The total amount of water on earth remains constant.

The
rapid growth in population together with the extension of
irrigated agriculture and industrial development, are putting
stress on the natural ecosystems. In the face of growing
problems, society has begun to realize that it can no longer
subscribe to a use and discard philosophy with any natural
resource. One such resource is WATER. To deal with it, a
technique called RAIN WATER HARVESTING was
introduced where rain water is used to meet some of our daily
needs.
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulating and storing,
of rainwater. It has been used to provide drinking water,
water for livestock, water for irrigation or to
refill aquifers in a process called ground water recharge.

Rainwater harvesting is a technology used for collecting

and storing rainwater from rooftops, the land surface or
rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and
pots as well as more complex techniques such as
underground check dams.
 It is a method which has been used since ancient
times and is increasingly being accepted as a practical
method of providing potable water in development
projects throughout the world. It has wide application
also in urban and peri-urban areas where the reliability
and quality of piped water is increasingly being
questioned.

Rainwater can be utilized alone or together with other

supply sources in residential, commercial and
industrial projects where pure water is desired
 Of the total water on
earth, only 3% constitutes
freshwater. Rest is saline
water in the oceans.
 11% of the total freshwater
on earth is groundwater
available upto a depth of
800m which can be
extracted for use.
 Surface water is inadequate to meet our demand and we have to
depend on ground water. So to increase the ground water table
through artificial recharge and improve its quality.

 Over-exploitation of ground water resource has resulted in

decline in water levels in most parts of the country.

 To increase soil moisture levels for urban greenery.

 To provide supplemental water for the city's requirement.

 To mitigate urban flooding.

 It makes ecological and financial sense not to waste a pure

natural resource available in large quantity on one’s roof.
1) Catchment:
Any surface or the paved areas can be treated as
catchment. Even the footpaths and roads can act as the
catchment, as these areas too receive the direct rainfall.
Rooftops are the best among them because of the large
coefficient of run off generated from them and there are
less chances of contamination of water.
2) Conveyance :
Conveyance system basically includes down pipes which collects the
rain water from catchment to the storage tank. These down pipes are
usually built during the time of construction. They need to be
designed appropriately so as to avoid the loss of water during the
conveyance process.

3) Storage :
The storage system is designed according to the amount of water that
is to be stored. The design and site of the storage system should be
properly chosen. The areas which receives the rainfall frequently, there
a simple storage system could be constructed, to meet the daily water
requirements. Otherwise the areas which receive the lesser rainfall,
there the storage systems are quite essential. Rain barrels,
underground or open slumps are mostly used to collect rain water. The
storage system should be properly sealed and should not leak. Using
chlorine from time to time keeps the water clean.
Storing of rain water on roofs of the houses: Rain water
falling on the roofs of the houses can be stored in nearby wells,
tanks and step wells or can be stored in houses through pipes.
The rain water of roofs can also be stored in the water
percolation tanks for recharging ground water.

 Small bonding around the fields: Flow of rain water falling

on the fields in checked by building small bounding around the
fields. The water thus stored n the field percolates underneath
and increases soil moisture.

 Step farming: Soil moisture of step fields made along

mountain slopes is being increased by checking rain water of
these fields.
 Check dams on seasonal rivers and drains: Rain water is
also stored behind the check dams constructed over the
seasonal rivers and drains with the help of soil, stones and
wood. These dams regulate the water supply and also help
in controlling soil erosion to some extent.

 Water percolation tanks: Rain water is stored in tanks

constructed in lands unsuitable for agriculture. These tanks
serve the purpose of recharging of ground water reserves as
water stored on these.

 Making of drains: Rain water is also being stored in the

drains dug around the fields.
Structures generally used in
recharging of ground water are:
 Pits Recharge: Pits are constructed for recharging the
shallow aquifers.

 Trenches: These are constructed when the preamble

strata is available at shallow depths.

 Dug wells: Existing dug wells may be utilized as recharge

structure and water should pass through filter media
before putting into dug well.

 Hand Pumps: The existing hand pumps may be used for

recharging the shallow / deep aquifers, if the availability of
water is limited. Water should pass through filter media
before diverting it into hand pumps.
 Recharge Shafts: With bore wells for recharging the
upper as well as deeper aquifers, lateral shafts of 1.5 to
2m wide and 10 to 20m long depending upon
availability of water with one or two bore wells is
constructed. The lateral shafts are back filled with
boulders, gravels and coarse sand.

 Spreading Techniques: When permeable strata start

from top then this technique is used. Spread water in
streams by making check dams, cement plugs or a
percolation pond may be constructed.
 An ideal solution to water problems in areas having
inadequate water resources.

 The ground water level will rise & quality of water improves.

 Mitigates the effects of drought and achieves drought

proofing.

 Reduces the runoff which chokes the storm water drains.

 Flooding of roads is reduced.

 Soil erosion will be reduced.

 Saving of energy per well for lifting of ground water.

P.B.SHAH
LCE, SIR BPTI, BHAVNAGAR