Page 16 - GRIHA Manual Volume IV - Introduction to National Rating System
P. 16
Building planning and construction 7
CRIteRIon 11
ReduCe wAteR use In
tHe buIldInG
Introduction
Water is truly the elixir of life. In the Indian cities, the demand for water for domestic use is responsible
for a big part of the total water consumption, besides industrial use. Many cities are located along
rivers and often have water-borne sanitation systems. Of this, only a small proportion is treated,
leading to surface and groundwater contamination by the discharge of untreated sewage and
storm-water runoff. Although, India has abundant water sources, but the irony is that most of the
settlements are water stressed.
Most of the urban Indian settlements are dependent on both surface and sub-surface water
(often through public supply system). With rapid urbanization, changing lifestyles (more resource
consuming), and increasing pressure on the infrastructure, there has been a progressively
increasing demand-supply gap between the water demand and supply by the public utilities. Often
private consumers have to depend on the underground water source as a supplementary source
of water, either legally or illegally. As a result, the supply sources are fast depleting mostly due
to mismanagement, compounded by poor catchments of rainwater. Thus, the problem of water
availability continues to grow, especially in big urban centres.
As per the National Commission of Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD)
projections, the rural domestic water demand in 2025 and 2050 have been assessed at 70 and 150 lpcd,
respectively, whereas the urban water demand has been assessed at 200 and 220 lpcd, respectively.
The key drivers for increase in water demand are a) population; b) increasing urbanization; c)
increasing per capita income leading to high consumption lifestyles; d) industrialization, and e)
increase in production of water-intensive crops in agriculture.
Given that water is a limited resource, it becomes an essential part of sustainable buildings to
devise ways to reduce water consumption. The amount of potable water used within a building can
be reduced by using efficient fixtures and faucets.
Water eficiency vs conservation
Although water efficiency and conservation are often synonymously used, they differ in their
meaning. Water efficiency implies using improved technologies and practices that deliver equal
or better service with reduced water consumption. For example, the use of low flow faucets could
be more effective than conventional faucets. Water conservation, on the other hand, implies
curtailment of water usage. Water conservation also includes day-to-day demand management to
better the water usage.
Solution
Use of efficient plumbing fixtures, sensors, auto-control valves, and pressure reducing devices can
result in significant reduction in water consumption in a building.
CRIteRIon 11
ReduCe wAteR use In
tHe buIldInG
Introduction
Water is truly the elixir of life. In the Indian cities, the demand for water for domestic use is responsible
for a big part of the total water consumption, besides industrial use. Many cities are located along
rivers and often have water-borne sanitation systems. Of this, only a small proportion is treated,
leading to surface and groundwater contamination by the discharge of untreated sewage and
storm-water runoff. Although, India has abundant water sources, but the irony is that most of the
settlements are water stressed.
Most of the urban Indian settlements are dependent on both surface and sub-surface water
(often through public supply system). With rapid urbanization, changing lifestyles (more resource
consuming), and increasing pressure on the infrastructure, there has been a progressively
increasing demand-supply gap between the water demand and supply by the public utilities. Often
private consumers have to depend on the underground water source as a supplementary source
of water, either legally or illegally. As a result, the supply sources are fast depleting mostly due
to mismanagement, compounded by poor catchments of rainwater. Thus, the problem of water
availability continues to grow, especially in big urban centres.
As per the National Commission of Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD)
projections, the rural domestic water demand in 2025 and 2050 have been assessed at 70 and 150 lpcd,
respectively, whereas the urban water demand has been assessed at 200 and 220 lpcd, respectively.
The key drivers for increase in water demand are a) population; b) increasing urbanization; c)
increasing per capita income leading to high consumption lifestyles; d) industrialization, and e)
increase in production of water-intensive crops in agriculture.
Given that water is a limited resource, it becomes an essential part of sustainable buildings to
devise ways to reduce water consumption. The amount of potable water used within a building can
be reduced by using efficient fixtures and faucets.
Water eficiency vs conservation
Although water efficiency and conservation are often synonymously used, they differ in their
meaning. Water efficiency implies using improved technologies and practices that deliver equal
or better service with reduced water consumption. For example, the use of low flow faucets could
be more effective than conventional faucets. Water conservation, on the other hand, implies
curtailment of water usage. Water conservation also includes day-to-day demand management to
better the water usage.
Solution
Use of efficient plumbing fixtures, sensors, auto-control valves, and pressure reducing devices can
result in significant reduction in water consumption in a building.
