identification of potential stormwater recharge zones in dense urban context: a case study from pune city

anthropogenic alterations have affected urban hydrology in india and have generated a wide range of hydrological problems. such alterations include increase in directly-connected impervious cover thus reducing natural groundwater recharge. in the past urban runoff was largely viewed as a nuisance, but within the new paradigm of sustainability, this water is recognized as a potential resource. this research paper discusses the importance of managing stormwater sustainably by recharging groundwater sources. it indicates the potential of stormwater harvesting, when properly managed, as a tool to counter depleting water sources and ever-increasing demand for water. the present study aims at developing a potential stormwater recharge zone map for a sub watershed in pune city, india using gis. five classes of thematic maps have been integrated to prepare the final map. each class is assigned a weightage depending on its influence on the recharge of stormwater. the resultant map (potential stormwater recharge zone map) thus prepared is classified into four classes: very good, good, moderate and poor.