WATER CONSERVATION

GROUND WATER RECHARGE

1. DECREASING RUN OFF
Contour Cultivation Contour Bunding
Bench Terracing
Water Channeling and lagoon leveling
Chemical wetting agents
Surface crop residues
Chemical conditioners
Water storage structures
Source: Kaushik, Anubha; C.P, Kaushik; 2004, Perspectives in Environmental studies, New Delhi, New Age International Publishers.
: Google Images

2. REDUCING EVAPORATION LOSSES
3. STORING WATER IN SOIL
4. REDUCING IRRIGATION LOSSES
5. DRIP IRRIGATION
6. RE-USE OF WATER
7. PREVENTING WASTAGE OF WATER
8. INCREASING BLOCK PRICING

Source: Kaushik, Anubha; C.P, Kaushik; 2004, Perspectives in Environmental studies, New Delhi, New Age International Publishers.
: Google Images, www.wikipedia.org
RAIN WATER HARVESTING
WHY IS WATER HARVESTING ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR INDIA?
In India, most water reaches the ground through rain.
In contrast, in Western countries (mid-latitude regions), 50% of water coming
down (precipitation) is in the form of snow.
Most of the rain water lost due to runoffs.
Unlike the west, very little water percolates into the ground.
Hence, the importance of harvesting structures for local self-sufficiency.
Ground water exploitation in India is very high.
Area irrigated by ground water has increased 5 times since independence.
Tubewells and borewells constructed primarily by larger farmers, encouraged
by cheap electricity drain ground water.
Big dam projects have hardly had any positive impact.
Very few surface irrigation initiatives completed since independence.
Too expensive to complete (estimate: Rs. 60000 crore to complete all ongoing
major irrigation projects).
More importantly, displace communities,
Also reduce soil quality, lead to deforestation, all of which is detrimental to
ground water level.
Source: Presentation on water harvesting by Sangati CPR work group

Rainwater harvesting is a technique of increasing the recharge of
groundwater by capturing and storing rainwater.
The harvested water can be used as drinking water, for storage and for
irrigation.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING
Objectives
to reduce run off loss.
to avoid flooding of roads.
to meet the increasing demands of water.
to raise the water table by recharging ground water.
to reduce groundwater contamination.
to supplement groundwater supplies during lean season.

Methods
by storing in tanks or reservoirs above or below ground.
by constructing pits, dug-wells, lagoons, trench or check-dams on small rivulets.
Source: Kaushik, Anubha; C.P, Kaushik; 2004, Perspectives in Environmental studies, New Delhi, New Age International Publishers
TRADITIONAL RAIN WATER HARVESTING
Source: Google, From document based on information received from Shri. Shekhar Raghavan of the Akash Ganga Trust, Chennai.
Source: Google, From document based on information received from Shri. Shekhar Raghavan of the Akash Ganga Trust, Chennai.
Paar system
Talab/Bandhis
Saza Kuwa
Johad
Nada/Bandha
Kunds/Kundis
Kuis/Beris
Baoris/Bers
Tankas/Tanks
Khadin
Bengal's Inundation Channel
Ahar-pynes


TRADITIONAL RAIN WATER HARVESTING METHODS
Source: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
Paar system
A common water harvesting practice in
the western Rajasthan.
Rainwater flows from the agar
(catchment) and percolates into the
sandy soil.
To access Rajani pani (percolated water)
kuis or beris are dug in the agor (storage
area).
Kuis / Beris
Found in western Rajasthan, 10-12 m
deep pits dug near tanks to collect the
seepage
The mouth of the pit is usually made
very narrow to prevent the collected
water from evaporating
Used to harvest rainwater in areas with
meagre rainfall.

Source: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
Saza Kuwas
An open well with multiple
owners (saza = partner).
Johad
Earthen check dams that capture
and conserve rainwater.
Source: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
Nada/Bandha
Found in the Mewar region of the
Thar desert.
A stone check dam, constructed
across a stream or gully, to capture
monsoon runoff on a stretch of land.

Kunds
Looks like an upturned cup nestling in a
saucer
A wire mesh across water-inlets
prevents debris from falling into the
well-pit.
The sides of the well-pit are covered
with (disinfectant) lime and ash.
Most pits have a dome-shaped cover,
or at least a lid, to protect the water.
Source: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
Talab/Bandhis
Natural - the ponds (pokhariyan) at
Tikamgarh in the Bundelkhand region.
Human - made - the lakes in Udaipur.
When the water in these reserviors
dries up just a few days after the
monsoon, the pond beds are cultivated
with rice.

