Understanding Waterflows in Dehradun

Published on September 27, 2022

Cities are the epicenters of growth; however the rising urbanization phenomenon has directly given rise to unchecked resources exploitation. Contamination of fresh water and scarcity of water resources are the first and foremost issues that occur as a result of over-exploitation and mismanagement of the city’s water resources. With support from Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF), this study is undertaken to explore and understand water resource flows in urban areas. This report is the glimpse of the baseline scenario prevailing in the city of Dehradun.

The key objective of the study is to highlight the need for viewing urban water management systems through the circular metabolism perspective and to identify areas where interventions can be made to ensure-efficient water management. Raw water, drinking water, wastewater and urban ecosystems in the urban environments are often managed in isolation rather than as an integrated system. As a result, there is a gap in the methodology that can enable urban planners in designing water-sufficient and efficient cities or retrofit existing cities in terms of infrastructure, water governance and water education. An urban water resource flow methodology is likely to provide tools for sustainable solutions to address the growing water demand and efficient water management in cities