Stepwells
Table of Contents
Introduction
"Baolis, or stepwells, are underground reservoirs where water can be stored close to the groundwater level to ensure a constant water supply during the dry season, one of two monsoon seasons across the Indian subcontinent. Baolis were first constructed as rock-cut stepwells between 200 and 400 AD to ensure water during periods of drought."
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"The earthquake-proof construction and cool microclimate under the earth has made baolis a sanctuary for collecting water as well as bathing, meditation and prayers. Delhi has an estimated 32 stepwells, 16 lost or demolished, and 14 accessible to the public. Three of the baoli are permanently dry. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage began a project to de-silt and restore the 16 baoli that have not been lost, in an effort to bring back traditional means of water security and resilience against an increasingly erratic monsoon cycle that has deepened the water crisis across India, especially in urban centers like Delhi. " - A Comprehensive Review of the Potential of Stepwells as Sustainable Water Management Structures
They fell out of use after British colonization. As plumbing became more available, these amazing stepwells were increasingly considered "unsanitary" which increased their loss of popularity, and eventually led to their decline as people forgot about their value, and started to use them as landfills.
As droughts and water shortages become increasingly dire, some communities are rediscovering their ancestors solution to survival, and are taking it upon themselves to revitalize these ingenious water management systems. During the monsoon season, rain water fills these massive reservoirs, and for the rest of the year, clean drinking water stays in the community the stepwell serves.
About Stepwells
"The stepwells were architectural marvels with diverse styles, highly accomplished in form and design with pleasing aesthetics. Stepwells are perhaps the only underground heritage sites in the world, recognized in India for their building tradition and outstanding architecture [62] (Livingston and Beach, 2002). The technology of these stepwells relies on green building materials and sustainable construction technology, with concept cognizance as the driving force [78]. With outstanding reliability and longevity, these multi-functional stepwells stood the test of time, covering a wide variety of shapes, sizes, typologies, and purposes (Figure 5).
Stepwells were generally constructed in arid or semi-arid regions, where the depth of water was between six to seven stories deep, a depth at which the excavated soil or rock was fully saturated with water. The condition of the soil, depth of water, and soil erosion were the major criteria for the construction of these structures. ..." - A Comprehensive Review of the Potential of Stepwells as Sustainable Water Management Structures
Life Expectancy
1,622+ years
- A Comprehensive Review of the Potential of Stepwells as Sustainable Water Management Structures
Benefits of Stepwells
Benefits from Monsoon Rain / Reduces Flooding
Uses seasonal monsoon rain to provide drinking and bathing water for entire communities, year round.
Social
These also double as spaces for socializing, and religious gatherings. These have great historical and cultural significance. They can be up to 13 stories deep, and 5-6 degrees cooler at the bottom than at the surface level, making them a pleasant location on hot days.
Earthquake Resistant Design
"These stepwells were resilient to earthquakes up to a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale [63]. Although stepwells are on par with present-day hydraulic structures, there is only limited knowledge of the technical aspects of these stepwells in terms of structural design, choice of building materials, the inner lining of the well-shaft, etc." - A Comprehensive Review of the Potential of Stepwells as Sustainable Water Management Structures
Problems
Refurbishment Required
Many of these have fallen out of use, become polluted, or even ruined when people started using them as landfills.
Renovation can take years, a lot of money, and rely on community involvement to maintain.
Sanitation
"Despite restoration attempts, the baoli continues to confront difficulties. Litter and refuse have gathered at the stepwell’s bottom, rendering the water unfit for drinking. This problem makes it ineffective as a water supply. To fully restore the baoli’s purpose, ongoing maintenance, and efforts to address hygiene and sanitation are required." - Baoli the Stepwell in Pakistan Amazing Ancient Tech
Water Quality & Safety
While these are famous as water sources for drinking, bathing and irrigation, the safety of the water they provide is determined by local geology, aquifer quality, and local behaviors that impact ground water.
For example "The Mertani Baori, to the north of Badalgarh fort, is Shekhawati’s most impressive step-well, named after the woman who commissioned it, Mertani, the widow of Sardul Singh. Built in 1783, but since restored, it is about 30m deep, with sulphuric waters said to cure skin diseases. An English official reported in 1930, however, that the water here was so poisonous that anyone who drank it died a couple of hours later." - Lonely Planet: Mertani Baori
Solutions
Stepwell Restoration
Project planners need to employ local crafters and artists to ensure a community sense of ownership and involvement.
Research & Share Construction Methods
Currently people are unsure about the methods used to build stepwells, so it is not known how to replicate and build new sites, however scanning and historical research may help us uncover the secrets, allowing present and future generations to continue the practice, in new area.
