Policy options for managing the water resources in rapidly expanding cities: a system dynamics approach

Abstract

Sustainable development of water resources and managing the wastewater generated in rapidly expanding cities pose a challenge for working out policy options. System dynamics approach is used to devise policy scenarios for the sustainable development of water resources in conformity with the temporal projections made for population growth. The projections made for water consumption and wastewater generation under the as usual baseline and modified scenarios for a typical district headquarter city in North India have shown that the water demand will enhance by 69% in 25 years if the current water supply practices are continued. Mitigation options proposed for curtailing the water demand and reducing the wastewater generation include progressive approach in succession for population stabilization, grey water reuse after treatment and combined scenario. The proposed modified policies would significantly reduce the water consumption pattern and should cope up with the demand of growing population.