Pune, situated in the western part of India in the state of Maharashtra is a burgeoning city that has been growing in leaps and bounds since the past decade. Growth of any city is associated with growth in infrastructure and the construction sector. Construction is known to be very water intensive consuming a lot of fresh water in its pre-operational stage. With all the construction activity happening in the city of Pune which incidentally lies in water stressed zone, depending on rainwater as its only source of water, it is imperative to assess the quantum of fresh water that is actually associated with the construction of buildings in its pre-operational stage. A recently completed commercial complex in the heart of the city was studied with an objective to assess the quantum of pre-operational water, also referred to as virtual water or embodied water, and compare it with the operational water demand of the case study. The methodology of the study includes the indirect water embodied in the major materials of construction termed as inherent water and the water use during construction termed as induced water. The inherent water and the induced water were added to arrive at the quantum of pre-operational water. The study found that the pre-operational water demand of the commercial complex was to the tune of 23.8895 kl/m2 of constructed floor area with steel contributing to the maximum. The pre-operational water translated to 31.16% of the operational water demand considering a 50 year life cycle, or 15.58 years of operational water, clearly indicating the significance that it holds, and the attention that it demands.
Real Time Impact Factor:
Pending
Author Name: INDRANEEL ROY CHOUDHURI
URL: View PDF
Keywords: pre-operational water, embodied water, virtual water, commercial complex.
ISSN: 2395-4752
EISSN: 2348-4098
EOI/DOI:
Add Citation
Views: 1
