how rainwater harvesting is a viable alternative in solving the water scarcity problems in urban areas
Answers
Answer:
Because it resolves the problem of water shortage in drought striking areas.
Explanation:
ABSTRACT
Water scarcity is a characteristic of north-western states of India, such as Gujarat. Over
time, the continuous increase of the population as well as the financial, administrative and
technical deficiencies of the new supply system have lead to the deterioration of the water
service in the city. In the meantime, the water demand has considerably increased due to
the improvement of standards of living. This has resulted in an increasing pressure on
underground water resources, which has lead to an alarming depletion of aquifers. From
this overall situation arises the question of the use of complementary alternative sources of
water in Ahmedabad and more particularly of the rehabilitation of the rainwater harvesting
structures still existing in its old city area.
The objective of the research is to evaluate to what extent this traditional system may
constitute an additional source of water within the Old city of Ahmedabad and may locally
reduce the pressure on water demand, assuming that the existing supply system does not
fulfil the needs of the users. The results of an exploratory field study conducted in the Old
city in 2001-02, which combined quantitative and qualitative aspects, give an outlook on
people’s opinions and behaviors regarding both systems. Finally, the rehabilitation of
rainwater harvesting structures in the Old city of Ahmedabad suggests the necessity of
empowering local structures of water management (households, non governmental
association) in semi-arid urban areas to create the conditions for a sustainable
implementation.
1
Ph. D student, Centre de Recherche en Gestion (CRG), Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, France.
2
Associate Professor of International Management at the European School of Management (ESCP-EAP) in