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Assessing the role of traditional water harvesting systems in combating urban water scarcity: insights into water quality and emerging contaminants in Jodhpur, an arid city in India
Summary
Researchers monitored twelve traditional water harvesting systems in arid Jodhpur, India across monsoon seasons and found severe contamination including microplastic concentrations exceeding 500 particles per liter, elevated heavy metals, and high dissolved solids, proposing a restoration roadmap using nature-based solutions.
Urban water management has emerged as a critical barrier to sustainable development, threatening public health, economic stability, and ecosystem integrity due to recurrent floods or water scarcity. In developing countries, like India, urban water issues are exacerbated by unplanned growth. Traditional Water Harvesting Systems (TWHS), once reliable sources of water in arid regions, are increasingly compromised by stagnation, pollutant inflows, and neglect. This study assesses the current condition and restoration potential of TWHS in Jodhpur, an arid Indian city under rising water stress. Twelve TWHS were monitored over a cycle consisting of pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons to evaluate water quality, microplastic (MP) contamination, and trace metal loads. Household surveys and focus group discussions provided insight into user perceptions and management practices. Results showed severe water quality degradation: chemical oxygen demand (COD) exceeded 400 mg/L, total dissolved solids (TDS) surpassed 1,200 mg/L, and hardness often rose above 500 mg/L. High alkalinity with occasional acidic pH points indicated impaired buffering capacity. Furthermore, MP concentrations exceeded 500 particles/L, especially during the pre-monsoon. These physicochemical shifts correlated with elevated trace metals such as chromium, nickel, strontium, and uranium. A novel empirical equation linking MP levels with electrical conductivity (EC) and TDS was developed, offering a rapid assessment tool for pollution hotspots. Based on these findings, a rejuvenation roadmap incorporating nature-based solutions, regulatory support, and community participation is proposed. The study underlines TWHS as a critical urban water infrastructure that, if restored, can significantly improve water resilience, environmental insecurity, and heritage conservation in semi-arid urban regions.