of 1956). The organization has grown to be the largest water utility in KwaZulu-Natal and the second largest in South Africa operating in an area of 27 000 square kilometres. Umgeni Water has now expanded its capabilities to cover the full water management cycle and has geared itself up to offer source to sea and source to tap solutions. All the water utilities in South Africa were operating as monopolies because the Water Act (Act No. 54 of 1956) used a system of assigning areas within which the water utilities were to operate. This means that firstly the water utilities were confined to a specific area, and by default meant that these water utilities had a monopoly in that area because the legislation did not permit other service providers. The situation changed in the late nineties when the water sector underwent major legislative and administrative transformation. A number of laws were promulgated including the New National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998), the Water Services Act (Act No. 107 of 1997) and a plethora of municipal legislation. The major difference in the "new era" was the introduction and promotion of competition as a means to improve service delivery and enhance benefits accrued by the customers. For the first time in the history of the water sector, water utilities had to compete with other service providers and prove that they can discharge duties and activities better and more efficiently than anybody else. The municipal legislation also empowered and mandated municipalities to be the official authority and provider of water services to the people within their areas of jurisdiction, hence the term Water Services Authorities. If the Water Services Authority lacked capacity, it could choose a service provider that would meet the need. Against this backdrop, water utilities have had to find ways of generating income to survive and this meant that the water utilities had to somehow become relevant in the new dispensation. This included strategies like customer management, increasing operational efficiencies, building capacity of staff through training and development programmes and commercialisation of certain activities. In other words, the water utilities realised that they had to do something, one such thing that was done by Umgeni Water was to position itself so that it becomes a service provider of choice to the Water Services Authorities. In its effort to sustain itself, Umgeni Water cast its eyes beyond the promulgated operational area to the whole of the developing world. In its strategic session that set the tone for 2001 to 2005, the organization envisioned itself being the No.l utility in the developing world. Before being No.l utility in the developing world, Umgeni Water needed to achieve that status in its operational area and South Africa. To be able achieve this position, Umgeni Water needed to know the perceptions being held by the customers in its operational area. This research was undertaken to establish the position that Umgeni Water currently holds in the minds of the customers. This information will assist and inform the future position that Umgeni Water will need to adopt to ensure that its vision is attained. The sample consisted of all Water Services Authorities within the promulgated operational area of Umgeni Water, namely Ugu District Municipality, Sisonke District Municipality, uMgungundlovu District Municipality, Ilembe District Municipality, uMsunduzi Municipality and eThekwini Municipality. The Water Services Authorities seem to be in agreement and appreciative of the fact that Umgeni Water's service provision has improved over the years and 91% of the customers asserted that the main product of the organization, water, met their requirements. This improvement influenced an overwhelming majority (73%) of the Water Services Authorities to proclaim that Umgeni Water was their preferred service provider. These perceptions were fuelled by a number of reasons including the fact that the Water Services Authorities believed that Umgeni Water has the necessary experience, expertise, capabilities and track record to speak authoritatively on integrated water resource management. The Water Services Authorities also believed that the organization is contributing constructively towards the realisation of their developmental mandate and attainment of the water and sanitation goals set by the South African Government through The Strategic Framework for Water Services and achievement of targets set during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The Water Services Authorities also identified Umgeni Water's strengths to lie in the fields of water quality management, water quality monitoring, water treatment and laboratory services. This information is crucial because it validates Umgeni Water's position and vindicates the establishment of the organization by the government, whose primary activity was to provide sustainable and high quality water services. There were however customers who felt that Umgeni Water is arrogant, supercilious and untrustworthy. These strong statements were informed by the business dealings spanning a period of 17 years. The only reason that makes these Water Services Authorities continue to use Umgeni Water even under these circumstances is because of the geographical location of the company and its strong financial muscle. The final conclusion drawn is that Umgeni Water is well positioned in the minds