Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is collecting the run-off from a structure or other

impervious surface in order to store it for later use. Traditionally, this
involves harvesting the rain from a roof. The rain will collect in gutters
that channel the water into downspouts and then into some sort of storage
vessel. Rainwater collection systems can be as simple as collecting rain in
a rain barrel or as elaborate as harvesting rainwater into large cisterns to
supply your entire household demand.
The idea of rainwater harvesting usually conjures up images of an old farm
cistern or thoughts of developing countries. The reality is that rainwater
harvesting is becoming a viable alternative for supplying our households
and businesses with water. It’s not just for the farm anymore! There are
many countries such as Germany and Australia where rainwater harvesting
is a norm. Due to the green building movement, you will be seeing
rainwater harvesting systems become more popular here in America.
The collection of rainwater is known by many names throughout the
world. It ranges from rainwater collection to rainwater harvesting to
rainwater catchment. In addition, terms such as roofwater collection or
rooftop water collection is also used in other countries.
We believe that rainwater harvesting is a viable technology in an urban
setting. All that is necessary to take advantage of this resource is to capture
the free water falling on your roof and direct it to a rainwater storage tank.
By doing this, you can take control of your water supply and replace all or
at least a substantial portion of your water needs. Rainwater harvesting
systems can be configured to supply your whole house and/or your
landscape needs.
 Need for Rainwater Harvesting
Water is the reason why life exists on planet Earth, without it life is
unimaginable. However, freshwater sources are becoming scarce with the
passage of time. Reports of several global agencies including United
Nations indicate that if the current situation of water does not change and
preventive measures are not taken, then the world will start to run out of
fresh water by 2050. Rainwater Harvesting is a sustainable process that
helps in preserving rainwater for different purposes and for future needs as
well. Rainwater Harvesting is a method of collecting and storing rainwater
to be used for various purposes while it can be used in future as well.
A large quantity of water is used for irrigation and there is an urgent need
for proper water management in the irrigation sector. Over-irrigation
through canals has led to water-logging in western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,
Haryana and Hirakud command area. Seepage along the canals can be
checked by lining them. The overdraft by tube-wells has resulted in
lowering of the water table in a number of villages in Haryana, Punjab and
western Uttar Pradesh.
In arid areas, wherever water has been brought for irrigation, saline and
alkaline tracts have emerged, rendering the soil infertile. Wasteful use of
water should be checked. Sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation can play a
crucial role in conserving scarce water resources in dry areas. Drip
irrigation and sprinkles can save anywhere between 30 to 60 per cent of
water.
Only 0.5 per cent—nearly half of this in Maharashtra—is under drip
irrigation and 0.7 per cent under sprinklers. There is large-scale pollution
of water as a result of industrialization and urbanization. This trend has got
to be checked.
Although one-eighth of India is declared as flood-prone, there are several
thousand villages in India which do not have potable drinking water. The
basins should be treated as one unit for planning water utilization. Dry
farming should be practised in dry areas. The experimentation under
the National Watershed Development Program for Rainfed Agriculture is
being carried on since 1986-87.
There is a great demand of water in industries and the industrial
sector offers great opportunities to conserve water. The economy in water-
use in this sector will have two benefits. Firstly, the saved water may be
used to meet the demand in other sectors. Secondly, the affluent thrown in
the water bodies will be less.
Rainwater harvesting is the most effective method of water conservation.
It is used to collect and store rainwater for use by humans, animals,
agriculture and industries. The rainwater in this process is collected at the
surface before it is lost as surface runoff. The groundwater is then
recharged artificially through the process. This is the most useful method
for a developing country like India, where there is a huge gap in demand
and supply of fresh water while also reducing the cost of transportation
and treatment of water for use.

Rainwater Harvesting System

Rainwater harvesting systems can range in complexity, from systems that
can be installed with minimal skills, to automated systems that require
advanced setup and installation. The basic rainwater harvesting system is
more of a plumbing job than a technical job, as all the outlets from the
building's terrace are connected through a pipe to an underground tank that
stores water. There are common components that are installed in such
systems, such as pre-filters (see e.g. vortex filter), drains/gutters, storage
containers, and depending on whether the system is pressurized, also
pumps, and treatment devices such as UV lights, chlorination devices and
post-filtration equipment.
Systems are ideally sized to meet the water demand throughout the dry
season since it must be big enough to support daily water consumption.
Specifically, the rainfall capturing area such as a building roof must be
large enough to maintain an adequate flow of water. The water storage
tank size should be large enough to contain the captured water. For low-
tech systems, many low-tech methods are used to capture rainwater:
rooftop systems, surface water capture, and pumping the rainwater that has
already soaked into the ground or captured in reservoirs and storing it in
tanks (cisterns).
 Applications Of Rainwater
Harvesting
Domestic use
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is used to provide drinking water, domestic
water, water for livestock, water for small irrigation, and a way to
replenish groundwater levels.
