Page 97 - GRIHA Manual Volume II - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 97
Sustainable site planning 89
CRIteRIon 10
ReduCe lAndSCApe wAteR
RequIReMent
Introduction
Urban areas in India, by and large, are becoming water stressed. There are inter-state disputes and
international conflicts for water rights. With increasing urbanization and human-induced changes
in natural water cycles, coupled with poor management of the available water resources, water is
increasingly becoming a rare commodity. Seasonal fluctuations in rainfall are becoming a regular
feature, thereby further impacting the quantum of water supply. In urban areas and specially,
commercial and institutional buildings, a large amount of water is utilized for landscaping purposes
and garden watering. Much of this water is used to maintain traditionally high water-demanding
landscapes, or it is simply applied inefficiently.
In India, water used for landscaping is usually from municipal supplies, which are of potable quality.
Most of the country falls under hot-dry or composite zone, having extremely high evaporation rates.
This, coupled with fluctuating rainfall, further aggravates the problem.
Landscape forms an important part of the building environment. It is an investment in the
inhabitant’s comfort and in the value of a property. Given the increasing water crisis, it becomes
essential to reduce the landscape water demand without compromising the aesthetics and other
associated benefits of landscaped built environment.
Solution
Sustainable landscaping should include an attractive environment that is in balance with the local
climate and requires minimal resource inputs such as water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Sustainable
landscaping begins with an appropriate design that includes functional, cost efficient, aesthetically
appealing, environmentally friendly and maintainable areas.
Some of the potential benefits that accrue from adopting sustainable landscaping are
enumerated below.
# Appropriate planting and efficient irrigation systems can reduce irrigation water use by 50%
to 70% and overall water consumption by up to 25%, which can reduce the load on municipal
supplies/underground water.
# Such landscaping scheme often involves planting native species and xeriscape vegetation
(explained later), which has the additional advantage of ease in maintenance. Such species
respond to minimal care with an abundance of beautiful flowers and gel well with the larger
regional landscape.
# When native trees and plants get increasingly replaced by exotic, introduced species, the
ecological balance will shift in unfavourable directions for the existence of other dependent
species and can result in ecological damages that cannot be repaired.
CRIteRIon 10
ReduCe lAndSCApe wAteR
RequIReMent
Introduction
Urban areas in India, by and large, are becoming water stressed. There are inter-state disputes and
international conflicts for water rights. With increasing urbanization and human-induced changes
in natural water cycles, coupled with poor management of the available water resources, water is
increasingly becoming a rare commodity. Seasonal fluctuations in rainfall are becoming a regular
feature, thereby further impacting the quantum of water supply. In urban areas and specially,
commercial and institutional buildings, a large amount of water is utilized for landscaping purposes
and garden watering. Much of this water is used to maintain traditionally high water-demanding
landscapes, or it is simply applied inefficiently.
In India, water used for landscaping is usually from municipal supplies, which are of potable quality.
Most of the country falls under hot-dry or composite zone, having extremely high evaporation rates.
This, coupled with fluctuating rainfall, further aggravates the problem.
Landscape forms an important part of the building environment. It is an investment in the
inhabitant’s comfort and in the value of a property. Given the increasing water crisis, it becomes
essential to reduce the landscape water demand without compromising the aesthetics and other
associated benefits of landscaped built environment.
Solution
Sustainable landscaping should include an attractive environment that is in balance with the local
climate and requires minimal resource inputs such as water, fertilizer, and pesticides. Sustainable
landscaping begins with an appropriate design that includes functional, cost efficient, aesthetically
appealing, environmentally friendly and maintainable areas.
Some of the potential benefits that accrue from adopting sustainable landscaping are
enumerated below.
# Appropriate planting and efficient irrigation systems can reduce irrigation water use by 50%
to 70% and overall water consumption by up to 25%, which can reduce the load on municipal
supplies/underground water.
# Such landscaping scheme often involves planting native species and xeriscape vegetation
(explained later), which has the additional advantage of ease in maintenance. Such species
respond to minimal care with an abundance of beautiful flowers and gel well with the larger
regional landscape.
# When native trees and plants get increasingly replaced by exotic, introduced species, the
ecological balance will shift in unfavourable directions for the existence of other dependent
species and can result in ecological damages that cannot be repaired.