of the customers, and is supplying vital services that are perceived by the Water Services Authorities to be adding value to the businesses that they are involved in. In order for Umgeni Water's position to be sustained and cemented in the minds of the customers, immediate attention should paid to critical issues such as ensuring that the intended position of being the service provider of choice is both meaningful and believable by all customers. Umgeni Water should align its value systems, core beliefs and cultures with those of the Water Services Authorities to enhance the possibilities of building long-term relationships. The organisation should also ensure that its Communication Strategy communicates the intended position as well steps to be undertaken to reach that position. It is also important that customers input into this strategy. Umgeni Water should also gather more information on the customers' businesses to enable them to increase the value adding activities and thus leverage value for customers. Another important recommendation is for Umgeni Water to revisit its pricing strategy because of the perception that the products and services are highly priced. The organization will need to conduct a benchmarking exercise to compare its prices against both the water utilities and the water sector. It has also been recommended that Umgeni Water reposition the professional services offered by the organization. This is because of a revelation by 18% (figure 10) of Water Services Authorities felt that the professional services offered by Umgeni Water do not meet their requirements. To improve this position, Umgeni Water should emphasize non-payment of its services provided unless they meet the required standard. The organization should also identify, amplify and communicate the benefits accrued through the professional services to these Water Services Authorities. Once the Water Services Authorities have realized the immense benefits that are accrued through these services and the insistence of honoring payments only after the quality of the final work produced has been acceptable, chances are greater for repeat business and this will ultimately lead in Umgeni Water being recognized as the preferred provider of services. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Expansion och förtätning av städer leder till att såväl areal som andel hårdgjord yta ökar i våra stadsmiljöer. Detta genererar en ökad dagvattenavrinning eftersom regnvattnet inte har samma möjlighet att infiltrera i naturmarker och grönområden. Den ökade mängden dagvatten riskerar att orsaka problem i områden där ledningsnätet dimensionerats för de dagvattenmängder som tidigare varit aktuella. Att utöka ledningsnätets kapacitet är ofta mycket kostsamt och det är därför önskvärt att istället minska belastningen på de befintliga systemen. En allt vanligare metod för detta är att byggnaders takyta bekläds med växter, så kallade gröna tak. De gröna taken har potential att minska den avrunna volymen, fördröja avrinningen och dämpa de maximala flödena. Det råder dock osäkerheter kring hur dessa förmågor påverkas av bland annat olika väderförhållanden och takets vattenmättnadsgrad samt vid olika typer av nederbördshändelser.   Syftet med detta examensarbete var att undersöka möjligheten att simulera avrinningen från gröna tak med hjälp av en befintlig funktion i modelleringsprogrammet SWMM från US Environmental Protection Agency samt med hjälp av Mike Urban från företaget DHI. Ett mål var att sedan använda en av modellerna för att utvärdera hur gröna tak kan påverka belastningen på ett befintligt ledningsnät. Mätdata avseende bland annat nederbörd, avrinning och potentiell avdunstning erhölls från Veg Tech AB och AgroTech A/S. Mätningarna hade utförts vid företagens demonstrationsanläggning i Taastrup, Danmark, och omfattade avrinning från gröna tak med tre olika tjocklekar: 4 cm moss-sedum, 7 cm sedum-ört-gräs och 11 cm sedum-ört-gräs, samt ett hårdgjort referenstak. Inledande dataanalyser av de gröna takens kapacitet visade att takens magasineringskapacitet ökade med en ökad taktjocklek, där de tjockare taken kunde fullständigt magasinera större nederbördshändelser än vad som var fallet för det tunnaste taket. En analys av sambandet mellan nederbördsmängd och avrunnen volym visade ett starkare samband för regn med 60 och 120 minuters varaktighet än vad som var fallet för kortare varaktigheter.   Jämförelser av resultaten hos de båda modelleringsprogrammen visade på olika styrkor och svagheter och ingen av programvarorna gav en i alla avseenden tillfredställande simulering av avrinningen. Mike Urban gav generellt en högre förklaringsgrad men gav alltid en överskattning av den avrunna volymen över en längre tidsperiod. SWMM gav en bättre överensstämmelse med uppmätt avrinning än Mike Urban under de första månaderna av simuleringsperioden, men gav generellt en förskjutning av avrinningsförloppet. För kalibreringen mot 4 cm taktjocklek gav SWMM också en mer korrekt avrunnen långtidsvolym, medan den för de andra konstruktionerna gav liknande resultat som var fallet för Mike Urban. I ett exempel användes en av modellerna för att simulera avrinningen från MAX IV-laboratoriet i Lund. Resultaten visade att det då laboratoriet täckts med gröna tak endast behövdes ett en fjärdedel så stort fördröjningsmagasin för att översvämningar skulle undvikas på ett nedströms beläget fiktivt ledningsnät än vad som var fallet för hårdgjorda tak. / Larger