Knowledgebase Collection
Integrated Water Resource Management
Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), also known as One Water, is an approach to managing water that looks holistically at the planning and management of water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems. IWRM focuses on the water cycle as a single connected system and promotes coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources to maximize the economic and social benefits while minimizing impacts on the environment.
From this page, you can search for resources that provide background, and policy guidance on integrated water resource management, as well as examples of regulations, reports, and functional plans. And you can filter these search results by resource type and various geographic characteristics.
APA Resources
APA POLICY GUIDE ON WATER
This policy guide recognizes the importance of water as a central and essential organizing element in the built environment. It addresses the importance of ensuring that land-use, environmental and infrastructure planning for water will increase resilience to extreme events and climate change.
PLANNERS AND WATER
This PAS report focuses on the One Water paradigm, which advances management of water supply, water quality, and stormwater as a single resource. It includes strategies that planners can use to integrate water issues into their work.
INTEGRATED URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT FOR PLANNERS
This edition of PAS Memo explores the challenges and opportunities associated with integrated urban water management and addresses the need for cooperation and leadership between urban planners and water service personnel.
WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
This edition of PAS QuickNotes introduces the One Water concept and discusses water conservation strategies.
INTEGRATING WATER MANAGEMENT AND SPATIAL PLANNING STRATEGIES BASED ON THE DUTCH EXPERIENCE
This JAPA article reviews the Dutch and European trends in water management and identifies four potential approaches to integrating water management and spatial planning in the Netherlands or elsewhere, depending on the adoption of a regulatory or strategic approach in planning.
Deep Trouble
This Planning article explains the water crisis in Flint, Michigan and considers the role planners have in solving it.
The Tricky Business of On-Site Water Treatment and Reuse
This Planning article introduces the concept of on-site water treatment and reuse and dispells some common myths about the practice.
In China, Rethinking a Resource
This Planning article looks to China's Sichuan Province for an example of successful water resource management.
Zoning, Takings and Water Resources
This APA Learn course includes a discussion on the Murr v. Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling and how to apply the ruling's principles to zoning and environmental regulations.
Comprehensive Planning and Green Stormwater Infrastructure
This APA Learn course explores how green stormwater infrastructure projects can be incorporated into comprehensive planning to conserve resources, beautify neighborhoods, and enhance public spaces.
Linking Water and Land-Use Planning
This APA Learn course highlights state legislative initiatives that link water and land-use management to promote communities that are water resilient.
Water Decision-Support Tools for Planners
This APA Learn course highlights several tools integrating land-based planning and water management including geospatial modeling, web-based visualizations, senario-based projections.
Water- and Land-use Planning Relationships
This APA Learn course explores the complex relationship between water- and land- use by discussing the results of several research projects.
Planning for Water
This APA Learn course reviews the integrated approach to planning and water resource management known as "One Water" and touches on the best practices and financing techniques.
Water for Our Cities: A Collaborative Approach
This APA Learn course focuses on water resource management through watershed planning and how this approach is applied in the metropolitan areas of New York, Seattle, and San Francisco.
Planning and Urban Water Management
This APA Learn course presents the results of two research projects supported by the Water Environment and Reuse Foundation and Water Research Foundation on the connection between land-use planning and water management.
NOAA Water Resources for Planners
This APA Learn course highlights three key informational resources and tools that are provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address water-related challenges.
Meeting Water Needs: People and Environment
This APA Learn course examines three statewide water initiatives in Washington, Florida, and Ohio through the framework and implementation details of the "One Water" concept.
Innovative Stormwater Management in Washington, DC
This APA Learn course explores the multiple strategies and stakeholders involved in responding to current and future water-related challenges in the National Capital Region.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORT OF APA’S WATER TASK FORCE
This report evaluates the link between water management and land use planning. It provides over 30 recommendations under six core theme areas and seeks to engage all planners in issues of water management.
ONE WATER: COORDINATION EFFORTS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
This "Tuesdays at APA" podcast provides a brief overview of One Water and discusses research efforts in the water supply and wastewater sectors to help communities move toward One Water.
Lessons from the One Water Summit
This blog post discusses the main takeaways from the 2018 One Water Summit.
Water: Cities' Biggest Risk?
This blog post considers the recent trend of naming water a top issue among planners and calls for unified action to address community concerns.
NOAA Unveils New Water Resources Dashboard
This blog post introduces the NOAA's Water Resources Dashboard as a tool to be used when planning for environmental resilience.
IWRM and the Water Cycle
Water exists in many forms—as lakes and rivers, glaciers and ice sheets, oceans and seas, underground aquifers, and vapor in the air and clouds. The water cycle (or hydrological cycle) describes the process through which water cycles in and out of the atmosphere – evaporating from the earth’s surface and falling again as precipitation. As water falls, it collects in waterbodies, and recharges ground water supplies. Urban development and the built environment impact the water cycle, altering patterns of drainage and runoff and affecting water quality and supply.
