IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i5p2772-d510494.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Environmental Water Security of an Asian Deltaic Megacity and Its Peri-Urban Wetland Areas

Author

Listed:
  • Subham Mukherjee

    (Physical Geography, Institute of Geographical Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany)

  • Pradip Kumar Sikdar

    (Department of Environment Management, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Management House, College Square (West), Kolkata 700073, India)

  • Sukdeb Pal

    (Wastewater Technology Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur 440020, India
    Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India)

  • Brigitta Schütt

    (Physical Geography, Institute of Geographical Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Achieving urban water security requires sustaining the trade-offs between the exploitation of water/environmental resources and ecosystem services. This achievement not only reduces the pollution and contamination in the environment, level of water stress, but also secures good ambient water quality and future for people’s well-being and livelihoods. Changes in land use and land cover and growth of impervious structures can immediately generate severe ecological and social issues and increase the level of natural or manmade risks, affecting the condition of ecosystem services within and in the vicinity of an urban region. As a result of these transformations and further exploitation, due to the growing anthropogenic pressure, surface water and groundwater quality can be deteriorated compared to ambient water quality standards (for both chemical and biological pollutants). Based on land use and land cover (LULC) data retrieved from remote sensing interpretation, we computed the changes of the ecosystem service values (ESV) associated with the LULC dynamics, water quality and, finally, urban water security during the pre- and post-monsoon periods of 2009, 2014 and 2019 in Kolkata, an Asian deltaic megacity, and its peri-urban wetlands named East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW). The area under wetlands reduced comprehensively in 2009–2019 due to the conversion of wetlands into various other classes such as urban settlement, etc. The quality of surface water bodies (such as rivers, lakes, canals and inland wetlands) deteriorated. The groundwater quality is still under control, but the presence of arsenic, manganese and other metals are a clear indication of urban expansion and related activities in the area. As a result, there was a change in the ESV during this timeframe. In the pre-monsoon period, there was an increase in total ESV from US$53.14 million in 2009 to US$53.36 million and US$59.01 million in 2014 and 2019, respectively. In the post-monsoon period, the ESV decreased from US$67.42 million in 2009 to US$64.13 and US$61.89 million in 2014 and 2019, respectively. These changes can be attributed to the peri-urban wetlands and the benefits or services arising out of them that contribute more than 50% of the total ESV. This study found that the area under wetlands has reduced comprehensively in the past 10 years due to the conversion of wetlands for various other uses such as urban expansion of the Kolkata City, but still, this peri-urban wetland supports the urban water security by providing sufficient ecosystem services. In conclusion, the transformation in extent of the water-related ecosystem is a crucial indicator of urban water security, which also measures the quantity of water contained in various water-related ecosystems. Quantitative analysis of the LULC change, hence, is important for studying the corresponding impact on the ecosystem service value (ESV) and water quality that helps in decision-making in securing urban water future and ecosystem conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Subham Mukherjee & Pradip Kumar Sikdar & Sukdeb Pal & Brigitta Schütt, 2021. "Assessment of Environmental Water Security of an Asian Deltaic Megacity and Its Peri-Urban Wetland Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-32, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2772-:d:510494
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2772/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2772/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Unesco Unesco, 2015. "Water for a Sustainable World," Working Papers id:6657, eSocialSciences.
    2. Kreuter, Urs P. & Harris, Heather G. & Matlock, Marty D. & Lacey, Ronald E., 2001. "Change in ecosystem service values in the San Antonio area, Texas," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 333-346, December.
    3. Tolessa, Terefe & Senbeta, Feyera & Kidane, Moges, 2017. "The impact of land use/land cover change on ecosystem services in the central highlands of Ethiopia," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 47-54.
    4. Bolund, Per & Hunhammar, Sven, 1999. "Ecosystem services in urban areas," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 293-301, May.
    5. Aynur Mamat & Ümüt Halik & Aihemaitijiang Rouzi, 2018. "Variations of Ecosystem Service Value in Response to Land-Use Change in the Kashgar Region, Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
    6. P.K. Sikdar & S. Mondal & L. Saha & S.S. Sarkar & S. Banerjee, 2002. "Environmental impact assessment of a proposed info-tech complex in East Calcutta wetlands," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 241-260, September.
