Thread by @biome_trust

How can water sensitivity transform our cities into sustainable urban spaces? 🧵

What is the challenge for water-sensitive #urban design on a #city scale?

Turning an area spread across 1250 square km, divided into 3 major valleys & a tank system into a water-sustainable space.

But increasing urbanisation in the last few decades has been diminishing the city’s #water bodies.

Bengaluru’s all-manmade #tank system was initially developed only to meet irrigation needs. Each tank or #lake overflows to the next, via a channel. When the tank area urbanizes, the essential reason for their construction, i.e source of irrigation, is gone.

So how do you rejuvenate these tanks in a modern context? We now reimagine them within these roles:

- Recreational
- Bio-diversity protection
- Livelihoods- fisheries, grass cutters
- #Flood Protection
- Groundwater Recharge
- Cultural

From the Jakkur Sewage Treatment Plant,
10 million litres of treated water goes to the constructed wetland. The water is thus further polished in the wetland before going to the lake.

The treated wastewater now revives a water body in the city while also providing recreation to the urban folks. With treated wastewater filling the lake, Jakkur Lake has a perennial source of water, thus attracting #biodiversity.

Lake-dependent livelihoods can be secured

Fishermen & grasscutters act as key stakeholders in ensuring lakes are functioning well. Jakkur lake alone provides a livelihood for 5 fishermen & one contractor. Grass cutters remove the plants from the wetlands & use them as fodder.