Agriculture
In regards to urban agriculture, rainwater harvesting in urban areas reduces
the impact of runoff and flooding. The combination of urban ‘green’
rooftops with rainwater catchments have been found to reduce building
temperatures by more than 1.3 degrees Celsius. Rainwater harvesting in
conjunction with urban agriculture would be a viable way to help meet the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for cleaner and
sustainable cities, health and wellbeing, and food and water
security (Sustainable Development Goal 6). The technology is available,
however, it needs to be remodeled in order to use water more efficiently,
especially in an urban setting.
Kenya has already been successfully harvesting rainwater for toilets,
laundry, and irrigation. Since the establishment of the country's 2016
Water Act, Kenya has prioritized the regulation of their agriculture
industry. Additionally, areas in Australia use harvested rainwater for
cooking and drinking. Studies done by Stout et al researching the
feasibility in India found RWH was most beneficial used for small-scale
irrigation, which provides income with the sales of produce, and overflow
used for groundwater recharge.
Industry
Frankfurt Airport has the biggest rainwater harvesting system in Germany.
The system helps save approximately 1 million cubic meters of water per
year. The cost of the system was 1.5 million dm (US$63,000) in 1993.
This system collects water from the roofs of the new terminal which has an
area of 26,800 square meters. The water is collected in the basement of the
airport in six tanks with a storage capacity of 100 cubic meters. The water
is mainly used for toilet flushing, watering plants and cleaning the air
conditioning system.
Rainwater harvesting was adopted at The Velodrome – The London
Olympic Park – in order to increase the sustainability of the facility. A
73% decrease in potable water demand by the park was estimated. Despite
this, it was deemed that rainwater harvesting was a less efficient use of
financial resources to increase sustainability than the
park's blackwater recycling program.
 Advantages
Reduced Water Bills
Rainwater harvesting systems are cost-effective, provide high-quality
water, lessens dependence on wells and are considerably easy to maintain
since they are not utilized for drinking, cooking or other sensitive uses.
The all-around expenditures used in setting up harvesting methods are
much cheaper compared to other purifying or pumping means. The cost of
recharge to the subsurface reservoir is also lower than the surface
reservoirs.
Ecological benefit
Storing water underground is environment-friendly. The ecological
benefits of rainwater harvesting are immense. It minimizes the impacts of
flooding by funneling the off water into large tanks for recycling and helps
reduce the load placed upon drainage systems. No land is wasted for
storage purpose and no population displacement is implicated therefore,
groundwater is not directly exposed to evaporation and pollution.
Additionally, it helps minimize the possibility of rivers drying up.
Reduces erosion and flooding around buildings
It reduces soil erosion and flood hazards by collecting rainwater and
reducing the flow of stormwater to prevent urban flooding. Most buildings
that utilize rainwater harvesting systems have a built-in catchment area on
top of the roof, which has a capacity of collecting large volumes of water
in case of rainstorms.
An adequate means for Irrigation purpose
Harvesting rainwater allows the collection of large amounts of water and
mitigates the effects of drought. Most rooftops provide the necessary
platform for collecting water. Rainwater is mostly free from harmful
chemicals, which makes it suitable for irrigation purposes.
Reduces demand on Ground Water
Another vital benefit is that it increases the productivity of aquifer
resulting in the rise of groundwater levels and reduces the need for potable
water. It is extremely essential, particularly in areas with low water levels.
 Disadvantages
1. Unpredictable Rainfall
Rainfall is hard to predict, and sometimes little, or no rainfall can limit the
supply of rainwater.  It is not advisable to depend on rainwater alone for
all your water needs in areas where there is limited rainfall.
Rainwater harvesting is suitable in those areas that receive plenty of
rainfall. If rain is unpredictable, the use of a rainwater harvesting system
can be critical to capturing the rain when it does fall.
2. Initial High Cost
Depending on the system’s size and technology level, a rainwater
harvesting system may cost anywhere between $200 to $2000 and benefit
from it cannot be derived until it is ready for use. Like solar panels, the
cost can be recovered in 10-15 years, which again depends on the amount
of rainfall and sophistication of the system.
3. Regular Maintenance
Rainwater harvesting systems require regular maintenance as they may get
prone to rodents, mosquitoes, algae growth, insects and lizards. They can
become breeding grounds for many animals if they are not properly
maintained.
4. Certain Roof Types may Seep Chemicals or Animal Droppings
Certain types of roofs may seep chemicals, insects, dirt or animals
droppings that can harm plants if it is used for watering the plants.
5. Storage Limits
The collection and storage facilities may also impose some kind of
restrictions as to how much rainwater you can use. During the heavy
downpour, the collection systems may not be able to hold all rainwater,
which ends in going to drains and rivers. Rainwater collected during the
first rainy season is generally not needed by plants until the dry season
though it can be used for other household purposes. However, once the
catchment is full, it cannot take advantage of future rains.
