FEASIBILITY OF HYDRO?LANDSCAPE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ZERO DISCHARGE CONCEPT IN FARIDABAD REGION

The widespread water woes, are a concern of many a professional be it hydrologists, engineers, architects & landscape architects. Water experts everywhere are advocating the process of water harvesting?capturing, diverting and storing non-portable, or “reclaimed”, water for landscape irrigation and a variety of other uses. In keeping with the concept of zero discharge, harvesting rainwater and storm water can greatly reduce the possibility of damage from flooding and erosion at building sites. Furthermore, the water available from water harvesting can be used effectively as a resource to create an aesthetic landscape and thermally comfortable spaces. The said concept has been demonstrated through a case study. The case study of M/s Escorts private Ltd, Faridabad occupies an area of 27 acres & has a freshwater demand including that of office workers & floating population equal to 82.5 Cu metre/day. This demand can easily be met from the existing four tube wells on site. Further, the horticulture & landscape irrigation demand equals 50 Cu metre/day. At present, the total demand of water is 132.5 Cu metre/day; of which 103.96 Cu metre is being abstracted from the tube wells & the stage of ground water development as per ground water estimation committee, 2006 equals to 127 % which is categorized as a black site area as per the NABARD norms. It is rather alarming to note that the water level has already acquired a declining trend in the study area. The failure of water bodies is an obvious consequence but the loss of biodiversity though not that evident as of now is bound to have far reaching consequences. For, many plant species either have been eradicated completely or are on the verge of eradication. This trend is not only creating implications for the biodiversity but will eventually affect human health. For, the non-absorption of suspended particulate matter owing to the eventual extinction of plant species will lead to increased pollution in water.