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)
Decision tree based approach to water : A presentation by Durjoy Chakraborty
A decision tree based approach for water projectcs
Durjoy Chakraborty
Posted on 25 Nov, 2009 04:55 AM

On technology and policy, on what works and what doesn't, on what should work and what can be scaled up... there have been numerous approaches and methodologies presented here at WHSC. That too, with a good number of case studies, substatiating the effectiveness of the chosen approach. Planning at micro and macro levels too, have been deliberated upon.
Traditional techniques of water management - Interesting cases presented by Farhad Contractor & Rajendra Singh
A discussion on water harvesting and conservation, traditional water management systems that have existed over centuries, in India.
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 24 Nov, 2009 09:58 PM

Rajendra Singh of Tarun Bharat Sangh and Farhad Contractor of Sambhaav Trust, had

Speakers and presentations of the WHSC 2009 Day 2 : Rajendra Singh emphasises the need for decentralized water management
A compilation of presentations during the WHSC 2009
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 24 Nov, 2009 05:11 AM

Rajendra Singh

 

 
Recommendations of Working Group meeting - Planning and implementation issues related to Rain Water Harvesting(RWH)
Issues related to planning and implementation largely concerned with water quality, budgeting and equity.
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 24 Nov, 2009 04:12 AM

The issues related to planning and implementation were largely concerned with water quality, budgeting and equity.

The group deemed it necessary that the following are addressed on a greater priority:

  1. Centralized vs. decentralized rainwater harvesting
  2. Water quality aspects in rainwater harvesting system
  3. Water quality management through rainwater harvesting
Recommendations of Working Group meeting on policy issues- Water harvesting issues
Identification of the main issues in water harvesting and its recommendations
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 24 Nov, 2009 03:37 AM

Working Group Meetings formed by a panel of experts in the respective field, formed a significant aspect of WHSC Conference. The conference is geared towards effecting a change in the way water resources are governed and managed. Towards this, the working group meeting's recommendations were valuable, and awaited.

 
Storm water management and artificial recharge - A talk by Dr.S.K.Jain
An interesting talk on 'Storm water management, artificial recharge and improvement in ground water regime'
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 24 Nov, 2009 12:16 AM

All these decades from early twentieth century, storm water and artificial recharge of aquifers have seldom been an area of consideration for planners and policy makers. The country appeared to be oblivious to the fact that these too are integral part of the resources that we need to take care of before it starts hitting back at us in our daily lives!
Case presentation by Bharat Sharma on water crisis and nationwide water harvesting initiative
A case for a larger perspective on the water crisis and for a Nationwide Water Harvesting Initiative
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 23 Nov, 2009 08:09 PM

Bharat2

Bharat Sharma (Photo:Praveena Sridhar)
India threatened by flood-drought syndrome, says Mr M.Gopalakrishnan
A talk on policy support issues in basin management that compares small scale water harvesting sytems with large dams , citing how each one of them stand as an answer in different situations
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 23 Nov, 2009 02:36 PM

 

Gopalkrishna

M.Gopalakrishnan speaking on Policy Issues (Photo: Praveena Sridhar)
Speakers and presentations WHSC 2009 day 1 : Ramaswamy Iyer delivers the keynote address
A resource page on the speakers and their presentations
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 23 Nov, 2009 02:54 AM

 

The speaker line up for the opening day of the conference has some of the most respected names in the water sector, in India. I have put together resource pages for each of the speaker's profiles and the subject of their talk.

 
Technological options and mechanisms for water harvesting, storage and conservation - WHSC 2009
Description of the conference -2009 Water – Harvesting, Storage and Conservation Conference (WHSC)
Praveena Sridhar
Posted on 20 Nov, 2009 04:30 AM

Policy – Technology – Planning – Implementation has seldom been one straight highway in developmental issues like infrastructure, poverty, education or water! An all-encompassing approach to address these issues requires effective conversations.
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