 Methods
1. Surface runoff harvesting
In this method, rainwater flows away as surface runoff and can be stored
for future use. Surface water can be stored by diverting the flow of small
creeks and streams into reservoirs on the surface or underground. It can
provide water for farming, for cattle and also for general domestic use.
Surface runoff harvesting is most suitable in urban areas.
Rooftop rainwater/storm runoff can be harvested in urban areas through:
• Recharge Pit
• Recharge Trench
• Tubewell
• Recharge Well
2. Groundwater recharge
Groundwater recharge is a hydrologic process where water moves
downward from surface water to groundwater. Recharge is the primary
method through which water enters an aquifer. The aquifer also serves as a
distribution system. The surplus rainwater can then be used to recharge
groundwater aquifer through artificial recharge techniques.
Rainwater in rural areas can be harvested through:
• Gully Plug
• Contour Bund
• Dugwell Recharge
• Percolation Tank
• Check Dam/Cement Plug/Nala Bund
• Recharge Shaft
Although rainwater harvesting measure is deemed to be a desirable
concept since the last few years, it is rarely being implemented in rural
India. Different regions of the country practiced a variety of rainwater
harvesting and artificial recharge methods. Some ancient rainwater
harvesting methods followed in India which includes Madakas, Ahar
Pynes, Surangas, Taankas, etc.
 Importance
1. Rainwater harvesting or the collection of rainwater in a proper way, can
be a permanent solution to the problem of water crisis in different parts of
the world. This simple method can put forward a solution which will be
workable in areas where there is sufficient rain but the groundwater supply
is not sufficient on the one hand and on the other surface water resource is
insufficient.
This is particularly applicable in hilly areas where it can be utilized for
human consumption, by animals and also for farming. In remote areas,
where surface pollution is comparatively low, rainwater harvesting is
ideal.
2. Although the earth is three-fourths water; very little of it is suitable for
human consumption or agriculture. Rainfall is unpredictable and there is a
constant shortage of water in countries which are agriculture dependent or
generally drought prone.
3. A bad monsoon means low crop yield and shortage of food. Even
animals suffer from scarcity of water. Africa and the Indian subcontinent
face acute water crisis during the summer months. The farmers are the
most affected because they do not get sufficient water for their fields.
Rainwater harvesting therefore is an ideal solution for farmers who depend
on monsoon for consistent water supply.
4. Unavailability of clean water compels the consumption of polluted
water, giving rise to water-borne diseases and high rate of infant mortality.
In recent studies it has been observed that in Lima (Peru) nearly 2 million
people do not have access to any water supply and  those who do have
access get water supply which has a high possibility of being
contaminated.
It has been reported that the water crisis in some parts of Honduras is so
severe that the municipal corporation of those areas cannot supply enough
water even to those residents who have municipal water supply
connection. This has been reported by Anna Kajumuto Tibaijuka, Under-
secretary General, UNED UN-Habitat.
5. If rain water, which comes for free, can be collected and stored, instead
of letting it run off, it could be an alternative to back up the main water
supply especially during dry spells. Its importance will not be limited to an
individual family but can be used by a community as well.
Systematic rainwater harvesting can help in irrigation with minimum use
of technology and is therefore cost effective. This simple method  can help
farmers to prevent their crops from drying due to lack of water. It  also
creates a sense of social responsibility and awareness about the
environment.
6. The importance of rainwater harvesting lies in the fact that it can be
stored for future use. Just as it can be used directly so also the stored water
can be utilized to revitalize the ground level water and improve its quality.
This also helps to raise the level of ground water which then can be easily
accessible. When fed into the ground level wells and tube well are
prevented from drying up. This increases soil fertility. Harvesting
rainwater checks surface run off of water and reduces soil erosion.
7. In areas having sparse and irregular rainfall, scarcity of water is a
persistent problem. It cannot be completely resolved but can be mitigated
through rain water harvesting.  Rainwater harvesting is an ideal solution
to water problems in regions which receive inconsistent rainfall
throughout the year.
 Conclusion
Harvesting and collection of rainwater is an adequate strategy that can be
used to address the problem of water crisis globally. The use of a rainwater
harvesting system provides excellent merits for every community. This
simple water conservation method can be a boost to an incredible solution
in areas where there is enough rainfall but not enough supply of
groundwater. It will not only provide the most sustainable and efficient
means of water management but also unlock the vista of several other
economic activities leading to the Empowerment of people at the grass-
root level.
For this, the Government should come out with an appropriate incentive
structure and logistic assistance to make it a real success. Rainwater
harvesting is something that thousands of families across the world should
participate in rather than pinning hopes on the administration to fight water
crisis. This water conservation method is a simple and effective process
with numerous benefits that can be easily practiced in individual homes,
apartments, parks and across the world. As we all know that charity begins
at home, likewise, a contribution to society’s welfare has to be initiated
from one’s home.