Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of the population increase during the last century. In rapid growing urban centres, management of water resources and water supply infrastructure has become an urgent issue. Demographic changes including the ageing population, socio-economic factors, climate change, biodiversity, energy use, water supply and consumption, as well as ageing water and wastewater infrastructure has put increasing pressure on these urban water systems. It's time to work towards a solution.