Positioning the role of urban ponds in water sensitive cities: Insights from a fast-growing secondary city of India

Urban areas across the world are increasingly facing water scarcity due to population growth and urban expansion, which places significant stress on land use and leads to the depletion of water bodies. In many developing nations, the pursuit of economic gains often takes precedence over environmental concerns, resulting in unsustainable urban development. For rapidly expanding cities in these countries, sustainable urban water management is crucial to balancing economic development with environmental preservation. The concept of “water-sensitive cities” integrates environmental preservation, technological innovation, and community engagement to address these challenges. Urban ponds, especially in cities like India, play a crucial role in this context, providing environmental benefits as well as many ecosystem services. However, urbanization places significant stress on these ponds, causing pollution, deterioration, and disregard. This research conducted in Kozhikode, a fast-growing coastal city in India, aims to highlight the pivotal role of urban ponds in enhancing the city’s water sensitivity. The study encompasses comprehensive field surveys to identify and evaluate urban ponds, considering water quality, ecosystem services, and governance dynamics. The results of water quality show that most of the ponds have the potential to act as a decentralised drinking water supply source. The study also revealed the importance of ecosystem services provided by urban ponds, ranging from local benefits to global contributions. Multiple governance challenges for the conservation of urban ponds are also identified. The study highlights the significance of preserving urban ponds while advocating for enhanced management strategies through proper governance mechanisms. Proposed recommendations on governance include policy refinements, community engagement, pollution mitigation, and integrated planning approaches.