Assessment of the urban water cycle in Antwerp (BE): The City Blueprint Approach (CBA)

The City Blueprint Approach (CBA) is applied to assess the urban water cycle and sustainability in Antwerp, Belgium. Using two complementary frameworks. Trends Pressures Framework (TPF) assesses city's main social, environmental, financial governmental challenges based on 18 indicators. (performance) (CBF) deals with adequacy of management, 24 mostly-quantitative Blue Index geometric mean performance-based indicators CBF. Our analysis TPF identified five major reflecting concern for Antwerp: Water Scarcity, Flood Risk, Quality, Air Quality (all environmental concerns) Unemployment Rate. Antwerp experiences periodic flooding accentuated by sea level rise. abstraction rates compared available resources reflects scarcity ∼33%. fraction surface bodies not achieving ‘good’ ecological status exceeds 90% due hydromorphological modifications, diminished functioning, chemical contaminants. Mean air quality city standards several days per year. CBF framework identifies 4 ‘poor’ performance GW quality, stormwater separation (CSOs), age sewer system quantity green space. Less than 25% groundwater are good and/or quantitative Scheldt river basin. currently has only limited sewers; separating CSOs costly. average Flanders between 25 49 years, 66 years old Antwerp. Sewers replaced after ∼75 service, making infrastructure a area concern. Antwerp's space (∼17%) being expanded promoting cooling warm periods, improves social cohesion well-being citizens, reduces risk flooding. Having 6.2/10, ranks amongst top 20 cities performances (>70 cities). CBA pressures acting upon its Analyzing creates opportunities enhancing sustainable development.