The Blue Alternative

and Permeable Hardscapes

By: Stacey Findlater

& Cesare Scarpone

By 2025 there will be 3 Billion people

living in waterless regions of the world

- UN

climatic extremes flooding long droughts forest fires

drop in groundwater reserves decrease in soil fertility and biodiversity

Where did the water go?

• Sea levels are currently rising which impacts human

populations living on islands or in costal regions

• Satellite measured average rise of 3.3mm per year

from 1993 to 2009

The Blue Alternative Solution can be used for the following

Issues:

1. Creating and regenerating

groundwater supply resources

2. Flood and drought prevention

3. Restoration of the natural

production potential and

biodiversity of an area

4. To mitigate risk of natural disasters

and rising ocean levels

Land Covered With Vegetation

1- absorbs the energy of raindrops

2- slows down water

3- supports macro-organisms

The Blue Alternative Water Management Policy

- In areas with available water resources

Revitalization of the existing

landscape

• Construction of many small water

catchments

• The creation of wetlands and ponds to

slow runoff

• Supportive agricultural and forest

management practices

The Blue Alternative Solution

-In dry areas with seasonal rains

• Small mud dams slow

monsoonal rains

• Excess water is stored in

basins or percolation tanks

• To replenish local ground

water aquifers and restore

productivity

• At the lowest possible cost

No trees For Dams

The Blue Alternative in a Dry Area Requires:

• Availability of a surplus

monsoon rain water

• A suitable hydrogeological environment

and locations for building water

catchments

Oct- Dec

67%

Jan - Sept

Water Retention in Dry Climates

• Check dams

• Contour Bunds

• Recharge trenches

• Percolation tanks

• Planting trees

Artificial Recharge Techniques

• Enhance the sustainable yield in areas

• Conservation and storage of excess water for the future

seasons

• Improve the quality of existing groundwater

• Refill aquifers

The Blue Alternative Solution can be used for the following

Issues:

1. Creating and regenerating groundwater resources

2. Improve water quality

3. Flood and drought prevention

4. Production Potential and Biodiversity

5. Natural disasters, Rising ocean levels and Iceberg

melting.

6. Atmospheric water vapour layer

Hiware Bizare- The Miracle Water Village

• the conservation of rainwater on land and the selling of

only the natural surplus of water in a region is essential

for ensuring the environmental security , global stability

and the sustenance of economic growth. Fulfilling these

interests should be of interest to each individual and each

community