Urban Water Supply: From Safe and Reliable to Green and Healthy

Urban water supply systems have traditionally focused on ensuring safe and reliable water delivery to support public health and urban development. This paradigm, built on centralized treatment and disinfection, has effectively controlled microbial risks but is increasingly challenged by concerns over chemical exposure, ecological impacts, and long-term sustainability. Consequently, urban water supply is undergoing a transition from a safety-oriented framework toward a green and healthy paradigm that emphasizes reduced chemical dependence, preservation of natural water characteristics, and enhanced system resilience. This transformation calls for rethinking both technological pathways and system integration. Nature-based processes and membrane-based separations are emerging as key approaches to support this shift. Overall, the evolution toward green and healthy water supply reflects an advancing move toward adaptive, integrated, and sustainability-oriented urban water management.