Implications of urban development for water demand, wastewater generation and reuse in water-stressed cities : case studies from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa

Urbanisation has become one of the strongest drivers of growing challenges in the fields of food security, human health and water resources management. Water management is especially more difficult in rapidly growing cities in non-industrialised countries where local authorities typically have insufficient financial and managerial capacities to respond to the basic needs of its citizens. This PhD thesis addresses the research needs for growing cities in non-industrialised countries and their impact on current and future urban water demand, wastewater generation and reuse. It is argued that demographic growth and investments in water supply and sanitation infrastructure are increasingly influencing upstream and downstream water users and the environment in the water basin. Cross- comparative case study methodology was applied, having quantitative and qualitative research components. The qualitative research involved data collection through semi-structured interviews of local experts while the quantitative research consists of data collection from literature and simple urban water balance modelling. The cities of Accra [Ghana], Hyderabad [India] and Addis Ababa [Ethiopia] were selected as case studies.Doctor of Philosoph