THE ROLE OF GROUNDWATER IN DELHI'S WATER SUPPLY

摘要

This paper presents an economic approach towards urban groundwater in the context of a fast growing metropolis. It attempts to understand the current role of groundwater in the urban water supply for the city of Delhi, India, and proposes possible scenarios of future evolution. The main insight of this paper is that in spite of the public neglect of groundwater as a resource for urban water supply, groundwater plays a central role in meeting urban needs through a variety of private and uncontrolled systems. The potential role of these systems in the future and their impact on urban sustainability is questioned.