Synopsis

Abstract

Introduction
This research is concerned with the use of underground water and recharge without loss of water in metro
cities to cater water crisis in near future. Advancement in current system with water usage analysis will
increase underground water in cities like Delhi and its also helps in to capture runoff water. Analysis of
water in terms of daily demand vs supply and its detailed analysis at micro level will helps in maintain water
cycle as well as ground table. By 2025 the Upper Yamuna Accord will expire and renewal will involve tough
negotiations with demands of the other states also increasing. Internal demand is rising, surface resources are
static, soft surfaces are being sealed with concretization cutting off rainwater access to the aquifers. This
apart, 50% of NCT Delhi is officially urbanized and a total of 900 sq.km. come under the urban heel as per
the Master Plan 2021.
Thus, NCT Delhi has no option but to rebuild its underground reserves which are its uncontested internal
resource. Options such as roof water harvesting and rain water harvesting at the campus level have been
suggested. However, in a decade of efforts no measurable results have emerged. Thus, it is time to recast the
artificial recharge strategy in NCT Delhi and nourish the aquifers to secure Delhi’s water future.

Literature
A study, carried out by non-profit The Nature Conservancy, says that India’s capital city is world’s second
most water-stressed city, just behind Tokyo. The study was carried out after surveying the water
infrastructure of world's 500 cities with population of more than 750,000 (called large cities in the study). Its
results have been published in journal Global Environmental Change.
According to researchers, one-quarter of the largest cities suffering from water stress account for a
significant amount of economic activity—estimated at US $4.8 trillion.
While large cities occupy only one per cent of the Earth's land surface, their source watersheds cover 41 per
cent of that surface; so the raw water quality supplied into cities depends on the land use of this much larger
area, says study.

The research further highlights that financial limitations on infrastructure leave poorer cities in greater water
stress, as they have to survive on closer water sources. The study found that cities with low per-capita
income rely on water sources 26 km away on an average, while cities with high per-capita income utilise
sources 57 km away on average.
The study states that water shortages are more pressing than climate change and the impact of water stress is
one of the most important business risks for the agri-food business globally.

Cities, by their nature, spatially concentrate the water demands of thousands or millions of people into a
small area, which by itself would increase stress on finite supplies of available freshwater near the city
centre. The urban water infrastructure of these cities then goes farther to exploit new sources of surface
water, groundwater or desalination and escape water stress. But there are also times when this infrastructure
is not enough to escape that stress and fuels water scarcity.

Past research has shown that as cities grow in population, the total water needed for adequate municipal
supply grows as well. This increase in total municipal water demand is driven not just by the increase in
urban population, but also by a tendency for economic development to increase the fraction of the urban
population that uses municipal supply rather than other sources such as local wells or private water vendors
as that is considered to be cleaner.

Map No. 1: Geomorphology Of NCT Delhi [Source : GSI]

Groundwater scenario

The NCT of Delhi is spread over an

area of 1485 sq.km. with at least 7
different landforms posing different
technological challenges for the
recharge process. Further, these
landforms are spread over 6 drainage
sub-basins, command areas of 17 STPs and 10 functional CETPs and thus having different resource
allocations. As such it is necessary to appreciate the hydro-geological conditions in NCT Delhi.

The NCT area is constituted of quaternary alluvium and the Alwar quartzites of Delhi supergroup rocks of
the Aravalli Mountain Range. The ridge extending from south to northeast in Delhi represents the
northernmost tip of the Aravalli
stratigraphy. The territory is
occupied by quartzites
inter-bedded with mica schist
overlain by unconsolidated
quaternary to recent sediments.

Map No. 3: Hydrogeological Map of

NCT Delhi [Source : CGWB]

November 2015:

