Eco Earth City Guide Resources
Population growth, industrial development and irrigated farming, have increased the global demand for water over the last 50 years. By 2020 water the use of water is expected to increase by another 40 percent. According to the UN Environment Programme by 2025, two-thirds of the world's population could be living with serious water shortages.
FACTS
Lawns are the single largest irrigated crop in America. In terms of surface area, covering about 128,000 square kilometeres in all.
200 gallons of fresh, usually drinking water per person per day would be required to keep our nations lawn surface area.
1 Billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. 1-2 billion struggle to get the 5-13 gallons a day for daily life.
2 Billion have inadequate sanitation.
What Can We Do?
There are many ways to approach the current water issue. Harvesting rainwater and using gray water systems are two ways that can reserve the water and sustain it without harming the eco system. Below are some techniques that include the rainwater harvesting.
Harvesting Rainwater
Harvesting rainwater is a technique that has been around for 1000's of years. We are now reintroducing ourselves to the idea.
1. Microcatchment
2. Keyline Design
3. Bioswales
4. Create Sisterns
5. Johad- Johads are small earthen check dams at the end of a slope that capture and conserve rainwater, improving percolation and groundwater recharge. Since 1984, India has seen the revival of approximately 5000 johads spread across more than 650 villages in Alwar district, Rajasthan. This has resulted in a general rise of the groundwater level by almost 6 metres and a 33 percent increase in the forest cover in the area. Five rivers that used to go dry immediately following the monsoon have now become perennial, such as the River Arvari, now have running water.