How a spilled cargo ship contaminated the whole water supply of a smart city

Preparing against the risks of tomorrow requires us to use a bit of imagination. In this series, we present three experts with an imaginary crisis that could happen in five to ten years. How can we avoid it? How can we prepare for it? The answers are in the Emerging Risks Room.

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4 minutes

Consequences

No. 1 | Health crisis

Within days, hospitals are hit with an inflow of patients, especially children.

No. 2 | Network check

Extensive analyses and treatments need to be carried out on the entire network, rendering it inoperative for several days or even weeks.

No. 3 | Water supply

A shortage of drinking water in the district served by the water treatment plant sends people rushing to stores, as the price of water rises.

No. 4 | Loss of trust

People lose trust in the smart water network and, more generally, in the management of smart cities.

66 %

The estimated percentage of the world's population that will be living in urban areas in 2030

33.6 %

The percentage of urban dwellers in the world in 1960

Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects

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How a spilled cargo ship contaminated the whole water supply of a smart city

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