An integrated smart water system is required to be developed which will include both fresh water and waste water management in urban areas within Ganga river basin.  A brief overview can be given as follows – - Connectedness- Using ICT as an integrator integrating and documenting data pertaining to all forms of water use within the urban area. ICT network integrated with  sustainable water network shall provide all essential information in hands and thus will help providing improved service. Now connecting this ICT with GIS will give holistic view of water resource management in urban areas. - Water based infrastructure - Efficient management of  water supply, sewerage, drainage and storm water management and integrating and making those an integral part of ecological networks of  cities. For  e.g. permeable pavements for run-off storage and pollutant removal through filtration and absorption. Also use of natural processes and use of landscaping for storm water treatment may also help in this regard. Use of smart devices, even for micro water management may result into bigger success. For e.g. installing water sensor technology in tree-pits in gardens (and eventually in street side trees) will not only helps saving water but also will alert civic authorities when trees will be in need of water. - Optimization of water use from all the sources of water use and matching water quality with the purpose of water use. Using proper  ICT tools shall really help in this regard. - Water accumulation  is another important aspect in urban areas.  Developing rainwater harvesting system in different parts of the city, especially in gardens and green areas will also help recharging groundwater. Rooftop ground water may provide important support to domestic water consumption. However, it will not be the alternative to water supply from municipal authority. - Planned use of waste water will turn it into productive water.  Treated waste water can be reused in urban gardening, urban forestry and industrial processes. Even nutrients in wastewater can be used in fertilization production. Also, turning wastewater into alternative energy source , like Ethanol. Treated wastewater can also be used in domestic areas for reusing in toilets for WC. This will significantly reduce pressure on water consumption in urban areas. - Water loss management and monitoring will have significant positive impact on urban water management as municipal authorities are really struggling to coping with population growth and water scarcity on urban areas. - While Ganga flowing through one side of the city, landscapes of other three parts of  peri-urban areas  must be dominated with waterbodies like, wetlands, ponds, lakes etc.  This will not only help in recharging ground water and support  development of natural ecology in the regions but also provide employment in the form of fisheries and aquaculture which will eventually reduce pressure on Ganga. - Smart water system also means engineering alternatives to design of the drainage network. Drains which receive filtered surface run off are designed with permeable edges that in‐turn help grow riparian vegetation that supports aqua flora and fauna. - Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of water use, waste water treatment  etc.  will help efficient water use in urban areas.   All of these steps will help in reducing pressure on Ganga from water use in adjacent urban conglomerations. Next consideration shall be given to reducing waste and pollutant pressure on Ganga from urban areas.

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An integrated smart water system is required to be developed which will include both fresh water and waste water management in urban areas within Ganga river basin.  A brief overview can be given as follows –

- Connectedness- Using ICT as an integrator integrating and documenting data pertaining to all forms of water use within the urban area. ICT network integrated with  sustainable water network shall provide all essential information in hands and thus will help providing improved service. Now connecting this ICT with GIS will give holistic view of water resource management in urban areas.

- Water based infrastructure - Efficient management of  water supply, sewerage, drainage and storm water management and integrating and making those an integral part of ecological networks of  cities. For  e.g. permeable pavements for run-off storage and pollutant removal through filtration and absorption. Also use of natural processes and use of landscaping for storm water treatment may also help in this regard.

Use of smart devices, even for micro water management may result into bigger success. For e.g. installing water sensor technology in tree-pits in gardens (and eventually in street side trees) will not only helps saving water but also will alert civic authorities when trees will be in need of water.

- Optimization of water use from all the sources of water use and matching water quality with the purpose of water use. Using proper  ICT tools shall really help in this regard.

- Water accumulation  is another important aspect in urban areas.  Developing rainwater harvesting system in different parts of the city, especially in gardens and green areas will also help recharging groundwater. Rooftop ground water may provide important support to domestic water consumption. However, it will not be the alternative to water supply from municipal authority.

- Planned use of waste water will turn it into productive water.  Treated waste water can be reused in urban gardening, urban forestry and industrial processes. Even nutrients in wastewater can be used in fertilization production. Also, turning wastewater into alternative energy source , like Ethanol.

Treated wastewater can also be used in domestic areas for reusing in toilets for WC. This will significantly reduce pressure on water consumption in urban areas.

- Water loss management and monitoring will have significant positive impact on urban water management as municipal authorities are really struggling to coping with population growth and water scarcity on urban areas.

- While Ganga flowing through one side of the city, landscapes of other three parts of  peri-urban areas  must be dominated with waterbodies like, wetlands, ponds, lakes etc.  This will not only help in recharging ground water and support  development of natural ecology in the regions but also provide employment in the form of fisheries and aquaculture which will eventually reduce pressure on Ganga.

- Smart water system also means engineering alternatives to design of the drainage network. Drains which receive filtered surface run off are designed with permeable edges that in‐turn help grow riparian vegetation that supports aqua flora and fauna.

- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of water use, waste water treatment  etc.  will help efficient water use in urban areas.  

All of these steps will help in reducing pressure on Ganga from water use in adjacent urban conglomerations. Next consideration shall be given to reducing waste and pollutant pressure on Ganga from urban areas.