Submitted By: Manisha Rangra Swati Talwar

WATER FOOTPRINT OF DELHI

DELHI
LOCATION
The NCT of Delhi lies between 2825 W and 2853'00" north latitude and 7650'24"and 7720'30" east longitudes. It is bounded on the north, west and south by Haryana, on the east by Uttar Pradesh with the river Yamuna flowing on its eastern side in a north-south direction.

HARYANA RAJASTHAN U.P

MAP 1 Location of Delhi in India. Source-Mapsofindia.com

MAP 2 Sub Zones of Delhi. Source MPD 2021

The NCT of Delhi has been divided in to 15 (A to P except I) zones for convenience of governance, distribution of services and macro level planning.

AREA 1
The total area of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (N.C.T.D.) as per master plan of Delhi 2021 is 148639 Ha out of which 13% belongs to the Natural features including River Yamuna, the Drains, Ridge & other Water bodies.

POPULATION
Year 2001 2011 2021 Population 138 Lacs (Census 2001) 167 Lacs (Census 2011) 230 Lacs (Projected as per MPD Delhi 2021)

The area available for growth in Delhi NCT is limited in nature whereas growth of population is inevitable. The increase in population exerts pressure on the available resources which are also not available in abundance. One such resource is water.
1

Master plan Delhi 2021

WATER
Water is an essential resource and unlike its use in varied forms its availability is limited. Out of the total water supply 95% is in the oceans and out of the remaining 5% only 0.3% is suitable for use.2 Water is required in many activities like cooking, bathing washing and most importantly for drinking. At city level the uses are primarily classified into domestic and non domestic use and are further sub divided on the basis of the nature of water; that can be portable or non portable depending on the activity. The table below shows the water requirement for each activity and the type of water required. From the table we can note that for a total of 80 GPCD 45 gpcd (56%) is non portable water which can ideally be sourced from recycling.

Table 1 Shows Break-up of water requirement. Source MPD 2021

SOURCES OF WATER

Surface water is the major source in Delhi contributing to 87% share while groundwater accounts for the remaining 13% which is through bore wells. With Increasing population and inadequate supply the number of private bore wells has increased tremendously. Water resources of D.J.B
S.No. Source 1. Yamuna 2. Ganga 3. Bhakra Storage Subtotal (Surface Water) 4. Ranney Wells/Tube Wells Quantity (MGD) 210 100 240 550 (87%) 81 Total 631

Table 2 Water sources and Quantity. Source http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/index_files/about_delhi.htm

As told by Prof A.K.Maitra

GROUND WATER QUANTITY

MAP 3 Depth of Water Table. Source CGWB

MAP 4. Physiographic Divisions NCT. Source GSI

Of the water supplied by the municipality, approximately 11% comes from groundwater reserves. It is, however, difficult to establish the total quantity of groundwater extracted because a large number of tube wells (owned by individuals, industries and bottled water companies) remain unregistered.3 Though the Courts have now put restrictions on new tube wells, those already installed are wrecking the dwindling reserves. These operate without any restrictions, some even for 24 hours, as compared to measly supply from the DJB lines. Personal water supply remains the preferred choice for obvious reasons. The water table is highest near the Yamuna and in the North West zone while the area near ridge is in the range of 20-40m and above due to Quartzite stone present in the area.

MAP 5 Ground Water Level for 1960 & 2002 for Comparison.

http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/crisis/Urbanwater-scenario.htm

Already, the average level of water table for blocks away from Yamuna is between 15-20 m. It has been observed that the water table has receded by 10 m in many areas during the past 20-25 years. Nazafgarh block, City blocks, and Mehrauli blocks show a decline of more than 10m. South and southwest districts have shown a fall of 10-30 m in the last four decades.