and denser cities result in increasing amounts of impervious surfaces in urban areas. This generates an increase in storm water runoff, as the rainwater is prevented from infiltrating in natural soils and instead flows along the paved surfaces. The increased amount of storm water runoff is liable to cause problems in areas where the storm water system has been designed to handle the amounts of runoff previously generated in the area. Upsizing the capacity of the pipelines is usually costly, and it is therefore desirable to instead reduce the load on the existing system. One way of achieving this is to cover the rooftops with vegetation, so called green roofs. Green roofs are growing in popularity and have the potential to reduce the rate and volume of runoff, as well as attenuating the peak discharge. There are however uncertainties regarding how their abilities are affected by for example the antecedent weather conditions and the moisture content of the roof, as well as by various storm events.   The purpose of this Master’s Thesis was to study the possibility to simulate the runoff from green roofs using an existing function in the modelling software SWMM by US Environmental Protection Agency, and using Mike Urban by the company DHI. An additional objective was to use on of the designed models to evaluate how green roofs can affect the load on an existing storm water system. Measurements of precipitation, runoff and potential evapotranspiration were obtained from Veg Tech AB and AgroTech A/S. The measurements had been carried out at their demonstration site in Taastrup, Denmark, and included runoff from green roofs of three different thicknesses: 4 cm moss-sedum, 7 cm sedum-herb-grass and 11 cm sedum-herb-grass, as well as an impervious roof used as reference. Initial analyses of the data showed that the storage capacity increased with an increased roof thickness. The thicker roofs were able to completely retain the rainfall from larger storm events than what was the case for the thinnest roof. An analysis of the relationship between precipitation depth and runoff volume showed a stronger correlation for rains with 60 and 120 minutes duration than what was the case for shorter durations.   Comparisons of the two models’ performance showed different strengths and weaknesses, and none of the models were able to simulate runoff in a way that was satisfactory in all aspects. Mike Urban generally gave a higher coefficient of determination but consistently overestimated the discharged volume for extended time periods. SWMM gave a better conformity in observed runoff than Mike Urban during the first months of the simulation period, but generally gave a time lag in the runoff hydrograph. For the 4 cm roof calibration, SWMM also gave a more correct long-time runoff volume, while both models performed similarly for the other roof thicknesses. In an example, one of the models was used to simulate the runoff from the MAX IV laboratory in Lund. The results showed that in order to avoid flooding in the fictitious downstream storm water network, there had to be a four times larger detention pond in the case where conventional roofs where used compared to the scenario using green roofs.

The world is becoming urbanised. Between 1995 and 2025, it is estimated that the cities and towns of the developing world will have absorbed another two billion people. A majority of these people will be poor and settle down in the unregulated areas. It is therefore fair to say that the management and use of water in urban areas is a very complex and dynamic issue. The fact that cities in the South are composed of two systems, the regulated and the unregulated areas, and that considerable diversity exists between them, highlights the need for a context driven policy design in urban water management. For attaining urban water security in these cities, controlling water demand in the regulated areas while improving access to water of good quality in the unregulated areas must be a priority. This thesis is based on a case study of Windhoek, a city characterized by conditions of aridity, rapid urbanisation and primate city dominance. Since 1994, a thorough water demand management (WDM) strategy has been implemented in Windhoek, aiming at improving water use efficiency and to reduce water consumption through economic and non-economical measures. It has been the purpose to examine the development of urban water management along with urban growth, the response to WDM by the domestic and private business sectors, as well as challenges and benefits of allowing urban branch-lines along water transfer schemes. WDM can be an efficient tool in the struggle against luxury and non-efficient water use, to postpone bulk water investments and for cost-recovery. However, it is crucial that the incentives are based on and flexible according to socio-economic conditions, and that water managers acknowledge motives and attitudes that shape water use behaviour. One dilemma of WDM lies in the fact that if the supply capacity is increased, it is likely that demand will be adjusted accordingly. It is a tricky task to motivate water savings through demand management alongside with an improved water supply. Moreover, it is essential that savings are not only temporary, but also part of a long-term adjustment. Another predicament of WDM is that a high trust in water authorities actually lowered the efficiency of the strategy to meet the anticipated goal.