Depth to water level: The depth to

water level recorded in NCT Delhi
during November-2015 ranges
from 0.72 to 61.13 m bgl. The
data from 116 stations (Plate-10,
Annexure-1 & 10) has been
analyzed district wise. 50% wells
of South district shown more than
40 m bgl water level and 12%
wells have 20 to 40 m bgl water
level. In Southwest district 38%
wells have water level between 20
to 40 m bgl. The depth to water
level of East, Northeast and
Northwest districts are in the
range of 5 to10 m bgl in 40%,
25% and 34% respectively
whereas in North and South
districts 57% and 15% wells are
showing water level in the range
of 2 to 5 m bgl respectively. The
water levels of entire Yamuna
flood plain are in the range of 2 to
5 m bgl.
Pre-Post Monsoon Fluctuation:
The fluctuation of water level
between Pre-monsoon
(May-2015) and Post Monsoon
(Nov-2015) of Delhi state shows
0.01 to 8.82 m rise in 66% of the wells. Few wells of New Delhi, Northwest, South and Southwest districts
show fall in water level in the range of 0 to 2 m. An analysis of the data indicates that the declining trend is
continuing in the South and Southwest districts (Plate-11, Annexure-1 & 11).
Annual Fluctuation: The hydrograph analyses of Nov-2014 and Nov- 2015 water levels of 115 wells reveals
that 58% of the wells shows rise in the range of 0 to more than 4 m whereas rest of the wells show fall in
water level. The rise of more than 4 m is recorded only in South and Southwest districts. The overall analysis
indicates a rising water level situation in the state (Plate-12, Annexure-12).
Decadal Fluctuation: When the data of Nov 2015 was compared with 10 year mean for November, it shows
that the water levels in 63% of the wells have recorded a fall in the range of 0.01 to 7.27 m. Only 23% wells
of the New Delhi, Northwest and Southwest districts have a rising condition of water level in the range of 0
to 2 m (Plate-13, Annexure-13).
HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY of delhi NCT

Chemical quality of ground water in NCT Delhi varies

with depth and space. The fresh ground water aquifers
mainly exist up to a depth of 25 to 35 m bgl in
Northwest, West and Southwest districts and in minor
patches in North and Central districts. In Southwest
district, especially in Najafgarh Jheel area the fresh
water occurs up to a depth of 30 to 45 m bgl. A
localized area located just north of Kamala Nehru Ridge
(part of Delhi ridge falling in Central District) covering
area of Dhirpur, Wazirabad and Jagatpur are
characterized by shallow depth of fresh water aquifers
that is in the range of 22 to 28 m, regardless of
proximity to River Yamuna.
In alluvial formations, the quality of ground water
deteriorates with depth, which varies in different areas.
The ground water is fresh at all depths in the areas
around the ridge falling in Central, New Delhi, South
and eastern part (Ridge Area) of Southwest districts and
also Chattarpur basin. In the areas west of the ridge, in
general, the thickness of fresh water aquifers decreases
towards Northwest, the thickness of fresh water zone is
limited in most parts of west and southwest districts. In
the flood plains of Yamuna, in general, fresh water
aquifers exist down to depth of 30 to 45 m and
especially in Palla and zero RD area it reaches to the
depth of 60 to 75 m below which brackish and saline
water exists.

Contribution of yamuna river

Yamuna Active Flood Plain Aquifer System occupies

an area of 97 Sq.km and stretches about 35 Km along
river Yamuna. The total thickness of Newer Alluvium
varies between 45 to 55 m. Aquifer system in Newer
Alluvium is unconfined with depth to water level
occurring at shallow depths of 3 to 7 m bgl and can
sustain the tube wells with yields ranging from 1400 to
2800 lpm. A preliminary estimate by Central Ground
Water Board says that the Yamuna flood plain has
exploitation potential of nearly 85MGD, out of which
the CGWB has created groundwater potential of 45
MGD by installing tube wells in the different sectors of
the Yamuna flood plain.
Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge to Groundwater:

The rapidly declining water level of Delhi is attributed mainly due to rampant urbanization and enhanced
groundwater withdrawal and reduction in the available open space for recharge to groundwater. The situation
can be improved by adopting rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to groundwater measures. The
Master plan for rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge of NCT Delhi estimated that nearly 440 MCM of
rainwater can be harvested annually in Delhi and utilized for artificial recharge to groundwater. The artificial
recharge to groundwater can be taken up by adopting 10 different measures like rainwater harvesting at the
level of individuals, at the level of colonies and by the institutions. The Central Groundwater Board of NCT
Delhi has taken up the leadership of spearheading rainwater harvesting in NCT Delhi. The rainwater
harvesting effort by CGWB in JNU and IIT campuses resulted in to rise in water level to the tune of about 2
to 3 meters in vicinity of the area where the project was implemented. Similar rainwater harvesting effort in
President Estate resulted in the rise of water level in the range of 1 to 4 meters in the vicinity of the areas
where the project was implemented.

