Urban Water Management

Chicu Lokgariwar
Gomukh Environmental Trust
92/2 Gangote Path
Erandwane,
Pune 411 004
Telefax: 020-2567 3324 2565
1434
Email: gomukh@vsnl.com
chicu.l@gmail.com

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Debunking Water Conservation
„ Too expensive
„ Cost effective, innovative methods
available.
„ Stored water unfit for use:
„ What about ground water? No intrinsic
changes in water over time.
„ Damages foundations
„ Recharge not recommended if ground water
levels above level of foundation
„ What's the need?
„ Read the newspapers.
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 Comprehensive Water
Management
„ Rational Water Use
„ Harvesting Water

RECYCLED
RECHARGE
GREY WATER
TRENCH
RECHARGE OF STORAGE
BORE / OPEN WELL TANK

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 Harvesting Surface Runoff
„ Passive harvesting
„ Maintaining unpaved
areas
„ Installing permeable
paved areas (blocks/
bricks without concrete
bedding)
„ Not connecting
rainwater pipes directly
to conduits
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„ Active harvesting
„ Rainwater collection and
storage
„ Recharge Trenches / pits
„ Use of open/ dug wells.
„ Area treatments to
reduce runoff velocity
„ Percolation ponds
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 Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting
„ Quantities:
„ For a rooftop of 200sqm, in Pune,@
600mm/year
„ Total quantity = 120 cum or 1,20,000 litres
„ With 70% collection, 84 cum (7m x 6m x 2m )
„ Will suffice a family of four for 5 months.
(@135 lpcd)
„ Use:
„ Storage (short period between spells)
„ Recharge (seasonal rains)
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 Elements
„ Downtakes
• Pipes, gutters,
spouts,
„ Screens / first-flush
„ Collection
„ Storage tank
„ RCC ,Ferrocrete,
stone masonry
„ Recharge pits

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 Recharge
„ Pits/ Trenches/Wells
„ Existing well may be used

„ Settlement tank
• Should retain runoff from at least 15
minutes rainfall at peak intensity
„ Filtration pit
• Graded sand, gravel as filter media

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 Section of a Recharge Pit

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 Capacity of a recharge pit
„ Take total roof area
„ Multiply by expected rainfall for 15
minutes
„ Assume 80% collection (Multiply by 0.8)
„ Assume 40% voids in the pit (divide by
0.4)
„ Arrived quantity is the volume of the
recharge pit

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 Precautions
„ Catchment:
„ Keep the catchment clean
„ Use gratings to trap any debris before it
enters the conduits
„ Conduits
„ Provide first-flush device
„ Before recharging
„ Provide Settlement Tank
„ Filter the water

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 Quality Control
„ Line, level, slope
„ Sand bed and trenches for
underground pipes recommended
„ Waterproofing for storage tanks
„ Provision of first flush device
„ Screen/ mesh at inlet of rainwater
downtakes
„ Plug bends
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 Grey Water Recycling
„ Grey water – waste water from sinks,
bathrooms, etc. ( without fecal matter)
„ Sedimentation and filtration sufficient for
non-potable uses.
„ Economical if treated water is used at
ground level.
„ Installation of a separate treated water
system for domestic use economical for
large commercial establishments.

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 References:

„ www.rainwaterharvesting.org

„ Rainwater Harvesting and

Conservation Manual
„ Govt of India, Consultancy
Services Organisation

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