The options cities face in supplying safe water and disposing of wastes are affected by the long-lasting effects of initial network choices. This article outlines this path-dependent process through case studies of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Each city was constrained by early choices that limited options as new challenges emerged. Each city soon outgrew natural water supplies, with differences in urban growth rates, governance structures, local skills and social aspirations impacting on the networks built. The quality of Australia’s urban water and sewerage was comparatively high by 1900, but the full benefit on living standards had not reached all residents.

城市在提供安全水和废物方面面临的选择受到初始网络选择的长期影响。本文通过对悉尼，墨尔本和阿德莱德的案例研究，概述了这种与路径相关的过程。每个城市都受到早期选择的限制，随着新挑战的出现，早期选择受到限制。每个城市很快就超过了自然供水，城市增长率，治理结构，当地技能和社会抱负的差异影响了所建立的网络。到1900年，澳大利亚城市供水和污水处理系统的质量相对较高，但是生活水平方面的全部好处并未惠及所有居民。