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)
Some success stories from across Tamil Nadu - Rainwater harvesting - TWAD
Documented success stories in rainwater harvesting from Tamil Nadu Posted on 18 Sep, 2009 10:24 AM

This site includes some success stories from across Tamil Nadu, documented by the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board. These include:

The Chennai Rain Centre - A one-stop information and assistance center on rainwater harvesting.
A document on rainwater harvesting in Chennai Posted on 17 Sep, 2009 02:33 PM

The Chennai Rain Centre, the first of its kind in the country, is a one-stop information and assistance center on rainwater harvesting.

Watershed scale planning- Application of rainwater harvesting techniques
Two examples of a watershed scale application of rainwater harvesting techniques. Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 04:20 PM

The first project was conducted by the BAIF Development Research Foundation in the Hassan District of Karnataka. They created a linked network of 350 farm ponds covering 700 hectares of the watershed.

How to catch rainwater where it falls - An intoduction
A manual -for anyone who wants to make good use of rainwater wherever it falls in the landscape. Posted on 14 Sep, 2009 04:39 PM

 Perhaps you are a farmer and you want to practice good water and soil management for your crops and trees, or you own some land and you want to manage it carefully to recharge the groundwater. You may be focusing on what you can do with your own land, or wondering what your community can do, or you may even be thinking at the watershed level.

Rural schools in Rajasthan -The Barefoot College experience
Best Practices in Water Management-Case Studies from Rural India-2005 German Agro Action, 2005
Posted on 12 Sep, 2009 04:27 PM



In 2003, the Ministry of Water Resources sanctioned a pilot project to harvest rainwater in 100 rural schools across 13 states in the country through 20 village Community Based Organizations (CBOs). The project aimed to provide adequate water for drinking and sanitation by collecting rainwater from the roof tops of school buildings and storing this in underground water tanks. The Barefoot College, Tillonia outlines the simple and low cost traditional technique which can serve as a permanent sweet drinking water source for school children in rural areas.

India's experience with drought management: Changed perspectives and challenges
Drought is a natural disaster. Nearly 200 million ha land in India in 135 districts of 13 states are severely affected by drought four times in every 10 years. Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 02:43 PM

This document describes the drought situation in India over the years, the earlier perspective at drought management and the gradual change in perspective at managing droughts that evolved over the years.

Using water sustainably in agriculture: Increasing productivity and farm income
Better water management in agriculture will go a long way in improving our crop productivity and thereby total output to feed the masses, not only of India but also of other parts of the world. Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 01:29 PM

Agriculture is a vital sector in India with about 60% of the population engaged in agricultural vocations and contributing to about 30% of the GDP. It consumes about 80% of water used in the country and 76% of the net irrigated area in the country is from ground water sources.

How to recharge groundwater: The many techniques of artificial recharge
An article that explains the basics of how to recharge groundwater Posted on 26 Aug, 2009 01:57 PM

An article in Parivesh, produced b the ENVIS Centre – the Central Pollution Control Board explores the advantage of groundwater recharge, in particular artificial recharge systems. These help to prevent decline in groundwater tables, and resolve saline water intrusion, a common problem in coastal areas.

Rainwater harvesting made mandatory in Andhra Pradesh: All Municipal Corporations and Urban Development authorities directed to implement provisions
Find the link to the Government order specifying provisions which make rainwater harvesting compulsory in Andhra Pradesh Posted on 21 Aug, 2009 02:38 PM

This government order on the rainwater harvesting website of Centre for Science and Environment makes rainwater harvesting  mandatory in all Municipal Corporations, Urban Development Authorities and Municipalities, buildings with an a

Government order making rainwater harvesting mandatory in Kanpur (2003)
Find the link to the government order which makes rainwater harvesting mandatory in all new buildings with an area of 1000 sq m or more in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh Posted on 21 Aug, 2009 01:08 PM

This hindi document from the rainwater harvesting site of the Centre for Science and Envir

×