RAIN WATER HARVESTING

Introduction:

Water scarcity has become a major problem in developing countries like

Pakistan. With rigorous growth of urbanization the water supply demand is
also increasing rapidly. Therefore, from past decade water scarcity in some
parts of the country has become a major issue, where water for basic
necessities is not available. To overcome this gap of supply and demand there
could be two solutions; 1) to find new water resources, or, 2) Conserve the
naturally available water through effective techniques.

Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) is a sustainable management of rainwater in

the areas where rain fall intensity is sufficient. It is a procedure to collect,
store, make best use and proper drainage of the rainwater into the ground
water source. Lahore, with an average annual rainfall of 628.6 millimeters, is
suitable for rainwater harvesting (RWH).

In current scenario, this technique is not being used as it should be. Around
70-85% of the rainwater is lost in surface run-offs, sewerage system clogging
and evaporation.

Advantages of Rain Water Harvesting:

Water saved through rainwater harvesting in domestic and commercial

buildings can be used for:

1. Various grey water usage purposes in buildings thus reducing consumption

volume of supply water,
2. Small scale agriculture and
3. Replenishment of the ground water source.
4. Decrease in the load and clogging of storm water disposal system
5. Reduces soil erosion caused by surface ru-off
6. Reduction of damage to roads, pavements and sewerage systems caused by
rain water clogging
7. Rain water after filtering can be used for drinking purposes as well
8. Direct collection and usage requires no supply system and its maintenance.
9. Rainwater is free of cost thus use of rainwater reduces utility bills.
10. Reduces the risk of floods.
Rain Water Harvesting System Design:

A common rain water harvesting system consists of following basic

components:

(a) Catchment area

(b) Coarse mesh / leaf screen
(c) Gutter (Sloped roof only)
(d) Storm Water Drain or conduit
(e) First Flush
(f) Filter
(g) Storage tank
(h) Recharge structure

1. CatchmenArea:
The surface on which rain falls is known as catchment area. In urban areas
there are two types of catchment areas:
- Roof tops
- Ground surface.

Roof tops are more efficient in rain water harvesting as compared to

ground surface catchment as on the ground surface most of the water is
absorbed by plants or infiltrates into the ground.

Rain Water Harvesting Potential:

The amount of water an area can collect for storage is known as the
rainwater harvesting potential. It depends on the type of roof whether flat
or sloped and the material of construction. The type of material is defined
as its run-off co-efficient which is the ability of material on roof surface to
retain or absorb rain water which falls on it.
It is given as:
Q = C* I * A
Where, Q = rainwater harvest capacity
C = run-off co-efficient of roof surface material (75% - 85%) for tiled
and non-absorbent materials
I = rainfall intensity (average annual)
A= catchment area

2. Coarse Mesh/Leaf screen:

The point of opening in the roof surface connected to the rain water
drainage pipe/ downspout is covered with a mesh that prevents any coarse
object or leafs to enter the system and may clog it.
3. Gutter:
It is used where roofs are sloped. First the water is collected in gutters
which are semi-circular or half rectangular channels that divert rainwater to
downspouts.

4. Storm Water Drain Conduit:

The pipes made of Galvanized Iron or PVC conduits that flow the water
from roof surface down to storage or other usage points.

5. First Flush:
When the rain starts to fall, the roof surface have dirt, debris or
contaminations on it which are first washed off by the rainwater. In order
to stop this contaminated portion of rainwater from catchment area, a
device or pipe division is used to separate this water from the rest of the
collected rainwater. 1% of rainfall intensity is considered as first flush.

There are various techniques for first flush systems, one of which
commonly used is T joint system with a ball valve. At one point in the
conduit a comparatively small length pipe is attached with a T joint with
ball valve and a plug at the end. Once this small pipe fills with first flush
water the floating ball valve closes the opening and the further water is
diverted towards rest of the rain water harvest system. Later, this first flush
pipe can be drained by opening the plug. A common first flush technique is
shown in figure.
First Flush System

6. Filter:
In case the rainwater is to be stored and used for human consumption
then a filtration unit is attached before the storage tank in order to filter
the water from pollutants. Various types of filters are available in
market that can be selected on th basis of usage nature of the rainwater.

7. Storage Tank:
The water collected from catchment areas can be stored in the storage
tanks. There are various methods of calculating the storage tank
capacity, namely:

a) Per capita requirement – based on the requirement of points where

rainwater shall be used
 b) Average Annual Rainfall – when all the rainwater is aimed to be
stored
c) Rainfall pattern – for a equally distributed intensity throughout the
year, less storage capacity would be required, if the rainfall intensity
is higher in certain periods in a year then the storage tanks of higher
capacity will be required.
d) Type and size of catchment –more the catchment area, larger the
size of storage tank.

8. Recharge Structure:

The water overflow from the storage tank or in case storage is not
applied, then the collected rainwater is properly directed towards the
ground for recharging subsurface aquifers. Few most common recharge
structures are:

a) Recharge Pit
b) Hand pump Recharge
c) Open well / Recharge.

The selection of structure depends on cost, space availability and

amount of water. Lahore Development Authority has made compulsory
for 10 marla or above houses to provide Recharge Pits in the lawns.

Any underground water storage or recharge structure should be at least

3 feet far from the foundations of any structure nearby and must be
water proofed using sealants.