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)
Open courseware of national programme on technology enhanced learning A summary of civil engineering courses
A step toward enhancement of quality of engineering education in the country with new comprehensive course Posted on 06 Nov, 2010 07:59 AM

The India Water Portal is pleased to announce to its users, that the Civil Engineering courses from the multi-faceted and multi-modal open courseware of National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) have been put together in the form of a summary. These courses are being carried out by Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore as a collaborative project supported by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Government of India) to enhance the quality of engineering education in the country, by developing curriculum based video and web courses. In these web based lectures, the authors have developed the subject in detail and in stages in a student-friendly manner.

A training manual on integrated management of watersheds by ICRISAT
Watersheds are natural. Human intervention forces the changes in ecology and management practices . The training manual provides an account for socio-technical aspects of watershed. Posted on 05 Nov, 2010 12:05 PM

The training manual by ICRISAT on integrated management of watersheds is meant for watershed development practitioners and provides an account of the socio-technical aspects of watershed. To begin with, the definitional aspects of watershed are spelt out -

  • The term “watershed” strictly refers to the divide separating one drainage basin from another. However, over the years, the use of the term watershed to signify a drainage basin or catchment area has come to stay.
  • Hydrologically, watershed could be defined as an area from which the runoff drains through a particular point in the drainage system.

Gully control in semi arid tropical watersheds – A report by ICRISAT
Gully erosion is more difficult and expensive to control than other types of soil erosion. 4 million ha land in India is affected by its severity. Posted on 04 Nov, 2010 09:21 PM

This report prepared by ICRISAT under its Global Theme on Agroecosystems deals with the problem of gully erosion, which is common in the semi-arid region, characterized by denuded landscape and flash floods. An estimated 4 million ha land in India and 29 million ha of land in Africa are affected by severe gully erosion. Gully erosion is more difficult and expensive to control than other types of soil erosion.

"Climate change and rainwater harvestng - Brainstorming " : Newsletter of International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance, October 2010
Newsletter focuses on all activities concerning rainwater harvesting, the International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) and its partners. Posted on 28 Oct, 2010 11:31 AM


International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA)

Newsletter focuses on all activities concerning rainwater harvesting, the International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) and its partners.

Mitigating the potential unintended impacts of water harvesting - A WHiRL Research Report
Water balance studies in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have shown that water harvesting programmes impact significantly on patterns of water use and that this can result in distinct winners and losers. Posted on 20 Oct, 2010 07:28 AM

This report under the WHiRL research project by the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) identifies the potential unintended impacts of water harvesting so that, if at all possible they are avoided altogether, but if these do occur, they are recognised at an early stage and steps are taken to mitigate their affects. It highlights evidence that is emerging about water harvesting in semi-arid areas, on how water if used inappropriately, can lead to inequitable access to water resources and, in the extreme, to unreliable drinking water supplies.

Analytical Methods - A Civil Engineering Course under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning
Indian Institute of Technology’s and the Indian Institute of Science enhance the quality of engineering education in the country, by developing curriculum based video and web courses. Posted on 12 Oct, 2010 10:36 PM

This Civil Engineering Course under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) on the broad subject of Analytical Methods in Civil Engineering is being carried out by Indian Institute of Technology’s and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore as a collaborative project supported by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Government of India) to enhance the quality of engineering education in the country, by developing curriculum based video and web courses. In these web based lectures, the authors have developed the subject in detail and in stages in a student-friendly manner. The broad group of Analytical Methods in Civil Engineering is structured into modules on the following topics:

Watershed Management - A Civil Engineering Course under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning
Aiming towards better development: IIT and IISc collaborate to enhance civil engineering education in the country Posted on 12 Oct, 2010 07:54 AM

This Civil Engineering Course under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) on the broad subject of Watershed Management is being carried out by Indian Institute of Technology’s and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore as a collaborative project supported by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Government of India) to enhance the quality of engineering education in the country, by developing curriculum based video and web courses. In these web based lectures, the authors have developed the subject in detail and in stages in a student-friendly manner. 

Policy on Rain Water Harvesting - Department of Water Resources (Government of Goa) (2008)
The document provides the details of the Rainwater Harvesting policy for the State of Goa and is aimed at providing guidance to all the concerned departments for the implementation of the policy. Posted on 11 Oct, 2010 04:24 PM

This document provides the details of the Rainwater Harvesting policy for the State of Goa and is aimed at providing guidance to all the concerned departments for the implementation of the policy in the state and information to the public.

The first Professor Satish Dhawan Commemoration lecture : Role of engineering in development of economy, society and people
Aiming towards responsible citizens through better education, and understanding the role of engineering Posted on 11 Oct, 2010 03:34 PM

The first Professor Satish Dhawan Commemoration lecture organized by The Institution of Engineers (India) (IE), Karnataka State Centre delivered on 22nd September 2010 at The Institution of Engineers (India), Karnataka State Centre, No. 3, Dr. B R Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore 560 001.

Dr.Radhakrishnan, Chairman, ISRO/Secretary, DOS/Chairman, Space Commission, Dr.L V Muralikrishna Reddy, Chairman, The Institution of Engineers (India) Karnataka Sate Centre, Dr.S B Ganjigatti, Honorary Secretary and distinguished participants.