Work

Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem nexus assessment: interactions between Scale, Circularity, Greening, and Digitalization in Urban Water Systems design

Year: 2025

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Urban Water Systems (UWSs) play a vital role in the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus. This study explores how four design strategies—scale, circularity, greening, and digitalization—interact to influence urban metabolism flows, energy demand, and ecosystem services within hydrosocial systems. While these strategies are critical to sustainable UWSs, their synergies and trade-offs remain underexplored. Using a structured literature review and a systems approach, we mapped interdependencies among them, with an explicit focus on circular interventions—namely water reuse, resource recovery & reuse (R-RR), and water-cycle restoration (WCR). We outline an intervention typology matrix that can be operationalized for qualitative impact assessment in future case studies. The study highlights context-dependent outcomes and the need for an integrated design perspective to balance trade-offs, reduce environmental impacts, and maximize sustainability outcomes within the WEFE nexus.

Source: Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17495991

Authors: Arnaud, Nicole, Popartan, Lucia Alexandra, Poch, Manuel, Verdaguer, Marta

Institution: Universitat de Girona

Language: English

Topic: Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: green

Funders: Universitat de Girona, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades