Urban Water Management Linked to WASH (SDG-6) of Greater Hyderabad City, India

Abstract

The water planning of the Musi River sub-basin, a tributary of the river Krishna faces challenges of urban floods, drainage disposal, and irrigation deficiencies which must be addressed with the escalation of the demography of Hyderabad city.  The river is of length 240km and lies in Telangana state of the basin area of about 11270km2 and is of urban origin and is the lifeline to Hyderabad City. The 21st-century status of the river is polluted and needs immediate rejuvenation. In the present case, the hydrologic model is structured using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, ArcSWAT10.3.1, that builds up having an interface with ArcGIS 10.3.1, ERDAS IMAGINE to the DEM Data from Satellite origin (LISS-III RESOURCESAT-1), and SWAT Model to study the soil characteristics Musi Basin, Watershed delineation, HRU Analysis, slope delineation, and reclassification of the basin against Land use (LU). The bearing to the LU changes of the Musi and adjacent basins have been investigated during the years 2005-2006 and 2015-2016.  The study has inferred that Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 (SDG) has been well attempted by the basin managers and administration but failed to achieve SDG (6-2) to have bearable portable quality drinking water, effective management of wastewater and ecosystems to protect the people of Hyderabad and its environment. The Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for one million slum dwellers have been neglected. The model results infer that the sediment fluctuation is due to expansion and changes in the city, agricultural practices, and industrial establishments. Recommendations for effectively moderating floods, 100% sewage and septage disposals, and crop planning in the basin are discussed.