Ensuring sustainable development for the German water sector: setting the stage for the risk-based sustainability management system (RSS)

Abstract

The service provision of drinking water and the disposal of waste water are severely challenged by changing framework conditions. Although service providers necessitate systematic information regarding sustainability risks, no available management tool accounts for them comprehensively. In the context of the project NaCoSi ‘Ensuring Sustainability for Urban Water Systems’, a risk-based sustainability management system (RSS) was developed. This paper aims to introduce RSS and to discuss its contribution towards companies’ viability and transformation in the water sector. The paper describes the comprehensive self-screening approach of RSS, which is based on a causal-chain concept and comprises steps of risk analysis, monitoring and mitigation. Results of the testing phase suggest the validity of risk analysis and its effectiveness in deriving measures. Thus, RSS can help to improve the ability of service providers by analysing challenges and communicating them.

Keywords :

• Sustainability
• risk management
• urban water systems
• strategic planning

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all practice partners of the NaCoSi project who have contributed to this work through fruitful discussions and provision of data. Special thanks go to our colleagues Philipp Benz, Filip Bertzbach, Robert Holländer, Nadine Jansky, Andrea Perz, Jana Rüger, Lieselotte Schebek, Engelbert Schramm, Wilhelm Urban and Martin Zimmerman for their valuable collaboration.