Two such structures have been created in Sector 15 A and 16 A in the last two years on PWD land
Urbanization-induced rapid population growth and associated groundwater depletion have been impacting Faridabad for the last 3-4 decades. There is a gradual increase in urban flash flood-related water logging in different parts of the city. A smart solution to address these two critical issues of Faridabad Smart City (FSC) has been proposed under a DST funded research project implemented by Manav Rachna Centre for Advanced Water Technology and Management (MCAWTM), Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies Faridabad. MRCAWTM has produced an alternative design by modifying the commonly used rooftop rainwater harvesting and artificial groundwater recharge system (RTRWHS) and has come out with a more effective and efficient Aquifer Storage and Recovery System (ASRS) to address two eco-sensitive issues of the urban environment.
The project has been titled: Co-solving Water Logging and Groundwater Depletion Issues in parts of Faridabad Smart City
Two locations were identified under the FSC area in sector 16A (PWD, B&R colony) and 15A (Officers’ colony) in consultation with FSCL and PWD, Faridabad. Here, aquifers are depleted and water logging happens on such a scale that the residents are bound to remain indoors for days during heavy downpours in monsoon each year. Streets remain submerged under 2-3 feet of water for several hours; transport and movement totally go abandoned. Even if water is removed, mud and dirt persist for several days creating an unhealthy atmosphere and enhancing the risk of waterborne and communicable diseases.
The constructed ASRS at B & R PWD colony Sector 16A and Officers colony, Sector 15A, Faridabad are working absolutely fine and have been tested during the monsoon. It was tested for the first time during 73mm rainfall on 30th Aug 2022. The performance of the first system was reconfirmed during the rain episode of 22nd and 23rd Sept 2022 (110mm in 24hr on 22 Sept 2022, IMD) where commutative rainfall for 48 hrs was nearly 150mm. The entire water of the colony street moved into the system smoothly and the colony area got rid of waterlogging within 3-4 hours after the rain stopped. The second ASRS at sector 16A is also working fine.
Each system is designed to absorb a maximum of 2000 m3/day of water. The system collects water first in a de-siltation chamber having a baffle wall to reduce silt load and provide laminar flow transfers to the coagulation chamber by gravity for pretreatment of stormwater to reduce suspended particles, the water moves further to filtration cum recharge well by gravity flow. The silt-free stormwater enters to recharge well and transfers to the vadose zone just above the water table by passing a large dry zone to release water through a slotted casing. The water moves to the aquifer travelling through a small part of the vadose zone. It provides a faster absorption rate and safer discharge of rainwater to aquifer to co-solve two critical water issues in a gainful manner.
The Deputy Commissioner Faridabad Sh Vikram Singh, IAS and Chairman, Central Ground Water Board Sh Sunil Kumar jointly inaugurated these structures today on 28th June 2023 in the presence of Dr Prashant Bhalla, President, MREI; Dr Parveen Arora, Head, Water Technology Cell, Department of Science and Technology and other dignitaries as Dr N C Wadhwa, DG, MREI, Dr Dipankar Saha, Chair Professor, MRCAWTM.
The project is given to MRCAWTM, MRIIRS through Principal Investigator Dr Arunangshu Mukherjee and Co-PI Dr Nidhi Didwania.
The structures have been constructed on the land of PWD and will be handed over to PWD after the completion of the project for further maintenance. Faridabad Smart City Limited (FSCL)has helped to obtain NOC for the construction of structures in PWD premises. The success of the project can be scaled up within the smart city area of Faridabad and other similar situations.