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 Water Conservation, Preservation And Restoration. A Global Engineering Challenge. 

 
Date of Publish - Wednesday, 20th June 2018

Water Conservation, Preservation and Restoration. A Global Engineering Challenge.

The world's water supplies are facing new threats; affordable, advanced technologies could make a difference for millions of people around the world.

Lack of clean water is responsible for more deaths in the world than war. About 1 out of every 6 people living today do not have adequate access to water, and more than double that number lack basic sanitation, for which water is needed. In some countries, half the population does not have access to safe drinking water, and hence is afflicted with poor health. By some estimates, each day nearly 5,000 children worldwide die from diarrhea-related diseases, a toll that would drop dramatically if sufficient water for sanitation was available.

The following approaches to redirect and capture runoff can be used to control heavy runoff causing prolonged wet areas or yard erosion.

Capture and Store Runoff

Runoff can be captured and stored for use or allowed to soak into the soil. with this solution there are many environmental benefits like recharging ground water, watering your yard and constructing a grassy swale or downspout extension can deliver runoff to a dry well or rain garden.

Rain Garden

A rain garden is a heavily planted landscaped depression situated in the path of runoff flow, with permeable soil. During storms, runoff will pool on the surface of the rain garden and soak into the soil, filtering the water and recharging groundwater.

The proper functioning of a rain garden depends on the permeability of the natural soil. In the absence of adequate permeability, an underdrain may be needed to allow filtered water to be discharged.

Soil Amendment or Compost Blanket

 Often urban and suburban soil is dense, compacted and has low fertility. Adding organic matter or compost to the soil reduces soil density and improves soil structure. Structure refers to the clumping together of soil particles. Soil with good structure is more porous, promoting infiltration and reducing runoff. Soil amendment also improves the health and productivity of your soil by adding a long-term source of nutrients and organic matter.

 Dry Well (Infiltration Trench)

A dry well or infiltration trench is a gravel-filled underground storage area. Water captured by a dry well is stored in the void spaces between the gravel until it infiltrates slowly into the ground or flows out through an underdrain.

The sides of the dry well (not the bottom) are lined with landscape fabric.

Water can be directed to a dry well from a downspout or other pipe.

It may be used as a walkway or covered with topsoil and sod.

It is best to excavate until a permeable soil layer is found. A dry well is only a good option if a permeable layer of soil is found within a reasonable depth. If no such layer exists, a dry well might not be a good solution.

Swale

A swale is a wide, shallow ditch in which water can flow to a suitable outlet. The channel should be protected with grass or other vegetation. It also can be lined with appropriately sized stone to prevent erosion within the swale.

Stone is preferable in swales in which grass does not grow well due to shade or that are too steep or long for grass to prevent erosion. A swale lined with stone is sometimes called a dry creek bed.

Catch Basin

A catch basin is a collection box with a slotted drain at the top and a drainage outlet at the bottom. Surface runoff enters the inlet, passes through the collection box and exits through the outlet into a buried drainpipe. The catch basin should be placed at a low spot on the property so that water naturally runs to it (a grassy swale can be built to direct runoff to the basin). The buried drainpipe should discharge to a suitable outlet.

Earthworms

It’s GOOD to have earthworms – they aerate and enrich the soil, move nutrients around, digest and break down organic matter, and improve drainage and soil texture. In fact, earthworms do a better job than any farm or garden practice.

Now it is the time for the Engineers, while designing the projects they should keep in view about the latest ideas those should be introduced into their projects to Conserve, Preserve and Restore water for the next generation.

As we are not the creators of natural resources we can use and reuse it but not supposed to misuse it.

 

Author :
Madhurima
 

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