Urban Water Soft Path: 'Back of the Envelope' Backcasting Framework

Soft path planning employs backcasting, a planning approach that begins by envisioning possible future states, then works backwards to connect a desired future to the present by integrating policies, programs and technological innovation. This report applies the Urban Water Soft Path “Back of the Envelope” Backcasting Framework (BEBF) to compare various possible scenarios of future water use at the community scale (i.e. municipality or region). The framework involves the application of an analytical tool—the Water Soft Path Scenario Builder—to determine the macro impact of different “packages” of micro measures (i.e. policies, programs and technologies) on total water use. The main goal is to illustrate the potential of a comprehensive approach to water conservation and efficiency, with the initial results pointing to recommendations for specific actions in the future.

The POLIS WaterSmart Scenario Builder tool for communities was launched in May 2009! See WSP Toolkit for details.