All the great cities are situated beside large water bodies, which itself speaks how essential water bodies are for the development of the major cities. Water is one of the most essential needs of man and with the current usage and its associated depletion, there is an alarming concern for the sustainable use of water.
Depletion of water sources is a major concern as without water life can’t exist. With global warming and climate changes, the resource is under attack by natural forces. Another reason for the depletion of water is the population explosion in the recent years.
What is Water Sustainability?
Water sustainability can be defined as the supply of water for life, or more precisely, as the continuous supply of clean water for human uses and for other living beings. Rather, it refers to the sufficient availability of water for the foreseeable future. Water Sustainability is a greater challenge to overcome when the interventions are both man-made and natural. Achieving it is a unified effort that every individual has to make, at both individual and community level.
Proper Urban Planning
With the abundance number of challenges our urban world is now facing, it is difficult to exactly plan and design for the mid- and long-term future. It is precisely for this reason that modern planning practices have to be adaptive and eco-friendly, as well as planned strategically that can help in the reduction of wastage of rainwater and help in the conservation of water by using modern methods.
Rainwater Harvesting
With rigorous urban planning, the major source of water conservation naturally is rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting is a technique or strategy for the collection of rainwater, thus storing it in the right way for future use. Water can be collected from various surfaces, while in most cases, it is usually collected from rooftops and other hard surfaces. Rainwater harvesting is considered to be one of the most reliable ways to conserve water. Water insecure households, societies or individuals in both urban and rural areas, will benefit the most from rainwater harvesting systems. Rainwater harvesting is a growing trend which needs to be made mandatory for residential complexes and commercial units alike. With possible incentives from the government, it will be unchallenging to motivate individuals and groups to go for it.
Desalination
In the near future, desalination can be a reliable source of drinking water that can enable continuity and access for city’s inhabitants. Since this is an expensive affair, taking saltwater from the ocean and turning it into consumable freshwater is gaining impetus slowly in arid coastal locations globally.
Water Reuse
Effectively reusing and transporting water in a cost-effective and safe way can contribute immensely to water availability and can be crucial to meeting a city’s long-term demand. More and more often, drinking water starts out as natural water that has been used before. Increasingly, cities are treating their own wastewater for reuse, for agricultural, industrial purposes, for source water replenishment, and thereby increasing the quantities of potable water. The level of treatment required is dependent on the end user and the end uses vary depending on the particular conditions and needs of the city and region.
This also includes groundwater injection to create a barrier to salt water intrusion into its groundwater supply. The idea behind this is to treat only certain quantities of water to specific treatment levels that are needed to sustain demand at any given time.
Controlled Usage of Water in Urban Areas
Reducing the usage of water resources starts with creating awareness amongst the citizens regarding the conservation of water. Explaining the necessity to follow the abided rules of conservation is crucial for the survival of future generations. Helping citizens learn the disastrous consequences of not conserving water and providing them required education regarding conservation of water, can make them alert and a responsible human.
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