A Taxonomy of Water Practices, Functions and Values across Space and Time

In 2022, when we proposed capturing water, culture and heritage with a set of icons, we were hoping to gain a better understanding of the relationships between different types of water uses, spaces and practices. As a team, we were hesitant about categorizing water spaces and questioned the usefulness of doing so. However, after more than two years of working with the icons – through the Blue Papers journal, TU Delft's Water Systems Design course,1 and numerous workshops – we have come to recognize the benefits of this type of categorization. Our experience has confirmed some of our initial assumptions while also offering new insights. To reflect on what we have learned, we decided to revisit and update the icons and their descriptions. Classification through the icons, per se, is not a solution to any particular problem involving water, culture and heritage. Yet, discussions around their use – for structuring research, connecting seemingly different practices and organizing exchanges of views among diverse groups – can lead to better understanding of diverse perspectives and potentially to the development of solutions. This contribution shares the process of visualizing, describing and activating the various water spaces and functions through design and practices. In this contribution we share how we have developed and used the icons. We also share our thoughts about the use of water icons and their relevance across various contexts, as well as their potential and limitations.