How can we meet the water needs of a rapidly growing urban population? Can we provide equitable water services in a world increasingly faced with water scarcity and environmental degradation? How can we achieve this without further compromising the planet’s ecosystem?

Each scenario sees the industry move in a new direction with various opportunities for customers, infrastructure and governance. By understanding trends and planning for the future, water utilities can create more engaging customer experiences, enhance the quality of life in urban areas and get more out of their current and future assets.

The scenarios featured in this report can be used to explore the viability of different strategies, inspire innovation and assist in long-term planning for more sustainable and resilient urban water systems. While the scenarios are based on Sydney Water, their implications are relevant to a wide range of other utilities and organisations.

This report was developed in collaboration with Sydney Water and Arup’s water team.