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Harnessing Nature for Resilient Water Systems

Water systems worldwide are under unprecedented pressure from climate change, urban growth, and unsustainable practices. Extreme floods, prolonged droughts, soil degradation, and salinity crises are threatening both human well-being and ecological stability. 

While traditional “grey infrastructure” like dams, levees, and pipelines have dominated for decades, they often fall short in sustainability and adaptability.

In her international electronic workshop, Ms. Zahraa Alobaidy (M.Sc. Environmental Engineering, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany) presented a comprehensive lecture on:

“Harnessing Nature for Resilient Water Systems.”

Organized by the Department of Surveying Techniques at Al-A’quba Technical Institute, Middle Technical University, the event highlighted the importance of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as adaptive, sustainable approaches to water management.

The workshop was held Thursday, 21 August 2025, at 9:00 PM (Baghdad time) via Google Meet, under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency Professor Wadhah Amer Hatem Al-Tamimi, President of Middle Technical University, and the supervision of Assistant Professor Taha Hassan Aboud, Dean of Al-A’quba Technical Institute.

Workshop Leadership

• Guest Lecturer: Zahraa Alobaidy, M.Sc. Environmental Engineering, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany.

• Rapporteur: Dr. Muntaser Abdul Hameed, Middle Technical University / Institute of Technology / Baghdad.

• Workshop Manager: Dr. Hamid Mohammed Mahan.

This collaborative leadership ensured academic depth, professional organization, and a smooth interactive experience for participants.

About the Lecturer

Zahraa Alobaidy is an environmental engineer, researcher, and member of the Iraqi Engineers Syndicate. She is currently pursuing advanced research in integrated water resource management and applied NbS projects in Germany. Her academic background includes:

• B.Sc. in Environmental Engineering (Iraq).
• M.Sc. studies in Integrated Water Resource Management (Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany).
• Research experience at Bochum University on chemical compound databases.

Her professional journey reflects a commitment to bridging science and practice, particularly in water sustainability.

Understanding Nature-based Solutions (NbS)

Nature-based Solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems that address societal challenges while benefiting people and nature (Cohen-Shacham et al., 2016).

Figure 1 - Nature-based Solutions and Low-Impact Development

Key characteristics:

• Adaptive to climate change impacts.
• Improve both water quality and quantity.
• Enhance resilience of communities.

In contrast, Low-Impact Development (LID), as defined by the U.S. EPA, is more limited in scope, focusing on stormwater management at the site level. LID reduces runoff through infiltration and evapotranspiration, while NbS incorporates broader ecosystem services and addresses challenges at regional and global scales.

How to Start an NbS Project?

Launching an NbS project follows structured steps:

1. Identify conservation areas (wetlands, forests, recharge zones).
2. Locate home sites and infrastructure to minimize land disturbance.
3. Align roads and trails with natural topography.
4. Draw lot lines while preserving ecological integrity.

The design phase emphasizes:

• Clustering buildings.
• Protecting mature trees.
• Using natural land slopes for drainage.
• Limiting impervious surfaces to reduce stormwater.

Tackling Regional and Global Challenges

Benefits of NbS (Figure: Benefits of NbS)

• Reduces stormwater runoff.
• Improves water quality naturally.
• Prevents costly flooding events.
• Restores habitats and groundwater recharge.
• Mitigates climate change through carbon sequestration.

Water-related Challenges (Figure: NbS vs. Challenges)

• Water shortage: Aquifer recharge, wetland restoration.
• Poor water quality: Phytoremediation, sediment trapping.
• Extreme events: Increasing storage capacity, reducing flow velocity.
• Soil degradation: Erosion control, slope stabilization.

Iraq’s Salinity Challenge (Figure: NbS vs. Salinity)

• Wetland and riparian restoration.
• Planting halophytes (salt-tolerant vegetation).
• Aquifer recharge with green infrastructure.
• Agroforestry to mitigate poor irrigation and high evaporation.

Ecosystem Services

Figure 2 - Ecosystem Services Wheel: Categories and Functions

NbS enhance all four categories of ecosystem services:

• Provisioning: food, timber, freshwater.
• Regulating: flood prevention, climate regulation, water purification.
• Cultural: recreation, education, mental health.
• Supporting: nutrient cycling, soil creation, biodiversity.

NbS in Action

The lecture illustrated numerous practical NbS applications, with real-world examples and credits:

• Constructed Wetlands – wastewater treatment (Grüne Mitte Park, Germany).
• Riparian Buffers – erosion control, habitat creation (Susquehanna River, USA).
• Infiltration Trenches/Swales – stormwater infiltration and water supply.
• Permeable Pavements – groundwater recharge (Grüne Mitte Park, Germany).
• Retention Ponds – flood reduction and water storage (Germany).
• Rainwater Harvesting – rooftop collection.
• Green Walls & Roofs – heat island mitigation, aesthetics (Amsterdam, Ruhr University, Germany).
• Tree Planting & Green Covers – urban cooling, soil protection.
• Rain Gardens & Bioretention – stormwater filtering (Minnesota, USA).
• Re-meandering Rivers – restoring natural flows (France, Gymnich, Germany).

Design Case: Infiltration Trenches

Figure 3 - Infiltration Trench Cross-section - Source:(UNaLab, 2019 ; Petsinaris et al., 2020)  

The lecture included a technical design case for infiltration trenches, detailing:

• Area calculations.
• Depth based on drawdown times.
• Filter layer specifications.
• Recommended use of non-woven filter fabric and clean stone.

Challenges of NbS

Figure 4 - Challenges of Nature-based Solutions Implementation

Despite advantages, implementation faces obstacles:

• Spatial competition with other land uses.
• Governance complexity across multiple sectors.
• Financing gaps, with grey infrastructure still preferred.
• Sociocultural barriers—undervaluing natural systems.

The Role of Local Governments

Figure 5 - Policy-Program-Project cycle for NbS - Source: (OECD, 2021) 

Local authorities are key to mainstreaming NbS:

• Policies – integrating NbS into building codes and adaptation strategies.
• Spatial planning – balancing land use.
• Awareness campaigns – increasing public understanding.
• Data collection – supporting science-driven implementation.

Investment Trends

Global investment in NbS for water security reached USD 49 billion in 2023 (Figure: NbS Investment by Geography).

Key points:

• Dominated by China, U.S., EU (94% of funding).
• Africa and Oceania showed fastest growth.
• Governments provided 97% of funding.
• Private sector investment increased 30-fold to USD 345M.

Turning NbS into Success

For NbS to thrive, Zahraa emphasized:

• Community and government awareness.
• Pilot projects at multiple scales.
• Bridging science and practice through collaboration.
• Continuous monitoring for adaptive management.

She introduced the Low Impact Development Treatment Train Tool (LID TTT), built on EPA’s SWMM 5 model, which allows planners to simulate runoff volumes, pollutant loads, and water quality under NbS scenarios.

The workshop highlighted that Nature-based Solutions are not simply alternatives to grey infrastructure—they are the future of water management. They provide multiple co-benefits: ecological resilience, climate adaptation, cultural value, and economic efficiency.

Through her lecture, Zahraa Alobaidy demonstrated how NbS can be applied globally and regionally, with special focus on Iraq’s unique water challenges. The event underscored the importance of academic collaboration, local governance, and community involvement in transforming theory into practice.