Page 20 - March 2020 - WT Site

Think beyond sun and wind: India’s water and sanitation shortfalls are crying for green
infrastructure, reimagined

The Indian government’s Rs 100 lakh crore investment boost for infrastructure development in the next five years will translate into
much-needed roads, metros, airports, sewage treatment plants and so on. Also called ‘built or grey’ infrastructure There is an equal if
not a more compelling case for cleaner air, better ambient temperatures in cities, improved health for citizens, scenic value, recreational
spaces and carbon sequestration. Evidence from around the world underscores the importance for India to seriously assess and deploy
‘green infrastructure’ – an approach that leverages the power of nature to provide service that people need, and includes, but goes beyond,
harnessing the sun and wind to generate electricity.

Consider the need for water and sanitation infrastructure in India. With 4% of the world’s fresh water supply and 12% of the global
population, India is severely water challenged. The government is adding massive built infrastructure in the form of canals, water treatment
plants and desalination plants to address this challenge. India’s central and state governments have also invested in watersheds for long.
Yet, the New York and Nairobi examples stand out because these cities have owned up the responsibility for their water sources, instead
of ignoring them and exploiting distant and depleting natural reservoirs or streams. Indian cities may have to combine investments in
watersheds with other interventions to remove chemical pollutants from the water, where this is a major issue.

When it comes to treating sewage, green infrastructure could frequently complement grey/ built infrastructure. Decentralised waste
water treatment systems (DWWTS) are gaining ground over centralised wastewater treatment systems. DWWTS can be set up quickly
to service expanding communities and can be combined with a green infrastructure approach where wetlands are constructed for tertiary
treatment of water before letting it into a lake or a stream. Constructed wetlands can also be used for sewage treatment as a standalone
option in smaller communities.

Man City FC and Xylem deliver clean water in Bangalore

Manchester City Football Club has teamed up with official water technology partner Xylem for a second year to build two new sustainable
clean water towers in Bangalore, India with the help of fan volunteers. As part of the club’s Cityzens Giving project, five Manchester City
fans from across India joined Xylem employees and former player Paul Dickov to deliver access to clean water and sanitation to two new
schools.

The Water Goals project, supported by Manchester City and Xylem Watermark, saw fans work with Xylem and their local partner Planet
Water Foundation to install new clean water filtration towers in two new schools. The schools were also fitted with an AquaSan latrine
sanitisation system, to sanitise school toilets. Since January 2019, Water Goals has trained 100 Young Leaders and reached over 5000
participants and young people in 26 locations, with support from local partner Magic Bus. The City fans also joined up with young leaders
from the Cityzens Giving project to find out how they use football to educate young people about the importance of water sanitation and
hygiene. “We are inspired by the impact of this second fan volunteering trip in Bangalore, bringing together Xylem’s expertise in clean
water with the passion of City fans across India to make a difference in local communities,” said Tom Pitchon, director of City Football
Foundation. “This, coupled with the long-term impact of our existing Cityzens Giving project in Bangalore, continues to demonstrate that
football can truly help tackle social issues around the world.”

“Our business and our mission are all about bringing the best technology to bear on solving the world’s most challenging water issues,”
said Joe Vesey, SVP and chief marketing officer of Xylem. “It’s so rewarding to do that in partnership with Manchester City fans, through
Cityzens Giving we’re bringing safe water and sanitation to thousands of students across Bangalore. This will have a huge impact on their
health, on their education, and on their futures.”

22 Water Today - The Magazine l March 2020