Analysis
Delhi has an area of 1483 sq.km with population of ​16,787,941 ( as per census 2011). If calculated as on
2019 delhi population approx 25 million
The average annual rainfall in Delhi is 714 mm, three-fourths of which falls in July, August and September.
Heavy rainfall in the catchment area of the Yamuna can result in a dangerous flood situation for the city.
During the summer months of April, May and June, temperatures can rise to 40-45 degrees Celsius. Winters
are typically cold with minimum temperatures during December and January falling to 4 to 5 degree Celsius.
February and March, October and November are climatically the best months.

In terms of availability of Urbanisable land in

NCT-Delhi 2021, there are clearly
severe limitations with respect to urbanisable
land in Delhi. In the words of the Base
Paper for Preparation of Regional Plan 2021,
there is specifically a “significant
shortage of land to accommodate the 2021
projected population within NCT-Delhi”.
In order to accommodate this projected
population – estimated at 230 lac by the
MPD 2021 – in NCTD, a review of available land
for urbanisation must be made.
Sno. Land Use Area ( Ha ) Percentage
to area

1 Total Geographichal area of Delhi 1,48,300 100

2 Total built up area 70162 47.31

3 Natural features 19509.10 13.16

forest 303.56

Wild secturies 28.54

Ridge 7777

River yamuna 9700

Other water bodies/drain 170

4 Sub total (built up + natural features) 89671 60.47

5 Balance land available in delhi 58628 39.53

6 Land to kept reserve for

 Disposal of solid waste till 2051 10000 6.74

Metro /service i.e. power plant grid station and sewage 10000 6.74
treatment plant etc.

Agriculture zone in delhi NCT 11000 7.42

7 Sub total of reserved land 31000 20.9

HOUSING SCENARIO IN DELHI

According to the MPD-2021-

“The policy regarding "Shelter" is based on the goal of ensuring 'Shelter for All' by harnessing the potential
of the public, private / corporate and household sectors. It aims to ensure effective housing and shelter
options for all citizens, especially for the vulnerable groups and the poor, by creation of adequate housing
stock on either rental or ownership basis. It envisages the role of the public agencies as facilitator throug
policy and strategic interventions..”
1. HOUSING SCENARIO IN DELHI
Housing type
Based on the morphology, living condition and legal status, housing in Delhi can be classified into SEVEN
types–
1. Homeless
2. JJ Cluster
3. Resettlement Colonies
4. Regularized & Unauthorized colonies
5. Urban Villages
6. Walled city and extension
7. Planned colonies
Population distribution across the types-

Source - micro home solution

Existing Land-use of the Area

The existing Land-use of the site is majorly Residential, adhering to the proposal given in the Master Plan of
Delhi 021. The same was also proposed and followed in the Master Plan 2001. The Residential use utilizes
roughly 60% of the site. About, 25 % of the site is still vacant, although a community centre and some group
housings are in the pipeline to develop this land. While, green areas and open spaces constitute to
approximately 8% of the site, the institutional areas constitute only about 5% of the site. Although,
commercial activity prevails in the lower floors of the residences, the land allocated exclusively for the
purpose happens to be only around a mere 2% of the total site area.
Water demand in delhi = 927 MGD ( 3509076738.6 ltr)
Water supplied by DJB = 815 MGD ( including of 100 MGD water extract from underground reservoirs)

Water deficits in daily supply = 112 MGD

Total average rainfall in Delhi NCT = 714 mm

Total catchment area ( built up area in delhi ) = 1038.1 sq km
Runoff coefficient for catchment area = .5

Total water runoff of delhi = 3,84,61,60,50,000 ltr

Rainfall runoff water will serve the delhi for = approx 100 days

Conclucion

It is no denying that sustaining and recharging the groundwater along with judicious use of the limited
freshwater resources is the need of the hour. If sufficient measures are not taken up immediately, we will
face a crisis which will be detrimental to the very survival of mankind. Efficient management of water
resources and education about judicious utilisation of water resources along. with measures of harnessing,
recharging and maintaining the quality of water and water bodies has to be taken up on war footing.
One of the most logical steps towards this goal would be acknowledging the importance of rainwater
harvesting. This should not only encompass rooftop rainwater harvesting but also stormwater harvesting
systems. Stormwater harvesting is yet to be acknowledged as a better alternative over rooftop water
harvesting. One of the major hurdles in stormwater harvesting is the poor state of stormwater drain systems
in India. A planned approach is hence needed in order fully utilise the potential of rainwater to adequately
meet our water requirements. Hence, an equal and positive thrust is needed in developing and encouraging
both the types of water harvesting systems. We have to catch water in every possible way and every possible
place it falls.