Promotion Of Indigenous Knowledge In Water Demand Management For The Historical Old Sana'A City'S Gardens (Maqashim)

A multidisciplinary research initiative has successfully demonstrated the viability of reviving traditional gardens, known as Maqashim, in Sana'a's Old City using greywater from surrounding houses and repaving streets to redirect stormwater. The study, conducted by the Water and Environment Centre (WEC) with support from WaDImena and IDRC, identified 45 Maqashim and selected one for a pilot greywater system, achieving four key outcomes: the development of a greywater treatment system, the re-paving of streets using traditional methods, the documentation and application of economic traditional crops, and the formation of an association to maintain these gardens. The research highlights the potential for integrating indigenous knowledge with modern water management practices to address groundwater depletion and revive sustainable agricultural practices in historically significant urban areas.

Al-Nozaily, F. A. S., Pelat, F., Al-Sabri, A. K. N., Al-Haddad, A. M., & Al-Hakimi, A. (2015). Promotion Of Indigenous Knowledge In Water Demand Management For The Historical Old Sana'A City'S Gardens (Maqashim). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.208236