MAP 6 GW Decline

QUALITY4

The groundwater table, in the Delhi region, at varying depths from 20-50 m below ground level, is found to be saline. In some areas near the Yamuna these saline aquifers occur at a depth of about 65 m. This effectively makes the water resource unfit for consumption within that level. Electrical conductivity has been reported to be high, making the groundwater further unfit for consumption. In few areas comprising blocks of Najafgarh, Alipur, Mehrauli, and the city block, the salinity of groundwater is quite high ranging from 3000 to 5000 micro siemens/cm.
MAP 7 Water Quality. Source : CPCB

Nitrate concentrations have been found to be higher than the permissible limit of 100 mg/l in groundwater areas such as NT Delhi, NCERT campus, Mehrauli block, few city blocks, few Shahdra blocks, and Nazafgam blocks. Same is the situation with fluoride levels in certain areas.

http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/crisis/Urbanwater-scenario.htm

SURFACE WATER SOURCE

Surface water is the main source for the portable water supply in Delhi contributing to 87% share in the municipal supply. Other surface water sources are the drains, lakes and ponds. There are approximately 700 water bodies5 in NCTD spread over the 15 zones of Delhi, for example Bhalswa Lake, Sanjay Lake, Lake in residential areas of Mayapuri, Patel Nagar, and Ashok Vihar etc. The figure below shoes the condition of the 700 water bodies. 16% water bodies are reported to be encroached upon while 9% are threatened whereas only 3% of the total water bodies are planned.

Figure 1 Condition of water bodies in Delhi. Source SPA Thesis 2005

This depicts an alarming situation of the fate of water bodies which have the potential to be used as a source of water supply.
QUALITY6 Since Yamuna is one of the major surface water Sources for the supply in Delhi, thus its quality has been looked into detail.

Figure 2 DO Levels in settlements along River Yamuna

Figure 3 Coliform Levels in settlements along River Yamuna

5 6

INTACH Listing Water Quality Status of River Yamuna, CPCB 2006-07 in Assessment and Development of River Basin Series: ADSORBS/41/2006-07 By CPCB

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is inversely related to pollution loads in the water. D.O is required for the survival of aquatic flora and fauna and also is a determinant in drinking water required standards. As per the CPCB pollution data on river Yamuna it is observed that the DO levels are quite above the permissible limit of 4mg/l till Palla (the area from where Yamuna enters Delhi) but drop significantly below standards at the Nizamudin Bridge point indicating high levels of pollution in the water. Similarly Coliform levels also are high at the same points. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in drinking water has the standard as 3mg/l. The stretch till Palla is within the standards but after that there is a sharp rise in the value which only neutralizes till the river reaches Allahabad. .
Figure 4 BOD Levels in settlements along River Yamuna

Ammonia and Total Kjeldahl nitrogen follows almost the same trend as it was for BOD. The values in relatively clean stretches of river was low whereas severely polluted stretch from downstream Wazirabad till Bateshwar both ammonia and TKN concentration were significantly high.

Figure 5 Points of Abstraction and addition in the course of river Yamuna. And Drain outfalls from Delhi. Source Assessment and Development of River Basin Series: ADSORBS/41/2006-07 By CPCB

It is quite evident from the above pollutant levels in the course of Yamuna that the pollution starts and also attains its peak at the 22 km stretch that flows in capital region of Delhi between the Wazirabad barrage and the Okhla barrage. The reason is clear in the above figures; the outfall of waste water starts after the Waziarabad barrage and that too of 19 drains in the stretch of 22 Kms.

Figure 6 Percentage share in extraction of water from Yamuna. Figure 7 Percentage share of pollution contribution. Source: Assessment and Development of River Basin Series: ADSORBS/41/2006-07 By CPCB

The share of water in river Yamuna of Delhi is around 6.40% which is almost fourth in order amongst the total of five states but in contrast the pollution contribution is 79% which is the maximum from any state or city. The sources contributing pollution are both point & non-point type. The point source pollution is mostly because of domestic and industrial waste being dumped in to the river through piped networks. About 85% of the total pollution in the river is contributed by domestic sources followed by Industrial sources. The pollution level in the river because of waste water is dependent on the type of waste and the length it has transverse before its outfall into river. As waste water is dominated by organic matter and micro-organisms; more they travel more are the chances of self decomposition. Along with the treated waste there are areas in Delhi which do not have access to proper sewerage connections thus their waste directly reaches the river causing pollution.
SEWERAGE

As per the master plan of Delhi 2021 about 55% of the population is covered under organized conventional sewerage system and about 15% under on-site sanitation systems. Rest of the population does not have proper access to sanitation facilities. Considering 80% of water consumed is converted as waste water so by 2021 we will have1472 mgd (6625 mld) of waste to be treated from domestic sources alone. Looking at the proposed capacities of sewerage treatment plants in Delhi we know that there is huge deficiency in terms of treatment capacities.

