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- Ghosh, Ruchira, et al.
(author)
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Urban water security assessment using an integrated metabolism approach – case study of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India
- 2019
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In: Resources. - Switzerland : MDPI. - 2079-9276. ; 8:2, s. 1-15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Water is a non substitutable resource and a social good, which governments must perforce provide to its citizens in the right quantity and quality. An integrated urban metabolism model is useful in understanding the status quo of an urban water and sanitation system. By defining and measuring the values of relevant hydrological performance indicators-deliverables of the model referred to-a thorough knowledge of the present performance and the gaps, which need to be plugged en route to a sustainable urban water infrastructure, can be obtained, as demonstrated in this paper. This then forms the bedrock for decision-making and policy formulation for change to be introduced top-down as well as advice, which would enable the much needed bottom-up support to policies. The authors have chosen Delhi as the case study city, but would like to point out that this application can be reproduced for any other town/city/region of the world. The water balance within the chosen system boundaries shows that the annual unutilized flows, amounting to 1443 million cubic meters, dominate the metabolic flows of water in Delhi, and the annual groundwater withdrawal, which exceeds 420 million cubic meters, is much greater than the recharge rate, resulting in a rapid depletion of the groundwater level. There is an urgent need thereby to improve the rate of infiltration of stormwater and reduce the rate of runoff by focusing on increasing the share of permeable surfaces in the city, as well as to consider the wastewater streams as potential sources of water, while not forgetting demand side of management measures, as the pressure on the urban water system in the city is likely to intensify with a combination of population growth, economic development, and climate change in the near future. The recommendations provided by the authors towards the end of the article, can, if suitable measures are undertaken and robust policies are implemented, result in Delhi's enjoying a water surplus in the short term, and progressively attain complete sustainability with regard to the utilization of its water resources.
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| 2. |
- Govindarajan, Venkatesh, 1972-
(author)
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Industrial ecology tools as decision-making aids for sustainable phosphorus recovery : A methodology paper Industriell-ekologi verktyg som beslutsstöd för hållbar fosfor återvinning: en metod-artikel
- 2018
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In: Vatten. - Lund, Sweden. - 0042-2886. ; 74:3, s. 107-121
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- India, being the second largest importer, and the largest consumer of phosphate fertilisers in the world, needs to focus on securing its supplies not merely by providing subsidies to importers but also focusing on recovery and recycling of phosphorus from waste streams. In the process, the country can avail of concomitant benefits like wastewater reclamation and bio-energy generation, and improve the lot of the millions of farmers in the country. In this paper the authors have outlined a methodology based on industrial ecology tools – MFA (SFA), E-LCA, LCC and S-LCA - which they intend to adopt in the near-term to study, analyse and model the status quo and proposed interventions, from a sustainability perspective, which will become indispensable in the not-too-distant future for the country. The literature review which has been segmented on the basis of the application of the different tools to the study and analysis of resource recovery from wastewater, provides insights into what has been done thus far, and prepares the bedrock for a more detailed analysis.
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| 3. |
- Kansal, Arun, et al.
(author)
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Role of higher education in sustainability of water resources : An assessment of institutions in India
- 2020
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In: Water Policy. - : IWA Publishing. - 1366-7017 .- 1996-9759. ; 22:2, s. 276-292
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The motivation behind this paper is to understand the status of water resources management education provided in higher education institutions (HEIs) in India and decipher gaps between what is taught and what is needed in the field. The assessment has been carried out based on the information available on the respective websites of the HEIs using keywords. The authors have also reached out to faculty members and final-year students in universities/HEIs in India. There are a good number of HEIs in India, which offer educational programmes in water-related subjects, though their distribution is skewed and there seems to be a clear bias in favour of the technological aspects of water. Relatively fewer HEIs engage themselves in social, economic and gender-related issues. It is imperative to popularise research in the social, economic and regulatory aspects of water management. Not all HEIs have provided information about the areas of research they engage in, on their websites. Further, a limited number of faculty members and students have responded to the questionnaires. The preparedness of any country in addressing its current challenges can be gauged from the incorporation and subsequent entrenchment of these roles into the fabric of HEIs. This article can be looked upon as reference documents which will go a long way to enabling the identification of synergies, interlinkages and collaboration opportunities to find solutions for a plethora of challenges.
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