Item

Abstract

This contribution aims to discuss how the history of hydrology has been influenced by unprecedented urban water challenges in sites where forced changing conditions marked generations of thinkers and solvers. Because water supply, flood mitigation, wastewater destination and garbage were historically linked with an evolving sanitation, a hydrology has to conceptualize paradigmatic tools into social amenities. Although the traditional history of hydrology was documented in textbooks, there is still a gap to understand how faster urbanization or even induced colonization have accelerated new ways of thinking around water conflicts. First, we start with what some historians revealed on how past, but urgent flood defenses have marked important cultural changes of human settlements of ancient cultures. Second, with emphasis in the period between the XIXth and XXIst centuries, we detail historical sub-eras of the evolution of concepts of sanitation, i.e. from hygienist to the integrated regulation of services of water-wise cities. Third, we comment lessons learnt and experiences from cases in Latin American and Caribbean, Africa, and MESA regions. Our findings infer that the history of hydrology is co-evolutionary with feedbacks, patterns and paradoxes. We state that alternative, non-formal and empirical approaches may fit adequately into a diversity of cultures and biomes, if regulatory framework of urban water services are clear and accountable. Also, we postulate that history of hydrology need to open to more interdisciplinary methods, thereby letting not only rational methodologies but also participatory social engagement to achieve a multiplicity of low-cost solutions and strategies for more resilient societies.