Addressing Water Security of an Urban Settlement through Multisource Modeling

This research develops a geospatial model for multisource water management in the Residential Zone of Auroville addressing groundwater depletion caused by increasing demand and insufficient recharge. Moving beyond dependence on aquifers, the project identifies and quantifies alternative water sources (primarily rainwater runoff and treated wastewater) through high-accuracy topographic surveys, UAV mapping, groundwater monitoring, and advanced GIS-based modeling.
A physically based runoff model was created to estimate stormwater potential, while wastewater generation was assessed from consumption data. All information is integrated into an open-source geospatial database accessible through a web platform, enabling transparent monitoring and stakeholder engagement.
Preliminary findings indicate that, if properly captured and managed, alternative water sources could significantly improve water security. The project proposes a scalable, data-driven framework for integrated water management applicable to urban and regional contexts beyond Auroville.