Traditionally, water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems have been designed and managed separately. IWRM approaches the water-cycle as a single connected system and creates intentional linkages between water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems and the utilities that manage them. It also looks systematically at other areas that impact water systems, including land use patterns, agriculture, and energy.
There are four central components of integrated water resource management: stormwater management, wastewater treatment, water supply, and conservation of existing water sources.
- Water Supply - Water for human use comes from two primary sources—surface water and groundwater. Water supply systems convey, store, treat, and distribute water. Understanding water use helps to evaluate the effects of future development on water supply sources.
- Wastewater Treatment - Wastewater is the byproduct household, industrial, and commercial uses of water. Wastewater management systems are designed to prevent waterborne pollutants from contaminating surface or groundwater sources. Increasingly, communities and wastewater utilities are beginning to view wastewater as a commodity with potential for resource recovery and reuse.
- Stormwater Management – Stormwater runoff results from precipitation as it flows over land or impervious surfaces. Runoff includes pollutants and toxins that can impair waterways. Stormwater systems include traditional grey infrastructure, such as storm sewers, as well as green or nature-based infrastructure.
- Conservation of existing water sources (Groundwater and source water) – Water conservation strategies are an important part of an IWRM approach. Water conservation measures address both indoor and outdoor water usage through regulations, education, outreach, and incentives.
IWRM and Planning
Water resources are impacted by decisions related to land use and growth management. These decisions influence water demand, affect water supply, and impact water quality. While planners have not traditionally worked directly on water and wastewater systems, they are often engaged in natural resources conservation and management, floodplain management, and green infrastructure projects. Increasingly, planners are working with collaboratively with water professionals and integrating water needs and challenges into local plans and regulations.
IWRM represents a paradigm shift in the management of water, both in terms of the physical systems that manage water and the institutional structures. Planners play a key role in facilitating implementation of IWRM efforts, which depend on interdisciplinary collaboration between water professionals, planners, engineers, landscape architects, public works professionals, and other related professions.
Background Resources
Case Studies in Integrated Water Resources Management: From Local Stewardship to National Vision
This report provides an overview of integrated water resource management and case studies demonstrating the translation of theory into ground implementation.
One Water Roadmap: The Sustainable Management of Life’s Most Essential Resource
This report outlines the vision and principles of the One Water approach to managing water resources.
The City Upstream and Down: How Integrated Water Management Can Help Cities Thrive
This report expains the concept of integrated water management and enables cities and utilities to pursue implementation of integrated water management approaches.
The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure
This report presents an economic impact analysis assessing the capital needs and national economic benefits of water services.
REPORTS
Advancing One Water in Texas
This report teaches how advocates can advance a viable shift in Texas towards One Water. It attempts to characterize and demystify One Water, identify drivers and challenges to its path forward, and provide clear recommendations for advancing One Water in Texas.
An Equitable Water Future – A National Briefing Paper
This report examines the interconnections between water management and vulnerable communities. It discusses how equitable water management is helpful in tackling the water-related challenges that these communities face.
Case Studies in Integrated Water Resources Management: From Local Stewardship to National Vision
This report provides an overview of integrated water resource management and case studies demonstrating the translation of theory into ground implementation.
Harvesting the Value of Water: Stormwater, Green Infrastructure, and Real Estate
This report discusses water management mechanisms are incorporating green infrastructure elements in real estate development to create value, aesthetics, and improve operational efficiency.
Integrating Land Use and Water Resources: Planning to Support Water Supply Diversification
This project aims to communicate the current state of water supply diversification, opportunities and challenges of an IWRM approach, and the development of user-friendly resources to advance the integration of water resource and land use planning.
ARTICLES
Flint’s Water Crisis Highlights Need for Infrastructure Investment and Innovation
This article discusses the factors that contributed to the Flint crisis, focusing on the role of the city’s aging and deteriorating water infrastructure. It draws lessons for other cities and provides examples of innovative strategies.
Linking Growth and Land Use to Water Supply
This article provides a brief review of alternative policy options to develop the link between land use and water supply. It also offers suggestions for further research, education and policy development.
Putting the LID on Your Community’s Stormwater – Part I: What is LID?
This article focuses on the basics of stormwater and challenges of stormwater management in urbanized environments, and provides a definition of LID.
Putting the LID on Your Community’s Stormwater – Part II: An Overview of Some Basic LID Practices
This article provides an overview of LID practices, including stream buffers, permeable paving, bioswales, and rain gardens.
Putting the LID on Your Community’s Stormwater – Part III: The Top 10 Benefits of Low Impact Development
This article presents benefits of implementing LID practices, including environmental, economic, and quality of life implications.
ONLINE TRAININGS
Integrated Water Management and The City Agenda
This webinar explores how Philadelphia and Onondaga County, NY, are connecting Integrated Water Management to broader agendas and providing benefits to all through improved recreation, job creation, and more.
