The evolution and decline of traditional water management systems: a case study of Jaipur, India

Since their inception, human civilizations have settled around water resources and developed indigenous water management strategies. However, owing to population growth and rapid urbanization over the last century, these traditional systems have declined. One such example is the case of Jaipur City, which was planned in the eighteenth century. This study examines the evolution and decline of traditional water management systems (TWMS) in Jaipur, one of the earliest systematically planned cities in post-medieval India. Using a combined macro- and micro-level approach, the research integrates historical analysis with primary field surveys of 35 traditional water structures conducted between April and May 2023. The results show a clear transition from decentralized, community-managed systems such as traditional water structures (stepwells, kunds, and tankas) and lakes to centralized, piped water supply networks, driven first by colonial engineering interventions and later by post-independence urban expansion. This research contributes a chronological and spatial understanding of Jaipur’s hydrological transformation, identifying key phases of neglect and policy misdirection that led to the loss of traditional water systems. It highlights the urgent need to reintegrate these heritage structures into modern water management frameworks as decentralized recharge systems and cultural assets, essential for improving urban water resilience in arid and semi-arid regions.