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)
Role of private sector in promoting rainwater harvesting' - bRAINstorming
Newsletter of International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance - N° 37 – April 2011 Posted on 06 Apr, 2011 05:20 PM

Content courtesy: IRHA

Rainwater harvesting in Bangalore - Article from Countercurrents
It's not yet full blown summer and Bangalore and India is already reeling from lack of fresh water. Posted on 28 Mar, 2011 10:20 AM

Anchor in one of the local papers said, residents of a locality in Bangalore are buying bottles of mineral water to bathe in! There is also a tanker mafia in the city that charges anywhere upwards of 500 rupees for a tanker of water. Most buildings need at least two tankers of water to manage in a day. That is how tough this summer is going to be. Then why?

The Braj Foundation wins the best NGO award for reviving rural water bodies
By restoring nearly 36 ancient water bodies, the Braj Foundation has created an additional water retention capacity of 3 Lakh cubic meters in the Golden Triangle of Delhi - Agra - Jaipur. Posted on 15 Mar, 2011 06:16 PM

In a recent function held in New Delhi, a NGO The Braj Foundation won the award for the Best NGO for the revival of rural water bodies.The foundation is run by a team of committed professionals from various walks of life.

Award ceremony video.

 

2nd training course on rain water harvesting, Indian Water Works Association, 9th & 10th April 2011, Mumbai
Posted on 28 Feb, 2011 11:52 AM

Indian Water Works Association

Organizer: Indian Water Works Association

Venue: Conference hall, IWWA head quarters building, Mumbai

Steps to create awareness about rainwater harvesting and encouragement to states for implementation of rainwater harvesting projects - PIB release
The Parliament has been informed that the mean annual rainfall is 1,170 mm with wide regional variation. Posted on 25 Feb, 2011 10:41 AM

 Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on the average annual rainfall and rainwater harvesting, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Water Resources, said that rain water is harvested through surface storages and recharge of ground water.The total storage capacity created through major and medium projects is around 225 BCM. The data on quantum of rainwater harvested through groundwater recharging is 433 BCM. Ministry of Water Resources does not maintain the data on quantum of water harvested due to manmade structures separately.It is estimated that the water utilized in 2010 is about 681 BCM.

Water management is necessary to harness India's monsoon - Need to relearn ancient methods too - Interview with Ranjan Panda, Water Initiatives Orissa
With considerable experience at the grassroots and at macro levels, Ranjan Panda drought-proofs perennially drought-prone areas in Orissa. Posted on 24 Feb, 2011 10:19 AM


Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) in Andhra Pradesh - An overview - Paper presented at the National Seminar on Water and Culture (2007)
Inadequate and unreliable water in the lower command area of Andhra, leaves the farmers with little hope Posted on 14 Feb, 2011 02:57 AM

This paper describes a PIM initiative undertaken by the Government of  Andhra Pradesh. The need for PIM in Andhra Pradesh, was felt because farmers, especially those in the lower reaches of the command area of the project, suffer from inadequate and unreliable supplies.

Urban Rainwater Harvesting'- bRAINstorming
Newsletter of International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance - N° 36 – February 2011 Posted on 10 Feb, 2011 11:11 AM

International Rainwater Harvesting AllianceThe International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance newsletter for February 2011. Newsletter focuses on all activities concerning rainwater harvesting.

  • Potential water availability from rainwater harvesting in India
    Rainwater harvesting can play an important role in supplying urban dwellers with water. The impermeable roof surfaces that are widespread within a city, lend themselves perfectly to the collection of rainwater.
Watershed prioritisation atlas for Maharashtra
A resource database by MRSAC on 1:2,50,000 scale using GIS technique Posted on 09 Feb, 2011 07:34 AM

This document by the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Applications Centre (MRSAC) presents the “Atlas on Watershed Prioritisation” using resources database on 1:2,50,000 scale adopting a

Urban Rainwater Harvesting, CSE, 22nd - 25th March, 2011, Anil Agarwal Green College, New Delhi
Posted on 05 Feb, 2011 01:19 PM

Centre for Science and EnvironmentOrganizer: Centre for Science and Environment(CSE)

Venue: Anil Agarwal Green College, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi

Topics:

  • Overview – Water – yesterday, today and tomorrow
  • Science of rainwater harvesting 
  • Technology of rainwater harvesting 
  • Harvesting the city’s water endowment
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