Funding & Support Maintenance
Education and tourism can help instill a sense of pride among residents.
Giving the responsibility of ownership and care to a local religious or community organization ensures prolonged maintenance.
Women's groups can help insure fairness and equal access for the community.
3:22 minute video shows the geometry of these structures, explores some of their benefits, and a little about the women who commissioned them.
Water Quality Control
Roofing and sun shades could help keep out debris (including plastic that floats on the wind) and or help direct additional rainwater into the well.
Ocean-Friendly Garden Practices can help reduce pollutant load in ground water as well as other bodies of water.
SUDS can help increase the amount of fresh water re-entering aquifers, which in turn could help reduce groundwater salinity.
Materials
"Ancient water harvesting techniques integrated stepwells into agricultural and irrigation networks using prefabricated structures, to allow open channel flow, networked with surface water bodies. They demonstrated the use of Persian wheels, non-mechanized farm machinery, other agricultural implements, etc., and their structure utilized a vast array of local building materials, including granite, marble, sandstone, bricks, lime, mud, wood, etc. The utilization of agricultural wastes, such as rice husk, in the production of lakhori bricks is strongly associated with circular economy principles." - Fractal Geometry in Water Conservation Structures: Step Wells and Tanks in India
Fuel Types
Water Cycle - Rain and aquifer water + gravity.
Geometry of these structures helps reduce evaporation, and the cooling effect of the water also doubles as passive cooling for hot days, benefiting people without modern air conditioning.
Regions Used
Asia
India
Pakistan
"Losar Baoli (the Losar Stepwell) is a stepwell in the Margalla Hills of the Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan. Near the town of Shah Allah Ditta in the Potohar Plateau, the area was a passageway for caravans and armies moving along the east–west direction.
Constructed using dressed bricks, the well can be accessed from Shah Allah Ditta in Sector D-13, via the Kenthla-Haripur Road, established in 2007 by a federal minister.[1] With a six-foot diameter, the well continues to supply water to local residents for their daily needs.[1] Its surroundings, filled with trees and bird songs, provide a restful spot for locals and travelers.[1]" - Wikipedia: Losar Baoli
Stepwell Restoration
"To rehabilitate the stepwells, garbage and debris must first be removed, and then the stepwell must be desilted to reconnect the reservoir to the water table. In areas where there is significant unregulated pumping from wells, groundwater levels may be significantly below the lowest depths of the baoli, presenting a need for stewardship not only of the stepwell itself, but also equitable water policy for the surrounding areas to recharge groundwater." - A Comprehensive Review of the Potential of Stepwells as Sustainable Water Management Structures
Engaging in healthy water stewardship may also help mediate or even solve the issue some stepwells have of increasing water salinity, as this is an indication of over extraction which increases seawater intrusion into aquifers, as well as other human activities including:
General steps for reclaiming abandoned and damaged stepwells are:
Clean out all debris and clean out any dirty water or algae.
Hire masonry workers or other appropriate restoration workers to mend walls, steps, or other parts of the infrastructure.
Hire local artists to decorate. This helps the community feel connected with their ancestors, and gives each location it's own sense of character. Traditional art can help boost tourism, tell stories about the location's history or about important religious/spiritual concepts or stories. Art brings people together and instills a sense of pride in their community's places.
Appoint a local group to oversee cleanliness and upkeep. This may be a woman's group, or religious organization who can raise funds for future maintenance, and ensure visitors respect the local rules.
Resources
Rehabilitating A Unique Form of Hindu Architecture talks about specific actions taken to restore stepwells, including comittees and what groups of people where involved. Also includes some before and after photos.
Step-Wells, Done Well This explains that some stepwells can simply be dug out by hand after previous generations filled them with mud, silt, but sometimes less simple things to deal with like garbage or concrete.
Complimentary Options
Rain Barrels/Butts & Cisterns
Today we can still find examples of ancient cisterns, but today's models often contain synthetic parts including washers which help prevent leaks, but mush be replaced over time. Modern alternatives include metal, plastic, and other materials which are more portable than ancient versions.
Life Expectancy: 20 years.
Pro: Safely stores rain or grey water for later use.
Con: An turn into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, or be contaminated with dead animals that can fall/get trapped inside. I've found dead frogs who might have hatched but not been able to get out. Dead leaves can build up, leaching tannins into the water.
Solution: Install fixtures that will help keep wildlife and leaves out of the system. Make sure to clean these to prevent plugging and backups. Empty and clean out the container periodically.
Fuel Types: Water Cycle + Gravity
Rooftop Harvesting
SUDS
SUDs are systems that help guide water once it has made contact with the ground, including swales, water gardens, road-side drainage, dams, reservoirs, etc. There will be another post on this massive topic later, but until then, the following talks about simple, practical ways to get started on the topic.
