This presentation deals with a case study of rainwater harvesting of Thane city of Maharashtra. It begins with a discussion of the Environmental Status Report of the Thane Municipal Corporation for the year 1999-2000 which states that all the groundwater is non potable. The authors identify the research and development needs as follows –
- Factors responsible for non-potability of ground water,
- Paving of open lands,
- Low flushing rate,
- Decrease in green cover,
- Storm water drainage,
- Industrial sewage water,
- Domestic sewage water, and
- High and low tidal movement of water.
The authors then trace their search for possible answers – (a) Flushing the rainwater to replace or dilute the ground water (b) Modern sewage treatment systems and (c) Charging the tube-wells and bore-wells with rooftop rain water harvesting. Their awareness creation strategy comprises of –
- Study of rain-pattern to understand the potential,
- Awareness through programmes,
- Study of distribution system of city water supply and possible problems,
- Economics of drinking water,
- Threats to quality of drinking water,
- Chlorination,
- Technology for rainwater harvesting
The stress on socializing and economizing technology is founded on the following –
- Benefit to everybody
- Low cost factor
- Use of existing structure pipelines
- Revolution started with breaking of paved areas
- Soak pit concept with sand filter accepted as economic solution
- Online filters developed to charge the water to tube wells and bore wells.
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