I. Urban Water Cycle

Question 1

Difference urban water cycle to natural catchments

Answer 1

1. significanty altered water availability
2. significantly altered hydrological processes

Question 2

Forested vs. urban catchments

Answer 2

development increases polluted runoff & erosion and lowers the water table

Question 3

Altered groundwater recharge

Answer 3

Decreased infiltration results in decreased ground-water recharge

Question 4

Complex change of urban soils (4)

Answer 4

−ruins rubble might increase permeability +
−soil compaction and geo membrane decrease permeability -
−altered vegetation and pavement cover changes evapotranspiration processes which might decrease or increased infiltration +-
−large parks increase recharge +

Question 5

Altered water quality
Pollution of:

Answer 5

• rainwater (nitrogen, heavy metals, sulphur)
• river water (traffic, industry, pesticides…)
• ground water (salts, leakage of canalisation; ruin rubbers…)

Question 6

3 problem areas:

Answer 6

1. Increase of runoff (flood problem)
2. Decrease of groundwater recharge (supply problem)
3. Worsening of rain, ground-and surface-water quality (contamination problem)

–> Urban River Management

Question 7

Requirements for urban water (3)

Answer 7

I. Water management
II. Urban development/planning
III. Urban ecology

Question 8

I. Water management (6)

Answer 8

• Provision of drinking water
• Drainage of sewage and stormwater
• Avoidance of flood damage
• Increase of low-flow
• Reduction of water flow fluctuations
• Improvement of water quality

Question 9

II. Urban planning/development (4 + 2)

Answer 9

• Recreation, accessability
• Transport infrastructure (waterways)
• Design of waterways and waterscapes
• Space availability (surface sealing, flood peaks)
• Living and working next to the water: integrative/ non-integrativeapproach
• Recreation (attractive water sites, benches, cafés, boats, playgrounds, etc.)
• Bsp. Flussbad Berlin

Question 10

III. Urban ecology (5)

Answer 10

• Dynamic water course development
• Typical soil substrate
• Typical river habitat (flora and fauna)
• Hydrological and ecological connectivity (blue and green bands)
• Water availability for vegetation in parcs, gardens, streets, ..