The best way to conserve Rainwater in New Delhi is to insert Geocellular blocks under the available green patches and divert the rooftop collections and run off from sanitised roads to these bioswales/rain gardens. Such insertions can be made in all the traffic rotaries and the islands. Some of the new generation blocks can withstand 60 gross vehicle weight, thus there are no restrictions to insert these basins under the traffic roads and let the water flow in the underground channels without any obstruction on the surface. Since these blocks are sealed with multiple layers of geotextiles, gravel, sand, activated charcoal and root zones, the stormwater with a manageable level of roadside pollution can be treated by phtyo-remidiation activity in the swales. Stormwater in copious volumes is handled through a network of Sedipipes that deploy flow separation, gravity and surface tension mechanisms to separate light oils and fine particles from the rain water. These solutions are time tested and definitely much better than the cosmetic rain water harvesting techniques so far deployed in most of the buildings. Frankische, a world leader in such solutions has a complete stormwater management manual available for downloads from their website. It is not surprising that worldwide cities don't suffer water logging on the roads in the manner as we do. The city of Delhi must decide which of the curse it must suffer, despair, drought or deluge, as the way things go today, we the greedy ones have decided to take it all! Even the pigmy average of 650 mm annual rainfall can work wonders in managing the water crisis, this city must face every passing year, the only change we need is to alter our perception towards rainwater, is it an asset or still a liability that must vanish somehow as soon as it rains ;-(

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The best way to conserve Rainwater in New Delhi is to insert Geocellular blocks under the available green patches and divert the rooftop collections and run off from sanitised roads to these bioswales/rain gardens. Such insertions can be made in all the traffic rotaries and the islands. Some of the new generation blocks can withstand 60 gross vehicle weight, thus there are no restrictions to insert these basins under the traffic roads and let the water flow in the underground channels without any obstruction on the surface. Since these blocks are sealed with multiple layers of geotextiles, gravel, sand, activated charcoal and root zones, the stormwater with a manageable level of roadside pollution can be treated by phtyo-remidiation activity in the swales. Stormwater in copious volumes is handled through a network of Sedipipes that deploy flow separation, gravity and surface tension mechanisms to separate light oils and fine particles from the rain water. These solutions are time tested and definitely much better than the cosmetic rain water harvesting techniques so far deployed in most of the buildings.

Frankische, a world leader in such solutions has a complete stormwater management manual available for downloads from their website. It is not surprising that worldwide cities don't suffer water logging on the roads in the manner as we do.

The city of Delhi must decide which of the curse it must suffer, despair, drought or deluge, as the way things go today, we the greedy ones have decided to take it all!

Even the pigmy average of 650 mm annual rainfall can work wonders in managing the water crisis, this city must face every passing year, the only change we need is to alter our perception towards rainwater, is it an asset or still a liability that must vanish somehow as soon as it rains ;-(