Research Series

The One Water Solutions Institute conducted a weekly seminar series focused on Urban Water Innovation Systems.  A total of four series organized by UWIN’s current research thrusts were held from April through November.  The webinars include a 45-minute presentation of the specified UWIN related research, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. The webinars were recorded and are available on our YouTube Channel or via the links below.

Thrust A

Our first series, “Research Thrust A”, hinges on enhancing our fundamental understanding and characterization of the sustainability of urban water systems by comparing trends in the past with alternative future land and water use, population, and climate scenarios.  

• A1-1: Future water supply vulnerability in the U.S., Tom Brown, USFS Economist
• A1-2: The Socio-Economics of Water: Thinking Locally and Regionally, Elizabeth Mack, Asst. Professor – Michigan State University
• A2-1: Modeling the Metropolis: Challenges and Opportunities, Elie Bou-Zeid, Associate Professor – Princeton University
• A2-2: Modeling the Metropolis: Projecting Future Environmental Change in Urban Areas, Matei Georgescu, Associate Professor – Arizona State University
• A2-4: Energy-Water-Urban Nexus, Forrest Meggers, Assistant Professor – Princeton University
• A3-1: The Role of Biodiversity in Urban Water Sustainability, Darrel Jenerette, Associate Professor – University of California, Riverside
• A2-3: Urban Heat & Human Health, David Hondula, Assistant Professor – Arizona State University

Thrust B

Using data, models, and enhanced process understanding from Thrust A, the impacts of innovative technological solutions on sustainability of water systems across ecohydrologic regions are examined under Thrust B. These solutions include: building- to community-scale resource recovery and reuse systems, hybrid centralized-decentralized water infrastructure systems, fit-for-purpose water systems, green infrastructure, sustainable urban drainage networks (SUDS), and resilient floodplains. 

• B1-1a: Impacts of Urban Growth and Climate Change on Water Demand, Sybil Sharvelle, Associate Professor – Colorado State University
• B1-1b: Assessment of Urban Water Infrastructure Resilience, Ali Mostafavi, Assistant Professor – Texas A&M
• B1-2: Applying Life Cycle Assessment to Urban Water Systems, Arpad Horvath & Jennifer Stokes-Draut, UC Berkeley
• B2-1: Green Storm-water Infrastructure in Semi-Arid Cities, Tom Meixner, Associate Professor –  University of Arizona
• B2-2a: The Hydrology, Hydrometeorology and Hydroclimatology of Urban Flooding, James A. Smith, Professor of Engineering and Applied Science – Princeton University
• B2-2b: Urban Floodplains: Changing Climate, Land Use, and River Channels, Brian Bledsoe , Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering – University of Georgia
• B3-1: Risk to Assets and Communities from Coastal Flooding, Mazdak Arabi, Borland Professor of Water Resources – Colorado State University

Thrust C

Thrust C explores how cities can intentionally foster the widespread adoption of infrastructure, development patterns, consumer behaviors, and management practices that advance sustainable water management. To understand overcoming barriers to adoption of sustainable solutions, the social and behavioral systems that govern change are investigated.

• C1-1: Adoption of Sustainable Urban Water Solutions, Gary Pivo, Professor – University of Arizona
• C2-1: Homeowner Adoption of New Technologies, Jessica Bolson, Postdoctoral Fellow – Florida International University
• C4-1: Financing the Transition to One Water, Neil Grigg, Professor – Colorado State University

Thrust D

Research activities in Thrust D focus on integration of data, models and products from all other themes and projects to facilitate enhanced decision making. This thrust enables synthesizing results from assessment projects under Thrust A, technological solutions under Thrust B, and socioeconomic and management solutions under Thrust C to identify viable options that provide maximum benefits at the system level. The synthesis will determine the sustainability metrics/indicators that comprise UWIN Urban Water Sustainability Blueprint.

• D1-1 UWIN Envision Model, Mary Santelmann, Associate Professor – Oregon State University 
• D2 & D3: UWIN One Water Blueprint & Sustainability Indicators, Mazdak Arabi, PhD, Borland Professor of Water Resources – Colorado State University