Rainwater Harvesting

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The ancient ingenuity of water harvesting
Technical manual for 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 Chakla bavdi of Chanderi
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
Ichamati: River of poetry is dying a slow death
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
Greening of barren lands – the local way
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
Celebrating the role of hill women in springshed development and governance
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
Potential of rainwater management in Bundelkhand
Building resilient agricultural system through groundwater management interventions in degraded landscapes of Bundelkhand region
Charkhari talab in Bundelkhand (Image: IWP Flickr)
July 23, 2021
Yavatmal’s water security crisis
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 rapid geohydrological study of microwatersheds from Bolangir district, Orissa state - A report by ACWADAM
Planning water resource management in one of the hottest and most backward regions of India, Bolangir district in Orissa
Himanshu Kulkarni
Uma Badrayani
Vinit Phadnis
Posted on 16 Jul, 2010 03:50 PM

BolangirThis document by ACWADAM is a report of a rapid geohydrological assessment of some of the microwatersheds from parts of Bolangir district Orissa.

Bolangir district in Orissa forms a part of one of the hottest and backward regions of India with low land-productivity, and opportunities and technologies for agriculture in the district remain relatively unexplored.

Vagaries of rainfall and the underlying hard-rock geology further compound the problem and limit agricultural productivity to a great extent. Given such natural uncertainties, systematic implementation of a watershed management programme is the most viable avenue to overcome the problems of this region.

Bolangir district was thus selected as pilot area to conduct a pre-feasibility exercise for planning of water resources management. ACWADAM, Pune was invited, along with Samaj Pragati Sahayog, Bagli to conduct this pre-feasibility exercise.

Seeds of hope - Case studies from the Planning Commission and Lokayan
This set of case studies is part of a book prepared by Lokayan in collaboration with the Planning Commission titled “Seeds of Hope"
Lokayan
Planning Commission
Posted on 12 Jul, 2010 03:33 AM

This set of case studies is part of a book prepared by Lokayan in collaboration with the Planning Commission titled “Seeds of Hope", covers themes of agricultur
Feasibility study of rainwater harvesting in semi-arid region – A research report by National Institute of Hydrology
The report gives an account of a feasibility study of rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions.
National Institute of Hydrology
Posted on 05 Jul, 2010 11:50 PM

The report gives an account of a feasibility study of rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions. A review of water harvesting systems is followed by a section wherein numerical solutions for surface flow equations are explained. 

Hydrological aspects of rainwater harvesting in the Kandi belt of Jammu region - A research report by National Institute of Hydrology
The study discusses the hydrological aspects of rainwater harvesting in the Kandi belt with the help of a case study on water availability in a pond in village Badhori, Jammu.
National Institute of Hydrology
Posted on 21 Jun, 2010 12:54 AM

The study discusses the hydrological aspects of rainwater harvesting in the Kandi belt in the foothill zone of Siwalik in Jammu region with the help of a case study on water availability in a pond in village Badhori (Samba district, Jammu). It describes the climate, soils, geology, geomorphology and drainage of the Kandi belt. It is marked with small watersheds having low denuded hills and undulating cultivated lands that need to be developed on a watershed basis through engineering and non-engineering measures of rainwater harvesting and soil conservation.

Approach and achievements of individual water management by Dr Choudhury of Guwahati
In the recent past, Dr. Dipul Choudhury from Guwahati (Assam), managed to ensure rainwater harvesting arrangements in his newly constructed multistoried building at Tarun Nagar, Guwahati (Assam). The results have been very satisfactory and he is proudly nicknamed "Resident Water Manager".
sarma.nripendra
Posted on 18 Jun, 2010 10:07 PM

In the recent past, Dr. Dipul Choudhury from Guwahati (Assam), managed to ensure rainwater harvesting arrangements in his newly constructed multistoried building at Tarun Nagar, Guwahati (Assam).
Tairne wala samaj doob raha hai: An essay by Anupam Mishra on the Bihar Floods
An essay by Anupam Mishra written in the context of the floods in Bihar, and examines the various cause & effect facets of the floods
Anupam Mishra
Posted on 18 Jun, 2010 09:55 PM

Small and big dams and big embankments were constructed in this region, without understanding the nature of the rivers which have always changed course or overshot their banks. Assuming however, that the river will not change course, the Government adopted a skewed development program - that of building embankments to contain the river.
Rain water harvesting or drain water harvesting - A serious approach to water conservation needed
Conservation of water, reuse , recycling of water is essential, otherwise we may have to drain harvest wastewater for consumption purposes.
nanosciences
Posted on 12 Jun, 2010 08:41 PM

IF CONSERVATION OF WATER SOURCES, RECYCLE, REUSE IS SERIOUSLY NOT ADOPTED NOW THE TIME IS NOT FAR WHEN WE MAY  NEED TO "DRAIN HARVEST" WASTEWATER FOR ALL KINDS OF CONSUMPTIONS.
Chasing a mirage: Water harvesting and artificial recharge in naturally water-scarce regions - An EPW paper
This paper refers to the recent plans by the Government of India to undertake artificial recharge of groundwater in over-exploited areas of the country to meet the demands for water.
Ankit Patel
M Dinesh Kumar
O P Singh
R Ravindranath
Posted on 11 Jun, 2010 12:39 PM

This paper refers to the recent plans by the Government of India to undertake artificial recharge of groundwater in over-exploited areas of the country to meet the demands for water and raises certain fundamental questions about the methods used for analysing the hydrological and economic impacts of the interventions.

Rainwater Harvesting Conference, Sear Net, Ethiopia
Posted on 01 Jun, 2010 10:42 AM

13th SearNet International Conference
Theme:"Rainwater Harvesting as a Means of Adaptation to the Challenges of Climate Change”

SearNet

Organizers: Southern and Eastern Africa Rainwater Network (SearNet), Ethiopia Rainwater Harvesting Association (ERHA), Rainwater Harvesting Implementation Network (RAIN)

Venue: Taddesse Enjori Hotel in Awassa, Ethiopia.

15th International Conference on "Rainwater Catchment Systems" - Taiwan Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, 28th march - 4th April, 2011, at Taipei and Tainan
Posted on 13 May, 2010 03:42 PM

International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association

"Worldwide Multi-objective Rainwater Harvesting and Utilization"

Organizers:

  • Taiwan Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
  • International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
  • Chinese Culture University
  • National Taiwan Ocean University
  • National Cheng Kung University

Venue:
There will be 2 separate venues:

  • Northern part of Taiwan (Chinese Culture University, Taipei), March 28-29, 2011
  • Southern part of Taiwan (National Cheng Kung University,  ), April 1, 2011

Topics:

  • Surface / groundwater water supplies
  • Domestic / agricultural / industrial / commercial usages
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