JBA was appointed as a specialist consultancy to support Renfrewshire Council, Scotland in delivering part of a European funded Interreg IIIB urban water project.

The key issue of this project was led by the transnational challenge to find new approaches for the sustainable development of existing urban water systems. The vision was to develop a holistic approach for surface and sewage water systems and to implement this in exemplary locations. The problems to overcome included aspects of water quantity (floods and droughts) and quality (pollution of ground and surface waters). The present dilemma of traditional methods and general attitudes regarding urban water management is that problems are normally solved with “end-of pipe” initiatives. However, urban water systems normally are very complex and they need to be fully integrated into the process of urban planning. The Urban Water initiative is an excellent example of how to tackle these problems related to urban water systems and how to integrate these issues with territorial planning of urban settlements, making use of expertise within several countries of North West Europe. The approach does not only include technical solutions but is also based on communication, increasing the awareness of involved actors and trying to promote the development and acceptance of other than traditional methods.

The Urban Water Partnership concentrated on the following objectives:

• Improvement of water systems in urban areas resulting in improved quality of water courses, ponds and streams; reduced occurrence of overflow of the sewage systems; reduced flood risk through increased retention capacity in urban water systems and restored river segments and water bodies;
• Improving cooperation and understanding between spatial planners and water managers;
• Improving regulation and policies stimulating the implementation of sound water management practices in spatial planning;
• Transnational exchange of experiences and knowledge transfer to regional, national and supranational bodies;
• Raised awareness in the public for challenges and needs related to water in urban areas.

JBA developed a standard modelling methodology, asset data and flood risk database and advised on changes to local authority planning policy guidelines.