growth in India and reduce quality of life for urban citizens. India’s urban population is expected to reach 600 million by 2030,
5 and fulfilling its water needs will
be a great challenge. Estimates suggest that the demand–supply gap for the
domestic sector will stand at *50 BCM in 2030, with the future demand expected
to double by that time.
6 The present situation is also not ideal as five of the world’s
20 largest cities under water stress are in India, with Delhi being second on the list.
7
As of 2014, no major city in India supplied 24 Â 7 water to its entire urban
population,
8 and only 35% of urban households in India had piped water supply in
their dwelling as the primary source to support drinking water needs, while others rely
on piped water to plot/yard, tube wells and public taps amongst other sources.
9 These
water delivery challenges will further exacerbate as migration to major urban cities in
search of better livelihood opportunities continues, and additional stress is put on the
already insufficient water resources and inadequate infrastructure. As of 2015, India
treated only 30% of the wastewater generated in the country.
10 Lack of adequate
infrastructure in cities to handle their own wastewater will also severely add to the
water management woes. Industrial growth in and around cities will be severely
compromised as companies will move their operations to more water-secure locations.
All these challenges can together create serious water scarcity conditions for urban
dwellers where their basic water needs are not met.
Box 1: Implications for Urban Planning
A strong focus on urban regional water planning can help mitigate water risks in
urban settlements. An integrated approach to land-use planning and zoning, which
includes water as a key aspect, is the only way to ensure sustainable urban
development where cities do not run out of water in the long run. State and city
governments should consider water resource availability in the region while
creating city plans and providing permits for new establishments and restrict any
development activities that are not sustainable in terms of water management. The
central and state governments can also encourage such a shift in urban development through policies and tight monitoring. The American Planning
5
“World Urbanization Prospects 2018—Population Division”, United Nations, accessed May 6,
2019, https://population.un.org/wup/Download/.
6
Charting Our Water Future (McKinsey and WRG 2009), p. 9, https://www.mckinsey.com/*/
media/mckinsey/dotcom/client_service/sustainability/pdfs/charting%20our%20water%20future/
charting_our_water_future_full_report_.ashx.
7
McDonald et al. (2014).
8
“24 Â 7 Water Supply: FAQs”, World Bank, accessed May 16, 2019, https://www.worldbank.
org/en/country/india/brief/faqs-24x7-watersupply.
9
National Sample Survey Office, Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Condition in
India: NSS 69th Round (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 2014), p. 82,
https://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/nss_rep_556_14aug14.pdf.
10
Suresh Kumar Rohilla et al., Urban Water Sustainability (Centre for Science and Environment, 2017),
p. 16. https://cdn.cseindia.org/attachments/0.84020200_1505207729_Urban-water-sustainability-report.
pdf.
Sustainable Urban Water Management Strategies
27
5 and fulfilling its water needs will
be a great challenge. Estimates suggest that the demand–supply gap for the
domestic sector will stand at *50 BCM in 2030, with the future demand expected
to double by that time.
6 The present situation is also not ideal as five of the world’s
20 largest cities under water stress are in India, with Delhi being second on the list.
7
As of 2014, no major city in India supplied 24 Â 7 water to its entire urban
population,
8 and only 35% of urban households in India had piped water supply in
their dwelling as the primary source to support drinking water needs, while others rely
on piped water to plot/yard, tube wells and public taps amongst other sources.
9 These
water delivery challenges will further exacerbate as migration to major urban cities in
search of better livelihood opportunities continues, and additional stress is put on the
already insufficient water resources and inadequate infrastructure. As of 2015, India
treated only 30% of the wastewater generated in the country.
10 Lack of adequate
infrastructure in cities to handle their own wastewater will also severely add to the
water management woes. Industrial growth in and around cities will be severely
compromised as companies will move their operations to more water-secure locations.
All these challenges can together create serious water scarcity conditions for urban
dwellers where their basic water needs are not met.
Box 1: Implications for Urban Planning
A strong focus on urban regional water planning can help mitigate water risks in
urban settlements. An integrated approach to land-use planning and zoning, which
includes water as a key aspect, is the only way to ensure sustainable urban
development where cities do not run out of water in the long run. State and city
governments should consider water resource availability in the region while
creating city plans and providing permits for new establishments and restrict any
development activities that are not sustainable in terms of water management. The
central and state governments can also encourage such a shift in urban development through policies and tight monitoring. The American Planning
5
“World Urbanization Prospects 2018—Population Division”, United Nations, accessed May 6,
2019, https://population.un.org/wup/Download/.
6
Charting Our Water Future (McKinsey and WRG 2009), p. 9, https://www.mckinsey.com/*/
media/mckinsey/dotcom/client_service/sustainability/pdfs/charting%20our%20water%20future/
charting_our_water_future_full_report_.ashx.
7
McDonald et al. (2014).
8
“24 Â 7 Water Supply: FAQs”, World Bank, accessed May 16, 2019, https://www.worldbank.
org/en/country/india/brief/faqs-24x7-watersupply.
9
National Sample Survey Office, Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Condition in
India: NSS 69th Round (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 2014), p. 82,
https://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/nss_rep_556_14aug14.pdf.
10
Suresh Kumar Rohilla et al., Urban Water Sustainability (Centre for Science and Environment, 2017),
p. 16. https://cdn.cseindia.org/attachments/0.84020200_1505207729_Urban-water-sustainability-report.
pdf.
Sustainable Urban Water Management Strategies
27