DEMAND SUPPLY GAP

WATER DEMAND

WATER REQUIREMENTS As per Delhi Jal Board (DJB) following is the water requirement for various uses. I. Domestic (150 + 22) - 172 LPCD II. Industrial, Commercial and community requirement at 45,000 litres. Per Ha. Per day - 47 LPCD III Special uses, embassies, floating population, hotels, - 52 LPCD. airports and railway stations etc. IV Fire protection @ 1% of total demand - 3 L PC D --------------Total 274 LPCD (Say 60 gallons per capita per day (GPCD). But as per Delhi Development Authority the requirement comes out to be @ 80 GPCD PROJECTED WATER DEMAND IN 2021 The Delhi Jal Board anticipates that by the year 2021 about 1380 MGD potable water @ 60 gpcd for population of 230 lacs shall be required. With the DDA per person requirement the water demand for 230 lac population @80 gpcd comes out to be 1840 MGD potable water.
WATER SUPPLY

PRESENT SOURCES OF RAW WATER The present sources of raw water available to Delhi are as under:Yamuna Water 750 cusec (Includes 130 cusec transit losses from Tajewala to Haiderpur) Ganga Water 200 cusec at Bhagirathi Water Works BBMB Water 225 cusec (Ex. Nangal 371 cusec). BBMB Water 40 cusec (Ex. Nangal 60 cusec) Ground Water 185 cusec. Based on the availability of above raw water, following water treatment plants are functioning:-

GAP

As seen from the figures the projected capacity of water supply by 2021 would be 919 against the required of 1380 mgd. Thus there is a shortfall of 461 mgd. To meet this shortfall DJB has proposed work on new dams namely A. Renuka dam 275 mgd B) kishau 372 mgd C) lakhwar vyasi dam 135 mgd Also a look at figures in past (2002&2003) this demand supply shortage has been a trend in the water supply system.

INFERENCES
Water is an essential resource and as it is evident from the above that Yamuna is the most prominent resource which not only enables supply of drinking water but also serves as sink for waste of Delhi. This dumping of waste has tremendously increased the pollution level in the Yamuna waters in the region of Delhi. The water supply need and projected capacities show a huge gap and a gap is also seen in the waste treatment capacities projected for the future. Thus its an indication to search for alternatives sources, technologies and approach in order to be able to meet the demands of future population and also to safeguard the natural resource of Yamuna. Following could be used as an approach for the future. As seen earlier that of the total water requirement 54% is of non potable nature thus there can be different supply lines for potable and non potable water and the sources can thus also be different. In order to reduce the waste outfall into the river; recycling and reuse till the last possible level is the need of the hour. The reuse can happen from household level till city level. For e.g. reusing basin water in flush at the household level, using waste water from kitchen and bathing areas for gardening and washing of cars. As we know that the capacities of sewage treatment plants are not adequate thus the waste has to be treated at small scales with the concept of decentralization in location. Rain water harvesting should be promoted at all levels as it will help in recharging ground water resources and also supplement water sources. As per Master plan of Delhi the annual rainwater harvesting potential has been assessed at 900 billion liters or 2500 million litres per day. If even 25 percent of this could be harvested it would imply availability of 625 mld, which would be nearly equivalent to the presently estimated deficiency. This is in addition to the potential for roof water harvesting assessed at around 27mld. Conserving existing water bodies and regulating the level of extraction from both ground sources and surface resources. Examining the role of storm water drains as not only carriers of water that is dumped into the river but also as recharge zone for ground water, a source for building scenic beauty/landscapes around it. In order to revise the role of storm water drains one need to install a separate system and deal with it from the level of neighborhood. Introducing the pervious materials for paving in order to maximize the potential of rainwater to recharge the ground resources.