Peru’s ancient water systems can help protect communities from shortages caused by climate change.
Key Lines
Swales
Trees
Tree cover of around 30% was found to provide
Tools & Resources
Landscaping Know-How
Greener LAND "This tool helps you decide which landscape interventions are best suited towards landscape restoration for the landscape you operate in. Start by selecting the characteristics of your landscape on your left."
Stepwell Design Info
A Comprehensive Review of the Potential of Stepwells as Sustainable Water Management Structures
Study of Ancient Stepwells in India "Stepwells are one of the most unique and very less known parts of the Indian architecture, especially the beautiful carvings of walls of these water sources. Stepwells are basically deep dug trenches or rock-cut wells or ponds of water reached by a winding group of stairs or steps and are variously known as ‘bawdi’, ‘baoli’, ‘vav’, ‘vavdi’, ‘vai’, ‘kalyani’, or ‘pushkarni’. The Sanskrit Silpa-Shastras and ancient inscriptions refer to them as ‘Vapi’ or ‘Vapika’."
Modern Concepts
Geometrical Design for Water Conservation
Fractal Geometry in Water Conservation Structures: Step Wells and Tanks in India "The scientific and philosophical concepts have been transferred from one generation to another through architectural forms and designs since ancient time. Fractal geometry is one such concept which was applied in different forms of architecture, like temples, palaces, town planning and even street designing. The geometric principles used for construction of temples, bridges, water bodies, stupās, and their design in plan and elevation are some of architectural and technological marvels achieved in past. This paper describes the application of fractal geometry used in the architecture of artificial water conservation structures in India. The cultural heritage of such structures from the vedic to medieval period has been explored. It focuses on the salient features of step wells and water tanks (kunḍa) as engineering structures and distinguishes between them." Includes a chart with data such as # of steps and openings to the sky, angle of descent. There are also many photos, diagrams, a map, and further descriptions of things including building materials.
Asia
India
The Flow Partnership "Together, we are embarking on a project to restore six such ruined stepwells, starting with the restoration of SEVADAS KI BAWARI stepwell located in village Kharkhara in district Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. When restored, the Sevadas Ki Bawari stepwell will provide ample water for all the needs of over 4000 villagers of the area. Sevadas Ki Bawari stepwell was built by a local saint of the village, Saint Sevadas, approximately a thousand years ago. This three-storied stepwell, though in ruins today, has a hidden glorious history and splendour. It used to be full of water that was sufficient for the needs of the local village communities for the whole year. There were artistic paintings on the walls, galleries, ceilings, arches and gates, which would attract visitors and locals alike. All of them have are now damaged but they can be restored to their previous glory. Craftsmen to work on these structures are still alive who possess and remember the skills needed for restoration."
Rainwater Project "So far, Rainwater Project has restored six historic water structures in Telangana — Kokapet Well, Goshala Well, Kondapur Well, Gachibowli, Baaram Bavi and Bansilalpet Well." "It also offers rainwater harvesting and water conservation consultancy services for individual homes, gated communities, farms, resorts, schools and other institutions." - Kalpana Ramesh: The architect leading restoration of Telangana’s historic stepwells
WASH "curriculum has been developed and integrated in schools (Shikshaniketan, Residential Bridge Schools & Solar Bridge Schools) run by Barefoot College International. Every year, new activities and methods are included which makes learning interactive. Area covered include Water, Sanitation, Health, Hygiene and Environment."
Maps
Asia
India
A Comprehensive Review of the Potential of Stepwells as Sustainable Water Management Structures "Baolis, or stepwells, are underground reservoirs where water can be stored close to the groundwater level to ensure a constant water supply during the dry season, one of two monsoon seasons across the Indian subcontinent. Baolis were first constructed as rock-cut stepwells between 200 and 400 AD to ensure water during periods of drought."
Delhi
Grants & Funding
Asia
India
The SVP-NGO Partnership "SVP India, through its chapters, gives financial grants and mentoring support to NGOs working primarily in the areas of livelihood, employment, and income generation.
SVP typically provides a grant of Rs 10 – 15 lac per annum to the NGO. However, the greater benefit for our investee organizations lies in leveraging the time, skills, and expertise of the SVP partner group, the value of which can easily be 3 – 5x of the financial support.
Our partners act as mentors, supporting the founder and top management of the NGO to achieve their goals. We provide strategic guidance, as well as open our networks to the NGO, removing roadblocks in order to accelerate the growth of our investee NGOs.
SVP’s unique model allows for both financial, and non-financial support of qualifying NGOs."