Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a simple method by which rainfall is collected for future usage. The collected rainwater may be stored, utilised in different ways or directly used for recharge purposes. With depleting groundwater levels and fluctuating climate conditions, RWH can go a long way to help mitigate these effects. Capturing the rainwater can help recharge local aquifers, reduce urban flooding and most importantly ensure water availability in water-scarce zones. Though the term seems to have picked up greater visibility in the last few years, it was, and is even today, a traditional practice followed in rural India. Some ancient rainwater harvesting methods followed in India include madakas, ahar pynes, surangas, taankas and many more.

This water conservation method can be easily practiced in individual homes, apartments, parks, offices and temples too, across the world. Farmers have recharged their dry borewells, created water banks in drought areas, greened their farms, increased sustainability of their water resources and even created a river. Technical know how for the rooftop RWH with direct storage can be availed for better implementation. RWH An effective method in water scarce times, it is also an easily doable practice. Practical advice is available in books written by Indukanth Ragade & Shree Padre, talks by Anupam Mishra and other easy to follow fun ways

Read our FAQ on Rainwater Harvesting and have many basic questions answered.

Featured Articles
September 21, 2022 The unique design and functioning of the Chakla bavdi in Chanderi Madhya Pradesh is another example of the water wisdom of our ancestors, which needs to be conserved and passed on to the future generations.
Chakla Bavdi at Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh (Image Source: Shirole, S. 2022. Architectural eloquence: Water harvesting structure in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh (India). Ancient Asia, 13: 9, pp. 1–13)
July 14, 2022 The river is faced with the dual problem of flood plain encroachment and growing levels of water pollution
Illegal transverse check dams (Badhals) built on Ichamati near a village in Basirhat (Image: Prithviraj Nath @ TheWaterChronicles)
July 11, 2022 The Chauka system of Rajasthan can not only provide a sustainable way to manage water resources in water stressed regions, but also support livelihoods through development of pastures.
Can greening of barren lands happen? (Image Source: India Water Portal Flickr photos)
March 21, 2022 Recognizing women's accumulated knowledge and adaptive capacities in springshed management
Van Panchayat Samiti discussing the matters related to forest (Image: Varun Raja)
November 9, 2021 Building resilient agricultural system through groundwater management interventions in degraded landscapes of Bundelkhand region
Charkhari talab in Bundelkhand (Image: IWP Flickr)
July 23, 2021 Improper location, poor operation and maintenance of water harvesting and recharge structures threaten water security in Yavatmal
A study assesses the current status of the water harvesting and recharge structures in Yavatmal (Image: India Water Portal Flickr)
A study on the issues of the inland fisheries and the policy framework governing the sector
Inspite of the immense potential of rainfed fisheries sector in India, fishing cooperatives have failed to function properly making it an unviable enterprise in the country Posted on 07 Jul, 2012 03:04 PM

Issue of Commons and institutional arrangements:

The Chhattisgarh ground water (regulation and control of development and management) bill, 2012
This article presents the details of the groundwater bill Posted on 03 Jul, 2012 10:48 AM

This document by Government of Chattisgarh spells out the characteristic features of the Chhattisgarh’s ground water bill.  This bill is meant to regulate and development of groundwater and matters connected with it. The bill was enacted by the state legislature in 2012.

Two talukas, Jat & Atpadi, in Sangli district of Maharashtra face worst drought despite river Krishna flowing just 100 kms away
Drought has again hit large parts of Maharashtra this year. But the worst affected are two talukas in Sangli district Posted on 05 Jun, 2012 02:09 PM

 

Traditional water management systems - An overview of the Ahar-Pyne system in the South Bihar plains in India and the need for its revival - A paper from the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge
This article describes a traditional water harvesting system, the Ahar Pyne system still practised in south plains of Bihar Posted on 23 May, 2012 04:45 PM

This paper published in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge provides a brief overview of the the Ahar-Pyne system, a traditional water harvesting system still practised in the sout

