RAINWATER

HARVESTING is

process involving collection and storage of rain water (with the help of artificially designed system)
that runs off natural or man-made catchment areas e.g. roof top, compounds, rock surface or hill
slopes or artificially repaired impervious/semi-pervious land surface. Undoubtedly a number of
factors contribute to the amount of water harvested e.g. the frequency and the quantity of
rainfall, catchments characteristics, water demands and the quantum of runoff, and above all
speed and ease with which the rainwater percolates through the subsoil to recharge the ground
water.

Due to deforestation and the consequent ecological imbalance, the water level beneath the ground
is being depleted day by day. As known to all, the constant rising demand of water supply,
especially from the urban areas does not match with the surface water sources, as a result of which
the water reserves beneath the ground level are overexploited. This consequently results in the
water level depletion. Thanks to the selfless endeavor and untiring efforts made by the scientists in

the field of hydrogeology, special techniques for recharging ground water level have been
developed recently.

Water harvesting, apart from recharging the ground water level, increases the availability of water
at a given place at a given point of time. It also reduces the power consumption as 1 m rise in
water level results in saving of 0.4 KWH of electricity (as per recent finding). It further reduces the
run off which chokes the storm water drains, reduces flooding of water on the roads, improves the
quality of water and reduces the chances of soil erosion.

A TYPICAL ROOF TOP RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM comprises of:

a. Roof catchment
b. Gutters
c. Downpipes
d. Rain water/ Storm water drains
e. Filter Chamber
f. Ground Water recharge structures like pit, trench, tubewell or combination of above
structure
Rainwater Harvesting is a way to capture the rain water when it rains, store that water above
ground or charge the underground and use it later. This happens naturally in open rural areas. But
in congested, over-paved metropolitan cities, we need to create methods to capture the rain
water.

Rainwater harvesting is a very ancient technique known to have exsisted for over 4000 years. This
technique is being revived today to give back to nature what we take from it.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES :

There
1.

are
Storage

two
of

main

techniques

rainwater

on

of
surface

rain

water
for

harvestings.
future

use.

2. Recharge to ground water.

The storage of rain water on surface is a traditional techniques and structures used were
underground tanks, ponds, check dams, weirs etc. Recharge to ground water is a new concept of
rain water harvesting and the structures generally used are :Pits :- Recharge pits are constructed for recharging the shallow aquifer. These are constructed 1 to
2 m, wide and to 3 m. deep which are back filled with boulders, gravels, coarse sand.
Trenches:- These are constructed when the permeable stram is available at shallow depth. Trench
may be 0.5 to 1 m. wide, 1 to 1.5m. deep and 10 to 20 m. long depending up availability of water.
These are back filled with filter. materials.
Dug wells:- Existing dug wells may be utilised 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 wells :- Recharge wells of 100 to 300 mm. diameter are generally constructed for
recharging the deeper aquifers and water is passed through filter media to avoid choking of
recharge wells.
Recharge Shafts :- For recharging the shallow aquifer which are located below clayey surface,
recharge shafts of 0.5 to 3 m. diameter and 10 to 15 m. deep are constructed and back filled with
boulders, gravels & coarse sand.
Lateral shafts with bore wells :- For recharging the upper as well as deeper aquifers lateral shafts
of 1.5 to 2 m. wide & 10 to 30 m. long depending upon availability of water with one or two bore
wells are constructed. The lateral shafts is back filled with boulders, gravels & coarse sand.
Spreading techniques :- When permeable strata starts from top then this technique is used. Spread
the water in streams/Nalas by making check dams, nala bunds, cement plugs, gabion structures or
a percolation pond may be constructed.