Geography of nature-based solutions in the global public water sector

Water is a basic human right essential for sanitation, health, food security, cultural practices, and livelihoods. Yet as of 2022, a quarter of the world’s population still lacked access to clean drinking water. While proposing solutions to water insecurity is as complex as water systems themselves, nature-based solutions (NbS) are one potential means of increasing water access in equitable ways. NbS are defined as systems that are designed to conserve or rehabilitate ecosystems in order to improve natural processes responsible for ecosystem services, such as the filtration and distribution of water. An important hub for improving the health of water resources and ensuring equitable water access is the public water sector. When implemented in public water municipalities, NbS can reduce water insecurity by improving the quality and quantity of water resources and managing water-related risks. To date, there are not yet studies that systematically explore how the global municipal water sector is incorporating NbS into new designs. Using semi-structured interviews and online surveys to collect data, this study sought to fill this research gap by investigating the usage of nature-based water management techniques in water municipalities spanning four continents. These municipalities were identified using Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms. Synthesizing the data allowed for conclusions to be drawn related to how and why nature-based solutions were implemented, how effective they were at meeting their intended aims, and what improvements could be made for future applications of NbS. More specifically, results indicated that nature-based solutions are implemented in context-specific ways, largely due to geographic and economic considerations. Additionally, various water issues led to the application of NbS, such as climatic changes, drought, and water pollution. Overall, NbS were employed to build resilience and protect water resources in response to pressing water issues. This research found that NbS can be improved by gaining more public support, along with expanding and optimizing systems to accommodate for pressing water-related challenges.