Water systems in the urban environment comprise supply networks as well as sewage and storm drainage systems. They interact with each other and with water bodies such as rivers, lakes and aquifers, and this interaction affects the quality and quantity of the different systems.

As our cities continue to expand, their urban infrastructure needs to be re-evaluated and adapted to new requirements related to the increase in population and the growing areas under urbanisation. New water systems are also required to reduce the risk associated with floods, network failures and many others associated with inadequate networks. New systems should reduce economic losses and environmental impacts as well as promote a higher degree of reliability to users. Improved management, measurement and control mechanisms are needed to ensure the efficiency and safety of urban water systems.

Topics such as contamination and pollution discharges in urban water bodies, as well as the monitoring of water recycling systems are currently receiving a great deal of attention from researchers and professional engineers working in the water industry. Architects and town planners are also aware of the importance of the interaction between urban water cycles and city planning and landscaping. Management of all these aspects require the development of specialised computer tools that can respond to the increased complexity of urban water systems