Innovative Strategy for Rainwater Harvesting in Saline-affected Urban Areas: A Case Study of a Sports Complex in Delhi

Abstract

Water scarcity remains a critical global challenge, requiring immediate, sustainable management strategies, particularly in areas with an increasing disparity between water supply and demand. In India, and especially in Delhi, this issue is acute. In response to growing environmental concerns and the urgent need for sustainable water resource management, rainwater harvesting has emerged as a practical and effective solution for water conservation. This study investigates the application of rainwater harvesting to sustainably support water needs for a sports complex located in a salinity affected region. The land, originally intended for agriculture, has been converted into a complex featuring hydro-landscape facilities, including swimming pools, water polo areas, diving pools, toddler pools, and leisure pools. These facilities require an initial water input of 6,754.5 m³ and an annual replenishment of 7,957.28 m³ due to evaporation and seepage. By calculating the total rainwater harvesting potential based on the runoff coefficient, annual rainfall intensity, and the complex's catchment area, the study reveals that 29,693.8 m³ of rainwater can be harvested annually, providing a surplus of 14,981.7 m³ of potable water. This analysis demonstrates the viability of designing sports complexes in saline areas using efficient land use and rainwater harvesting, and presenting a scalable model for sustainable water management in similar regions worldwide.