Groundwater Quality Assessment for an Indian Urban Habitat： A GIS Approach

Groundwater is an essential source of drinking water for many Indian urban habitats. Large numbers of people consume ground water instead of municipal tap water due to contamination of tap water. Groundwater is extracted from thousands of bore wells, and used for potable purpose without proper testing and treatment. This paper describes a groundwater quality monitoring strategy and database model developed for Gulbarga city, located in Karnataka, India. Sampling wells are selected one each in 55 wards of the city corporation having easy access for regular sampling. Various attributes of sampling wells including their spatial coordinates, location address and a photograph are registered for ready recognition on site. Water samples are collected and analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters. Spatial coordinates and levels of sampling points are measured on site using a hand held GPS instrument. Gulbarga city map is digitized. A GIS database of the measured spatial and water quality data is developed using ArcGIS Desktop 9.3, and ground water quality maps are prepared which may serve as useful tools for developing policy, and regulatory mechanism for sustainable groundwater use.

Groundwater Quality Index Mapping for Gulbarga City, Karnataka State, India

The present work is aimed at assessing the water quality index （WQI） for the groundwater for Gulbarga city. The water quality index （WQI） is a mathematical instrument used to transform large quantities of water quality data into a single number which represents the water quality level. In fact, developing WQI in an area is a fundamental process in the planning of land use and water resources management. One can then compare different samples for quality on the basis of the index value of each sample. The present work relates to the development of water quality index for the study area based on the experimental results of physicochemical analysis of water samples. For calculating the WQI, the following 11 parameters have been considered, pH, TH, Ca, Mg, NO3, SO4, TDS, F, CI, K and Na. The WQI for these samples ranges from 10.40 to 155. Using developed indices, groundwater isopleth map has been prepared for study area. In the case study, the WQI map reveals that groundwater quality in two areas is extremely near to mineral water quality. Created index map provides a comprehensive picture that is easily interpretable for regional decision makers for better planning and management. The results of analysis have been used to suggest models for predicting water quality. The analysis reveals that the groundwater of the area needs some degree of treatment before consumption, and it also needs to be protected from the perils of contamination.

PUBLIC POLICY AND IMPACTS ON ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENTS: LEARNING FROM THE CONSTUCTION INDUSTRY PLAYMAKERS

Sustainable practices in the built environment are becoming a more common phenomona as market penetration of green buildings grow. Despite the reported benefits of green buildings, barriers to sustainability still exist. To motivate wider adoption of sustainable built environments, this research studies public policy and its impacts. The study aims to understand the links between public policy, construction playmakers’ (e.g., organizations’, institutions’, business owners’, and developers’) motivation to build green, and growth of sustainable built environments in the United States. As a step forward in this direction, this paper focuses on the case of Michigan and explores construction playmakers’ motivations to build and/or occupy sustainable buildings and how effective current public policy in Michigan is at addressing these motivations.There is little research on the links among legislation, construction playmakers’ motivation to build green, and the growth of sustainable built environment in the United States. This article’s findings show that: 1) green building costs are still the most frequently-reported barrier to green building, 2) property developers are significantly less likely to utilize green building practices than other construction playmakers, 3) single-family residential buildings were the least likely building type to receive green certifications, and 4) construction playmakers report low levels of green policy awareness and use despite the presence of relevant public policies. These findings will provide direction for policy makers and advocates in creating policy that will effectively promote green building construction.