Urban water management is transforming. Historically, the dominant approach was to treat water as a problem to remove, and cities were engineered to drain water away as quickly and efficiently as possible.
But with climate change intensifying rainfall variability, freshwater resources becoming increasingly stressed and natural ecosystems under pressure, cities must now do more than manage water—they must steward it. And this means building infrastructure systems that are not just reactive, but restorative.
The idea of a water-positive city is gaining ground, reflecting a shift towards urban environments that work with, rather than against, the natural water cycle. Planners are reimagining urban water systems as multifunctional assets that can contribute to aquifer recharge, reduce flood risk, support biodiversity and alleviate pressure on potable water supplies.
At Wavin, we believe that today's infrastructure decisions will shape cities' water resilience for decades to come. That’s why our systems are designed not only to perform technically but also to contribute meaningfully to sustainable water infrastructure solutions.
Understanding water-positive design
Water-positive design moves beyond conventional engineering to embrace circularity, resilience, and ecological restoration. Planners and developers consider water a shared resource with environmental, economic and social value and a utility.
They integrate urban infrastructure with natural systems to retain, treat and reuse water wherever possible. This means designing infrastructure that can manage stormwater at source, support aquifer recharge and enable greywater recycling or rainwater harvesting—all while maintaining hydraulic performance and structural reliability.
This design philosophy aligns closely with broader sustainability frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and regional targets like the European Green Deal. It particularly supports efforts to achieve SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 13 (climate action).
Infrastructure solutions that support water-positive cities
Delivering water-positive outcomes at scale requires modular, adaptable systems configured to each site's needs. At Wavin, we’ve engineered our portfolio of advanced infrastructure technologies with this flexibility to support a broad spectrum of urban water reuse and control strategies.
Stormwater infiltration is one of the most effective ways to mitigate urban runoff and support groundwater recharge. Our seepage tanks are designed to store and gradually release rainwater into the soil, reducing the burden on municipal drainage systems. These tanks are particularly effective in urban infill projects, commercial parking areas and green public spaces, where land use is intensive but water needs to be managed locally.
In commercial and industrial zones, treating runoff before it reaches the sewer is critical to protecting downstream ecosystems. Our oil and petrol separators—along with high-performance grease separators—remove pollutants at source. These treatment units are built for high flow rates, easy maintenance and long-term reliability, helping cities prevent contamination while keeping operating costs low.
Smart infrastructure is also central to managing water positively. Systems like the Wavin Tegra 600 LC inspection chamber are designed for easy physical access and to house monitoring sensors, forming IoT-enabled water infrastructure.
Importantly, Wavin Tegra 600 LC supports circularity principles while performing well in high-traffic areas. Manufactured from up to 70% recycled material and independently verified for a 100-year service life, it reduces embodied carbon. Its flexibility and performance make it ideal for conventional and trenchless technology for urban projects, particularly in regeneration or high-density developments.
Take a look at our blog post “Wavin Tegra 600 LC: A breakthrough in sustainable sewer infrastructure” and learn more here.
From treatment to transformation: The value of integrated systems
Since water-positive cities depend on integrated planning and coordinated infrastructure, Wavin’s systems are designed to work together, delivering value greater than the sum of their parts.
For instance, pairing Wavin Tegra 600 LC inspection chambers with Wavin Acaro sanitary non-pressure pipe systems delivers durable urban sanitary pipe systems that are easy to inspect, maintain and retrofit with monitoring sensors. In areas requiring pressure networks, Wavin Biax and Apollo PVC-O pipes provide a lightweight, high-strength alternative that supports long-lasting pressure pipe systems. In Brazil, for example, Wavin Biax has helped significantly extend access to reliable sanitary services while reducing the environmental impact of new installations.
Combined with our treatment and infiltration solutions, these systems support an infrastructure that actively contributes to a water-positive urban future—protecting surface water quality, enhancing groundwater resilience and enabling green infrastructure for urban water reuse at scale.
Aligning with municipal goals and global frameworks
Cities future-proofing their infrastructure must consider technical performance and how well their systems align with policy goals and funding frameworks.
Water-positive infrastructure can support multiple policy drivers at once. Municipalities can streamline procurement and reduce capital expenditure on downstream treatment by choosing systems that offer verified durability, environmental certifications and modular scalability, while aligning with green infrastructure mandates. Over time, this approach also improves cost efficiency, reduces maintenance risk and enables smoother integration with smart city platforms.
Designing for the future we want
At Wavin, we’re committed to helping cities transition to a water-positive infrastructure.
Through modular, intelligent and durable infrastructure systems, we support planners, developers and decision-makers in their efforts to build urban environments that work with water, not against it.
From seepage tanks and separators to long-lasting pressure pipe systems, our technologies deliver compliance and contribution—to the cities, communities and ecosystems they serve.