Rainwater harvesting in Bangalore: Who are the real beneficiaries?
Author: K P Vidyashankar

I have used a pop up filter (rainy type) to filter rain water and inject it into a open well. The water in the open well sometimes stinks and it is not clear where the contamination has occurred because all wells in the area are smelling. In our area water is available at about 7 feet depth. Obviously rooftops have bird droppings as a major source of infection. Now by pouring the filtered water into the open well -
Posted on 13 May, 2012 02:21 PM

A) Will the ground water really be recharged? There are about 100 houses in the area and  most have rain water harvesting (RWH). My fear is that the well will overflow and water again goes to the storm drains

B) Will the ground water in aquifers get infected? Then why are we doing this RWH (Lot of money, I have also spent like others).

How soil and water conservation transformed the lives of people in a remote village - The case of Gulliyada village in Talavadi block of Erode district, Tamil Nadu
Soil and water conservation are necessary to make agriculture self sufficient, sustainable and viable especially in hilly regions that are hard pressed for these resources. MYRADA (Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency), as an institution, is involved in a big way in various activities that engage local people in planning for the development of their area in the three southern states. In Erode district of Tamil Nadu, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) has been instrumental in bringing about a marked change in the topography of the region. Posted on 09 May, 2012 04:12 PM

Author: Seetha Gopalakrishnan

MYRADA and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Erode district, Tamil Nadu

Privatisation of urban water supply in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh - An update from Manthan Adyayan Kendra
Khandwa is a medium-sized town located in western Madhya Pradesh. The 'Khandwa water supply augmentation project' has been awarded to Vishwa Utilities Pvt. Ltd., a Hyderabad based company under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis for water supply augmentation to the town, for the next 25 years. The project has been under execution since October 2009. The private party would supply water to the town @ Rs 11.95 per KL. The raw water for this would be pumped from a reservoir 51 km, away from the town. This report by Gaurav Dwivedi and Rehmat, Manthan Adhyayan Kendra deals with the privatisation of urban water supply in the town. Posted on 09 May, 2012 09:53 AM

Startling conditionalities

Precious Kaveri water down the drain; wasted to wash vehicles: Letter to the Chairman, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
I tried sending a suggestion to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to tackle the urgent crisis in Karnataka this hot summer but didn't get any reply. Water crisis is a serious issue. When people do not have water to irrigate their lands, to drink for themselves, it pains me in the heart to see people wasting water profusely to wash their vehicles which goes down the drain. Manjunath M P presents the letter he sent to the Chairman, BWSSB. Posted on 23 Apr, 2012 12:47 PM

Dear Chairman BWSSB,

Training workshop on ground water management, rain water harvesting and artificial recharge, Earth Water Group, April 20-21, 2012, at Rajputana Resort, Udaipur
Posted on 16 Apr, 2012 11:38 AM

Organiser: Earth Water Group

Venue:     Rajputana Resort and Lake Palace Nahargarh
                Sec-11, Hiran Mangri,
                Near Savina Math,
                Udaipur – 313001
                Rajasthan

 

EWG

 

Incepted in 2000, the Earth Water Group is a frontrunner in addressing key issues facing the world sector today viz: Infrastructure Development, Quality of Water, Water Conservation and Environmental Protection etc.

Toolkit for integrated urban water management, developed by Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy
This toolkit published by the Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy (IRAP) is an outcome of a study that involved exhaustive review of research undertaken all over the world on various aspects of urban water management by scholars and practitioners. It is not only relevant for water managers of urban local bodies, but also senior policy makers, scholars and practitioners concerned with water resources, particularly urban water. Posted on 12 Apr, 2012 11:24 PM

The review included, but was not limited to urban hydrology, management of water supply infrastructure, water resources management, water quality management (WQM), groundwater management, technical and economic instruments for water demand management, technical and economic aspects of leakage reduction, environmental and economic aspects of wastewater treatment and reuse, storm water management

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