Science Art Integration

MADE BY 6B SCIENCE GROUP

TRADITIONAL METHODS OF WATER CONSERVATION
• KERALA AND HIMACHAL PRADESH
TRADITIONAL METHODS OF WATER
CONSERVATIONS IN KERALA
** SURANGAS
 **SURANGAS
• Surangas continue to be one of the relatively less known and gradually disappearing traditional water
harvesting systems of Kasargod district, Kerala and are being gradually replaced by borewells to meet
the water needs of the community.
• Surangas can be compared to a horizontal well or cave excavated in hard laterite soil formations from
which water seeps out, and flows out of the tunnel to be collected in open ponds. Despite their
decline, they continue to be a lifeline for a large number of farmers in Kasargod, who depend on
surangas to meet their drinking water needs.
• There is an urgent need to create awareness about restoring and reviving these traditional water
harvesting structures that are not only far more sustainable in the long run than borewells, but carry
with them the remnants of the age old wisdom of treating nature with respect and using natural
resources wisely.
RAIN WATER HARVESTING IN INDIVIUAL
HOUSES
Kerala State people usually uses saree to catch rain water and thus employing various processes
of water harvesting such as catchment, transport and filtration by using saree. A makeshift
arrangement, the traditional method of RWH is deployed for three months of monsoon in some
heavy rainfall areas. In Kerala State it is used in Kuttanad (Alappuzha district). Kuttanad, situated
below mean sea level does not have water scarcity, but the water is non-potable. Families boil the
water before drinking and also not hesitant to drink rain water.
In Palakkad district of Kerala, tanks / ponds are acting as common
recharge structures to ground water reservoir and are also acting as
traditional water harvesting system generally practiced in the rural areas
of the district. In vernacular language tanks / ponds are known as the
kulams
The most common traditional practices adopted for water conservation
are

• Mulching coconut/arecanut basins with leaves, coir pith etc.,

• Coconut husk burial in the interspaces of coconut/ arecanut garden,

• Half-moon bund around coconut basin reinforced with pineapple, and

• Trench filled with coconut husk.
Weather pattern in Kerala
• Kerala enjoys three major seasons – summer, monsoon and winter.
• Summer begins in March and ends in May, and winter begins around November and
remains until February. Monsoon season in Kerala comes twice a year. Southwest
monsoon, from June to August, is the main rainy season. And Northeast monsoon, also
known as the retreating monsoon, comes around October-November.
Weather pattern in Kerala
• Kerala enjoys two monsoon seasons. And one of them begins by the end of June. This is
known as the south west monsoon and it is the main rainy season in Kerala. While the
weather remains humid during this time of the year, cool breeze from south-west and
refreshing showers replace the scorching Sun.
• The south west monsoon or Edavappathy is characterised by torrential rains. The rivers
are full of water, and the entire region gets a lush green cover. The average maximum
temperature during the season is 30°C, and the minimum temperature is around 20°C.
This monsoon season goes away by mid-August, leaving a pleasant weather with
occasional rainfall.
Rain Fall in Kerala
• Kerala State has Wet Tropical Monsoon climate, offering a pleasant atmosphere throughout the year.
Summer extends from the month of April to June. The maximum temperature ranges up to 33ºC and
minimum temperature remains within 20ºC. Kerala State receives copious rainfall with an average
annual rainfall of 3000 mm each year. Rainfall is received during two monsoon seasons (northeast &
southwest) spread over 106 rainy days. Kerala State is drained by 44 rivers and among these 41 rivers
are west- and others are east-flowing rivers. The estimated annual yield of 44 rivers of Kerala State is
70.323 million cubic meters (MCM). Kerala’s western coastal belt is interrupted by a system of
interconnected salty channels, estuaries, lakes and rivers known as the backwaters. Based on elevation
Kerala is divided into three physiographic zones- low land (elevation less than 7.6 m. above mean sea
level) occupied by Tertiaries and alluvium, mid land (between 7.6 and 76 m. above mean sea level)
occupied by exposure of Charnockites and Khondalites and are overlain by laterite and High land with an
elevation of more than 76 m. above mean sea level occupied by various Gneisses, Khondalites and
Charnockites. The eastern part of the state is bounded by Western Ghats / Sahyadris and western part
Laccadive Sea The geomorphic / physiographic map of Kerala State is compiled.
Rain fall in Kerala

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Rain water harvesting in Himachal Pradesh

Kuhl
• Kuhl are water channels found in precipitous mountain areas. These channels
carry water from glaciers to villages in the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh.
Where the terrain is muddy, the kul is lined with rocks to keep it from becoming
clogged. In the Jammu region too, similar irrigation systems called kuhls are
found.
Kuhl
Khatri
• Khatris are structures, about 10x12 feet in size and six feet deep carved out in
the hard rock mountain. The specially trained masons construct them at a cost of
Rs 10,000-20,000 each. These traditional water harvesting structures are found
in Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh. There are
two types of khatris: one for animals and washing purposes in which
rain water is collected from the roof through pipes, and other used for
human consumption in which rainwater is collected by seepage
through rocks. Interestingly, the khatris are owned by individual as
well as by a community. There are government khatris as well, which
are maintained by the panchayat.
Khatri
Modern water conservation methods
• Rain water harvesting
• Water metering
• Grey water recycling
• Pressure reducing valaves water efficient
bathroom accessories
Modern water conservation methods
 Weather pattern in Himachal Pradesh

• Number of seasons Himachal Pradesh has three seasons – summer, winter

and monsoon.Winter seasons by October, nights and mornings are very
cold. Snowfall at elevations of nearly 3000 m is about 3 m and lasts from
December start to March-end. About 4500 m, is perpetual snow.Spring
seasons.The spring season starts from mid-February to mid-April. The
weather is pleasant and comfortable in the season. (Spring can be referred
to as the beginning of summer as in spring the weather usually turns
warmer, trees begin to grow their leaves, plants start to flower.
 Weather pattern in Himachal Pradesh
In summer the weather is usually warm, trees have full green leaves and the
amount of time it is light during the day is longer.)Summer seasonsSummer
lasts from mid-April till the end of June and most parts become very hot
(except in alpine zones which experience mild summer) with the average
temperature ranging from 28 °Celcius (82 °Fahrenheit) to 32 °Celsius(90
°Fahrenheit).Rainy seasonsThe rainy season starts at the end of the month of
June. The landscape lushes green and fresh. During the seasonal streams
and natural springs are replenished. The heavy rains in July and August
cause erosion, floods and landslides. Of all the state districts, Dharamsala
receives the highest rainfall, nearly 130 mm. Spiti is the driest area of the
state (rainfall below 50mm). The reason is that it is enclosed by high
mountains on all sides. The rainy season lasts from June last(July) till
Water conservation
Water conservation
Water conservation song

• Recording_3 (2).m4a
WATER CONSERVATION

•CONSERVE WATER ,CONSERVE LIFE

•SAVE WATER ,AND IT WILL SAVE YOU
 SUBMITTED BY
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