Society for Environment and Development, (India)
http://www.sedindia.org
Available online at www.ewijst.org
ISSN: 0975-7112 (Print)
ISSN: 0975-7120 (Online)
Environ. We Int. J. Sci. Tech. 10 (2015)29-36
Environment & We
An International
Journal of Science
& Technology
Urban Hydrology, Need of India
Ashish Patil*
Agricultural and Food Engineering Department
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur India
*Email: patilashish@agfe.iitkgp.ernet.in
Mobile: +917557809927
Article history:
Received 14 April 2015
Received in revised form
29 April 2015
Accepted 05 June2015
Keywords:
Education
Pollutants
Urban hydrology
Water resources
Abstract
Urban hydrology is the interdisciplinary science of
water and its interrelationships with urban man. Human
population increasing at an unprecedented rate in urbanized
area which creates a scope of urban hydrological studies in
India. Urban Hydrological Cycle changes with respect to time
and space hence the networks of monitoring stations equipped
with rain gauges capable of measuring short-term rainfall,
runoff gauging as well as water quality monitoring stations in
all urban areas should be established and it may be operated by
local body. To avoid unplanned urban expansions and land-use
pattern, urban planning should be carried out by using remote
sensing and GIS technique. Fastest urban development putting
great stress on the natural water cycle which can be minimize
by promoting the reuse of wastewater for water-demanding
activities, which consumed limited freshwater. Establishment
of research and education institutions and awareness among the
people by taking the help of media and Non-Government
Organizations (NGOs) regarding hydrology so as to create
better understanding of water resources and foster public
understanding through water education.
Introduction
Urban hydrology is not a new field (Leopold, 1968; Johnson, 1971). Urban
hydrology is defined as the interdisciplinary science of water and its interrelationships
with urban man (Jones, 1971). Simply it means the investigation of hydrological cycle,
water regime and quality of water in urbanized territory. Urban hydrology is a special
case of hydrology applied for cities i.e., areas with very high level of human interference
with natural processes (Janusz 1999). Urbanization influences the land use and
interaction between land and water because as urbanization proceeds, an increasing
proportion of the total land area becomes covered with impermeable surfaces such as
roofs and pavement. Rainfall, which formerly trickled slowly through vegetated areas or
