download the article to read later
The promise of piped water supply or groundwater via borewells for informal settlements contributes to a vicious cycle. The relationship of communities to natural resource regions is severed, leading to dependence on piped systems or groundwater, both of which are themselves finite sources. Integrated Design studied existing water stresses in the informal settlements of Ranchi to revive or strengthen their links to local water resources.
What is the project about?
Image: Map of informal settlements in Ranchi
Source: Compiled by Integrated Design
Ranchi city is principally dependent on the Subarnarekha River for water. Piped water supply for the city is via three dams, which are fed by tributaries of the Subarnarekha and the Subarnarekha itself. This piped water supply, however, is marginally provided to the informal settlements of Ranchi, which are largely urban villages (often tribal settlements) engulfed by city growth.
Mahila Housing Sewa Trust works with 55 such settlements in Ranchi, and water insecurity is reported in each of these settlements. Informal settlements in Ranchi were traditionally reliant on community-managed resources such as open dug wells, tanks and ponds, which are closely linked to surface water sources and rivers. However, due to urban growth, inadequate treatment and discharge of wastewater into the rivers of the city, the surface and sub-surface water systems have become polluted. This, in turn, has contaminated water in wells, tanks and ponds along the floodplains of the rivers – sources upon which informal settlements were formerly dependent.
Image: Map of groundwater prospects in Ranchi
Source: Compiled by Integrated Design
In terms of groundwater, the aquifers in Ranchi are semi-confined, which means that the water level is replenished due to rainfall and not by seepage of river water. Even though groundwater is a precious resource in Ranchi, it is exploited to the extent of 112%, and consequently, the deeper aquifers of the city show declining water levels.
The promise of piped water supply or groundwater via borewells for informal settlements contributes to a vicious cycle in which the relationship of communities to natural resource regions is severed, leading to dependence on piped systems or groundwater, both of which are themselves finite sources.
Image: Building resilience in informal settlements
Source: Integrated Design
APPROACH:
Integrated design studied to understand existing water stresses in the informal settlements of Ranchi by identifying common practices and specific challenges. Basis of this analysis, the study recommends general measures that will aim to enhance access to water by improving both the quantity and quality of water available. The outcome is meant to both decrease the dependence of settlements on piped water supply systems and groundwater, and to revive or strengthen their links to local water resources.
To help demonstrate interventions from the learnings, a pilot case study had been taken. On the ground, passive interventions were proposed and implemented in the settlement of Bada Ghagra.
Image: Infiltration dispersion system built around the open wells
Source: Integrated Design
SOLUTIONS:
01. Restoring and Reviving Open Dug Wells:
Owing to contamination of surface water and soil storage, the water in the open wells were not used in the settlements. In order to restore and revive these open wells for use, the building of an infiltration dispersion system was suggested. This ensures maximum percolation of incidental rainfall. It also localizes surface runoff into the ground and upper aquifer by developing a recharge pit around existing wells. The recharge pit will protect and develop the edges of the wells to curb the inflow of debris and garbage.
The cost of intervention per well varied from Rs. 25000 to 40000, depending on the well size and local rates.
Image: Gravity based cascading treatment system
Source: Integrated Design
02. Surface Runoff and Grey Water Management:
Ranchi receives enough rainfall to sustain itself if it is systematically managed. The stormwater can be channelized with diversion channels and dispersion ponds. This can be treated with vegetative swales and vegetated filter strips to allow for the removal of coarse and medium sediments, and percolation of water into the soil strata.
Various factors like the sloping topography of the settlements; existing built drains; contiguous discharge flow; permeability of the soil and the availability of open areas allows for decentralized management of the grey water. A gravity-based cascading system was used to allow greater percolation of water while avoiding contamination. The location and size of the system depended on the length of the drain and the availability of land downstream of the drain catchment. The cascading system consists of trash separator, silt trap, oil/grease trap/ separator and dispersion trench.
The cost of each system varied from Rs. 40000 to 50000 depending on the size of the system.
Image: Twin Pit System; Adapted from Tilley, E.; Ulrich, L.; Luethi, C.; Reymond, P.;
Schertenleib, R.; Zurbruegg, C. (2014)
03. Blackwater Management:
Blackwater is water from toilets, having faecal content from excreta. One-third of domestic wastewater generated is in the form of black water. Blackwater has a high concentration of nitrogen and nitrates, which percolate quickly through sub-soil and merge in wells and streams. In order to manage black water from toilets, it is recommended that twin pit systems be built for new and existing toilets within the informal settlements. Such twin pit systems should be located at least 18 m from open wells.
For an average family size, one of the twin pits of a twin pit system would take three years to fill. Each system will cost around Rs. 15000.
Project Funded by
Mahila Housing Sewa Trust (MHT)
Stakeholders Involved
MHT Ranchi team (NGO partner);
Inde’ team (Technical partner);
CAG volunteers;
Local community;
Ward councillor.
What is the impact?
The key outcomes were as following:
I. Policy suggestions for water resource management plans.
II. Recommendations for improving or carrying out land use planning exercises, or other city-level plans.
III. General recommendations for utilising decentralised water resource management to enhance the resilience of the settlement which will then improve the living and livelihood conditions of the residents of the settlement.
IV. Demonstrations of settlement-level recommendations in a pilot settlement, to show how such recommendations can be actioned into interventions. This pilot case will be used to show that similar interventions can be tailored to the contexts of the other settlements.
Since Mahila Housing Sewa Trust has a close working relationship with the informal settlements of Ranchi, it is anticipated that study will form the basis for further advocacy on water issues at the settlement and city level to be taken up by the Mahila Housing Sewa Trust with the Government of Jharkhand.
A handbook was made, outlining the steps and processes implemented as part of the pilot project.
Gallery:
Images by Integrated Design | © all rights reserved
Links to read more:
A link to the handbook.
The steps and processes outlined in this handbook have been implemented as part of a pilot project in the settlement of Bara Ghagra.
About Integrated Design:
Integrated design is a research-based planning and design practice focused on curating sustainable human and natural habitats. Established in 1993 in Bangalore, the practice has focused on developing an intersectional outlook to engage with evolving concerns defining the natural, human and built environments. As the practice matured, it adopted – and continues to do so- a diverse reading of issues, challenges and imperatives across scales, geographies and pedagogies of engagement. The practice continues to work towards creating an equitable ground interpreting and articulating challenges at the intersection of environment and development.
Addressing environmental and developmental challenges through an integrated approach rooted in social, natural and political ecology. Engaging on issues on water, ecosystem, resilience, governance, capacity building, spatial design, heritage and public policies.
