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Water Sensitive Urban Design

(source: CIRIA)

Water has been integral to the evolution of cities. Yet, today water does not find a central place in the planning and design of our cities. Many Indian cities are facing a water crisis in some form or the other. Development and urbanization disturbs the natural water cycle, and creates a stress on the supply-demand equilibrium. In terms of water, cities are grappling with the issues of water shortage, flooding and water course pollution. In spite some areas being flooded every year claiming loss of life and property in urban areas, numerous other villages face drought, forcing many farmers towards destitution and suicide. Water has become a risk to be managed rather than an asset and opportunity.

To bring back the focus on water in Indian cities, the need of the hour is for urban planners, urban designers, architects, engineers, landscape designers, hydrologists, environmentalists and ecologists to come together to develop strategies and plans to conserve and manage the shortage, flooding and pollution of water, and attempt to restore the water cycle as much as possible, especially in urban areas. Merely storm water management and rain-water harvesting is not enough to address the colossal issue. Our total disregard towards water has had catastrophic consequences in Mumbai, Uttarakhand, Srinagar and Chennai recently. Our failure to recognize the role water plays in cities is evident in the disappearance of lakes in Bengaluru and Jaipur.

Australia, UK and some other countries have recognized this need and developed the concept of "Water Sensitive Urban Design" (WSUD). WSUD goes many steps beyond urban run-off management and joins the missing links in the water cycle, and connects the city, citizen and water to achieve a low-impact, sustainable development.

The Joint Steering Committee for Water Sensitive Cities (JSCWSC) defines WSUD as "….. a land planning and engineering design approach which integrates the urban water cycle, including storm water, groundwater and wastewater management and water supply, into urban design to minimize environmental degradation and improve aesthetic and recreational appeal."

The National Water Commission of Australia defines water sensitive urban design as ensuring “…that urban water management is sensitive to natural hydrological and ecological cycles. It integrates urban planning with the management, protection and conservation of the urban water cycle”.


The diagram below explains the difference water cycles; natural, conventional and WSUD.



(source: waterbydesign.com.au)

Some specific WSUD objectives are to:
·         minimise impacts on existing natural features and ecological processes
·         minimise impacts on natural hydrologic behaviour of catchments
·         protect water quality of surface and ground waters
·         minimise demand on the reticulated water supply system
·         improve the quality of and minimise polluted water discharges to the natural environment
·         incorporate collection treatment and/or reuse of runoff, including roof water and other storm water
·         reduce run-off and peak flows from urban development
·         re-use treated effluent and minimise wastewater generation
·         increase social amenity in urban areas through multi-purpose green space, landscaping and integrating water into the landscape to enhance visual, social, cultural and ecological values
·         add value while minimising development costs (e.g. drainage infrastructure costs)
·         account for the nexus between water use and wider social and resource issues
·         harmonise water cycle practices across and within the institutions responsible for waterway health, flood management, pollution prevention and protection of social amenity.
(Source: The National Water Commission; http://www.nwc.gov.au/)

The benefits of Water Sensitive Urban Design are:
·         Reduces water pollution
·         Decreases flood risk
·         Increases water supply security
·         Improves ecosystem health
·         Helps communities connect with water
·         Eases urban heat island effect
·         Connects the water cycle
·         Brings different disciplines and professionals together


CIRIA has published a report on Water Sensitive Urban Design for UK, and it is a good resource for techniques and strategies for water management and conservation to achieve sustainable urban design.: http://www.susdrain.org/files/resources/ciria_guidance/wsud_ideas_book.pdf

Another interesting watch is this 5-minute informational video created by CIRIA, Arup and AECOM on WSUD: 



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