    7. Sule Akkoyunlu, 2015. "The Potential of Rural–Urban Linkages for Sustainable Development and Trade," International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Policy, Conscientia Beam, vol. 4(2), pages 20-40.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Haozhe Zhang & Qingyuan Yang & Zhongxun Zhang & Dan Lu & Huiming Zhang, 2021. "Spatiotemporal Changes of Ecosystem Service Value Determined by National Land Space Pattern Change: A Case Study of Fengdu County in The Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-24, May.
    2. Aynur Mamat & Jianping Wang & Yuanxu Ma, 2020. "Impacts of Land-Use Change on Ecosystem Service Value of Mountain–Oasis–Desert Ecosystem: A Case Study of Kaidu–Kongque River Basin, Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Yuan Gong & Mengmeng Cai & Lei Yao & Linsong Cheng & Chunxu Hao & Zheng Zhao, 2022. "Assessing Changes in the Ecosystem Services Value in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Shanghai from 2000 to 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Srijana Shrestha & Khem Narayan Poudyal & Nawraj Bhattarai & Mohan B. Dangi & John J. Boland, 2022. "An Assessment of the Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on the Degradation of Ecosystem Service Values in Kathmandu Valley Using Remote Sensing and GIS," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Muluberhan Biedemariam & Emiru Birhane & Biadgilgn Demissie & Tewodros Tadesse & Girmay Gebresamuel & Solomon Habtu, 2022. "Ecosystem Service Values as Related to Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Ethiopia: A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Sai Hu & Longqian Chen & Long Li & Bingyi Wang & Lina Yuan & Liang Cheng & Ziqi Yu & Ting Zhang, 2019. "Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Ecosystem Service Value Determined by Land-Use Changes in the Urbanization of Anhui Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Md. Mostafizur Rahman & György Szabó, 2021. "Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Urban Ecosystem Service Value in Dhaka, Bangladesh," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-27, July.
    8. Damien Sinonmatohou Tiando & Shougeng Hu & Xin Fan & Muhammad Rashid Ali, 2021. "Tropical Coastal Land-Use and Land Cover Changes Impact on Ecosystem Service Value during Rapid Urbanization of Benin, West Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Valencia Torres, Angélica & Tiwari, Chetan & Atkinson, Samuel F., 2021. "Progress in ecosystem services research: A guide for scholars and practitioners," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    10. Haipeng Niu & Ran An & Dongyang Xiao & Mengmeng Liu & Xiaoming Zhao, 2022. "Estimation of Ecosystem Services Value at a Basin Scale Based on Modified Equivalent Coefficient: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin (Henan Section), China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-23, December.
    11. Yi, Hoonchong & Güneralp, Burak & Filippi, Anthony M. & Kreuter, Urs P. & Güneralp, İnci, 2017. "Impacts of Land Change on Ecosystem Services in the San Antonio River Basin, Texas, from 1984 to 2010," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 125-135.
    12. Yuqing Xiong & Hong Li & Meichen Fu & Xiuhua Ma & Lei Wang, 2022. "Evaluation of Ecosystem Service Change Patterns in a Mining-Based City: A Case Study of Wu’an City," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    13. Liu, Yong & Li, Jinchang & Zhang, Hong, 2012. "An ecosystem service valuation of land use change in Taiyuan City, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 127-132.
    14. Tianhong, Li & Wenkai, Li & Zhenghan, Qian, 2010. "Variations in ecosystem service value in response to land use changes in Shenzhen," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 1427-1435, May.
    15. Shuming Ma & Jie Huang & Yingying Chai, 2021. "Proposing a GEE-Based Spatiotemporally Adjusted Value Transfer Method to Assess Land-Use Changes and Their Impacts on Ecosystem Service Values in the Shenyang Metropolitan Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    16. Xiaojuan Lin & Min Xu & Chunxiang Cao & Ramesh P. Singh & Wei Chen & Hongrun Ju, 2018. "Land-Use/Land-Cover Changes and Their Influence on the Ecosystem in Chengdu City, China during the Period of 1992–2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-20, October.
    17. Qilong Shao & Li Peng & Yichan Liu & Yongchang Li, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Urban Ecosystem Services: Structure, Evolution, and Prospects," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-23, January.
    18. Habtamu Temesgen & Wei Wu & Xiaoping Shi & Eshetu Yirsaw & Belewu Bekele & Mengistie Kindu, 2018. "Variation in Ecosystem Service Values in an Agroforestry Dominated Landscape in Ethiopia: Implications for Land Use and Conservation Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    19. Rimal, Bhagawat & Sharma, Roshan & Kunwar, Ripu & Keshtkar, Hamidreza & Stork, Nigel E. & Rijal, Sushila & Rahman, Syed Ajijur & Baral, Himlal, 2019. "Effects of land use and land cover change on ecosystem services in the Koshi River Basin, Eastern Nepal," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-1.
    20. Roshan Sharma & Bhagawat Rimal & Himlal Baral & Udo Nehren & Kiran Paudyal & Sunil Sharma & Sushila Rijal & Surendra Ranpal & Ram Prasad Acharya & Amer A. Alenazy & Prashid Kandel, 2019. "Impact of Land Cover Change on Ecosystem Services in a Tropical Forested Landscape," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2772-:d:510494. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.