This session will highlight the paradigm shift towards sustainable and resilient water solutions and inspire utilities to include NbS in their short- and long-term infrastructure plans.

The water sector has traditionally relied on grey infrastructure to address water security challenges, but the resiliency and longevity of these assets have become increasingly unpredictable. Extreme events spurred by climate change are increasing in severity and frequency, posing critical risks to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater management systems. This end-of-pipe approach is no longer sufficient to address current challenges, and water operators must consider the health of the ecosystems responsible for filtering and regulating the water that flows to their facilities.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) like reforestation, floodplain restoration, created wetlands, and sustainable agricultural practices can be an efficient way to complement grey infrastructure by protecting water sources, avoiding damages caused by extreme events, optimizing the design, and delaying major capital expenditures while reducing related O&M costs. NbS can also generate benefits for biodiversity and recreation, as well as create local green jobs and improve agricultural output. By capitalizing on its many co-benefits, NbS can attract blended finance to help close the funding gap faced by many service providers.

In this session, utilities & operators will share their experiences investing in nature-based solutions to improve the resiliency and cost-effectiveness of their operations. Cases will explore the process of designing a green-grey portfolio, the evidence used to make investment decisions and inform adaptive management, and how the NbS program was operationalized and implemented at scale. The session will also provide an overview of the tools and services available to support green-grey integration.