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)
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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)
Himalaya Seva Sangh newsletter (English/Hindi)
Himalaya Seva Sangh newsletter (English/Hindi) Posted on 13 Sep, 2007 10:48 PM

Newsletter of the Himalaya Seva Sangh, which is produced in both Hindi and English. Himalaya Seva Sangh is an NGO working in Uttarakhand.

The contents include :

Statement on groundwater from SANDRP
Statement on groundwater from SANDRP Posted on 12 Sep, 2007 07:34 AM

Groundwater - India's Water Lifeline needs urgent intervention

Govt is non serious about the crisis

Groundwater recharge from parking lots by Prof. Prithvi Singh Kandhal
The document is about using porous asphalt in parking lots for harvesting rainwater Posted on 12 Sep, 2007 01:21 AM

Attached is an interesting document from Prof. Prithvi Kandhal about using porous asphalt in parking lots so that rainwater seeps through it and recharges groundwater.

Dr. Kandhal has published many papers and has significant credentials in his areas of expertise. He resides in Jaipur after 35 years of working in the US.

Radio programs on rainwater harvesting
Radio programs on rainwater harvesting
Posted on 10 Jul, 2007 09:10 PM

India Water Portal has partnered with VOICES and BIRD-K to produce and broadcast a set of radio programs on rainwater harvesting.The programs are in Kannada and target audience is people of Tumkur district, though the programs can be heard over a much wider reach including Bangalore.

Visit to two villages in Chhattisgarh that have been awarded "Nirmal Gram Puraskar"
Efforts of villagers for total sanitation in Tirathgarh village of Bastar district and Dabena village of Bilaspur district bag "Nirmal Gram Puraskar" to the two villages Posted on 05 Jul, 2007 11:10 PM

Just back from a trip home (Chhattisgarh).

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