Proposing Water Sensitive Urban Design Solutions in Residential Areas, Case Study: Dar Misr, Helwan, Egypt
摘要
One of the most important challenges facing Egypt is water scarcity and its per capita ratio. From around 1893 cubic meters per capita per year in 1959 to approximately 900 cubic meters in 2000 and finally, to 700 cubic meters in 2012, Egypt’s average annual freshwater availability has been declining. Egypt’s rapid pace of population increase means that, by 2030, the proportion of water per person should drop to 534 cubic meters, or almost half of the international standard for water poverty, As Egypt suffers from an unequal distribution of population in its governorates where Cairo and Alexandria are the most densely populated and increasing demands on water. Egypt actually has two problems with water: first, there is not enough pure water to drink or use to irrigate crops; second, a major portion of farmers’ irrigation practices are still inefficient, which damages the soil and wastes water through evaporation and over-irrigation. However, one of the most important water management methods is Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) in the context of wastewater management in urban areas that helps improve public health and increased resilience to climate change impacts. This chapter proposes urban design interventions for Dar Misr Residential compound in Cairo, Egypt, to provide insights into the potential of WSUD as a sustainable solution that includes rainwater harvesting systems, permeable pavements, green roofs, constructed wetlands, and efficient irrigation techniques.