Integrated Water Management from City to Watershed
This webinar addresses the innovative integrated water management approaches undertaken by the communities of Tucson, Arizona and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Integrated Water Management – What Is It and How Can It Benefit Your Community and River?
This webinar provides a detailed overview of Integrated Water Management.
Introduction to Integrated Water Management for Cities
This webinar focuses on how cities can introduce integrated water resource management practices in their work with case study of Colorado and the District of Columbia.
Net Blue Webinar Part 1: Supporting Water-Neutral Community Growth
This webinar provides an overview of the Net Blue ordinance worksheet developed by the Alliance for Water Efficiency.
View all online training material
STATUTES
Arizona Groundwater Management Code
This regulation controls the occurrence of severe overdraft, ensures effective allocation of groundwater resources, and aims to augment groundwater supply.
California Greywater Regulations
This regulation provides information on water conservation through alternate water sources for non-potable applications and greywater reuse practices.
California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014
This act establishes a framework with the goal to achieve sustainable, local groundwater management in California by the year 2042.
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.
Ground Water Rule
The Ground Water Rule (GWR) was issued to improve drinking water quality and provide protection from disease-causing microorganisms. It aims to reduce disease incidence associated with harmful microorganisms in drinking water.
Local and Regional Water Supply Planning Regulation
This statute establishes a comprehensive water supply planning process for the development of local, regional, and state water supply plans to protect the health, safety and welfare of citizens.
Oregon Graywater Regulations
Oregon’s graywater regulations define three types of graywater based on level of treatment, and identify specific beneficial purposes for each type of graywater. It also establishes regulations regarding the protection of public health and environment.
Toolkits
Federal Support Toolbox for Integrated Water Resources Management
This toolkit is a comprehensive online water resources data portal for the U.S. and international water resources community to collaborate and share information.
National Menu of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Stormwater
This toolkit includes an extensive collection of resources on BMPs for areas under the Stormwater Phase II Rule. It also provides special guidance for urban areas.
Net Blue Ordinance Toolkit
The toolkit is designed to help communities develop without increasing overall water demands.
Nonpoint Source (NPS) Outreach Toolbox
This Outreach Toolbox aims to help state and local agencies and other organizations develop outreach campaign to educate the public on nonpoint source pollution.
GUIDES
Advice Worth Drinking: How Today’s Land Use Decisions Can protect Tomorrow’s Water Supply
This guide aims to put drinking water into the planning process through a discussion on the integration of land use planning and source water protection.
Ground Water Rule: A Quick Reference Guide
This reference guide by the EPA provides an overview of the Ground Water Rule and its components.
Guidelines for Water Reuse
These guidelines address water reclamation and reuse standards, technologies, variations and development of new regulations within a national overview.
Low Impact Development: A Guidebook for North Carolina
This guidebook recognizes the importance of low impact development (LID) approaches to preserving water resources. It provides technical and policy guidance, and addresses on-site wastewater treatment incorporation into LID designs.
FUNCTIONAL PLANS
Broward County, FL, Integrated Water Resource Plan
The Broward County-wide Integrated Water Resource Plan (IWRP) meets the needs of Broward’s water users to coordinate the sources and users of water for effective, efficient and sustainable water management.
California Water Plan
This strategic plan guides investment priorities, legislative action, and ensures resilient and sustainable water resources in the state of California.
Colorado Water Plan
This plan articulates collaborative, balanced solutions to Colorado’s water challenges. It implements water supply planning solutions that meet Colorado’s future water needs while supporting the environment, the economy, and sustainability.
Greater New Orleans, LA, Urban Water Plan
The Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan focuses on developing sustainable strategies for managing water resources.
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Water Resource Management Plan
This Water Resource Management Plan (Plan) presents an integrated approach to water resource management for the 15-county Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (the District).
Milwaukee, WI, Metropolitan Sewerage District Regional Green Infrastructure Plan
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s regional green infrastructure plan focuses on the systematic implementation of widespread green infrastructure as a part of MMSD's 2035 Vision.
REGULATIONS
Auburn, GA, Zoning Code
This City's code establishes a groundwater recharge area district an an overlay zone with groundwater protection standards and requirements.
Belmont, CA, Code of Ordinances
This City's ordinance promotes water conservation measures, consistent with a comfortable standard of living and a healthy economy, and enabled through timely implementation practices.
Culpeper County, VA, Code of Ordinances
Culpeper County’s code addresses farmland protection through its agricultural districts and establishes a Watershed Management District (WMD).
Fairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances
The county’s codified ordinances address integrated water resource management and tree preservation and the urban forest.
Frederick, MD, Code of Ordinances
This regulation belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities, Housing an Aging Population, and Integrated Water Resource Management collections.
Kearny County, KS, Environmental Code
This county code provides standards for the location, design, construction, maintenance, waste disposal and use of on-site wastewater systems in the county.
Related Collections
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
This collection catalogs resources that provide background, policy guidance, or examples of local plans and regulations aimed at protecting environmentally sensitive areas.