Issues related to growing urban populations, protecting the environment and adapting to the
changing climate cannot be ignored, especially when it comes to providing reliable water supply
to urban areas. Sustainable cities look to shift away from the traditional urban water
management characterized by a fragmented approach, and transition to form a new paradigm;
one that manages the urban water cycle in a more integrated way, as a single resource,
satisfying contemporary issues and adapting to future needs.
This paper presents Dunedin, a highly urbanized coastal city, as a case study which considers
contemporary issues and future needs of urban water supply. Where most IUWM case studies
in literature explore only greywater and wastewater reuse, this paper evaluates the entire urban
water cycle beginning with the sustainable extraction of groundwater. Dunedin‟s challenges and
responses illustrates IUWM‟s usefulness in sustainable water use in a nearly closed loop
system while providing valuable lessons for cities on a similar trajectory toward improved
resilience. Innovative groundwater management strategies, investment in infrastructure
technology and aggressive conservation have contributed toward greater sustainability and
resilience.