Baoris / Bers / Step wells
Baoris or bers are community wells used
mainly for drinking.
Can hold water for a long time because
of almost negligible water evaporation.
Jhalaras
Human made tanks found in Rajasthan
and Gujarat, meant for community use
and for religious rites.
Often rectangular in design, Jhalaras
have steps on three or four sides.
Khadin
A khadin, also called a dhora, is
an ingenious construction
designed to harvest surface
runoff water for agriculture.

Ahar pines
A catchment basin embanked on
three sides, the 'fourth' side being
the natural gradient of the land
itself.
Pynes are articifial channels
constructed to utilise river water in
agricultural fields.
Source: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
Kuls and Guhl (Himalayan region)

Kuls are water channels found in

precipitous mountain areas.

Water channels carry water from

glaciers to villages in the valley of
Himachal Pradesh.

Lined with rocks to keep it from

becoming clogged.

The middle runoff gets collected

in ponds in middle terrace.

The runoff then passes through

slopes and finally reaches the
foot hills.




Zabo (North Eastern region)
Source: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
Surangam (Western Ghats)
Surangam, a special water harvesting structure, is found in Kasaragod district in
northern Kerala.
People here depend on groundwater.
It is a horizontal well mostly excavated in hard laterite rock formations. The
excavation continues until a good amount of water is struck. Water seeps out of
the hard rock and flows out of the tunnel. This water is usually collected in an
open pit constructed outside the surangam.
A surangam is about 0.45-0.70 metres (m) wide and about 1.8-2.0 m high. The
length varies from 3-300 m. If the surangam is very long, a number of vertical air
shafts are provided to ensure atmospheric pressure inside. The distance between
successive air shafts varies between 50-60 m. The approximate dimensions of the
air shafts are 2 m by 2 m, and the depth varies from place to place.


Source: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/

WHAT HAPPEN TO TRADITIONAL WATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS IN INDIA

Decades of British rule ravaged the peoples water knowledge heritage.
Technological changes such as the introduction of tubewells put richer
farmers in command of the tank area.
Big Farmers have lost interest in the community management of the tanks
because of technological development.
In the urban areas these systems have either disappeared because of
pressure from real estate lobbies or have become heavily polluted.
Today, traditional water harvesting systems are only important in remote
areas such as the Himalayan states which are beyond the immediate reach
of water bureaucracies.
Source: Presentation on water harvesting by Sangati CPR work group

RAINWATER HARVESTING IN URBAN AREAS
In areas where there is inadequate groundwater supply or surface resources are
either lacking or insufficient, rainwater harvesting offers an ideal solution.

Helps in utilizing the primary source of water and prevent the runoff from going
into sewer or storm drains, thereby reducing the load on treatment plants.

Reduces urban flooding.

Recharging water into the aquifers help in improving the quality of existing
groundwater through dilution.
Source: http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/
Source: S. Viswanathan; Paper presentation on Rain water harvesting in Urban areas
CATCH RAIN WHERE IT FALLS

Suitable for buildings having roof
area of 100 square meters.
Constructed for recharging
shallow aquifers.
Pit width 1 to 2 meter, depth 2 to
3 meter.
Pits to be backfilled with
boulders at bottom --5 to 20
cm size,
gravel in between 5-10 mm
size and
coarse sand at the top --1.5
to 2 mm size in graded form.

Source: Ppt presentation by Water management Forum, Rainwater Harvesting in Urban areas.
EXAMPLES
Residence in Bangalore Residence in Bangalore
Chemical Engg. Dept. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Neighborhood colony in Bangalore
Source: S. Viswanathan; Paper presentation on Rain water harvesting in Urban areas
ABANDONED TUBE WELLS
Can be utilised for recharging as shallow aquifers have dried up.
Water channelized for recharging, after silt removal from such wells.
10 cm diameter PVC pipes connected to roof drains. First rains allowed to pass
through bottom of drain pipe, which is closed thereafter.

Source: S. Viswanathan; Paper presentation on Rain water harvesting in Urban areas
RECHARGE TRENCH
Suitable for buildings having
roof area of 200 square meters
or more.
Suited at places where shallow
permeable strata exists.
Half to one meter wide, and a
half meter deep and 10 to 15
meter long trenches.
Backfilled with boulders at
bottom --5 to 20 cm size, gravel
in between 5-10 mm size and
coarse sand at the top --1.5 to 2
mm size in graded form.
Mesh to be provided at top to
prevent leaves etc from falling &
choking
Top sand to be cleaned
periodically.
Bye-pass arrangements to be
provided before collection
chamber to reject first showers.
Source: Ppt presentation by Water management Forum, Rainwater Harvesting in Urban areas.
RECHARGE WELLS/ SHAFTS
Suited at places, where deeper
permeable strata exists.
100 to 300 mm diameter recharge
well, constructed 3 to 5 meter
below water level.


Trench for channelizing water to well
1.5 to 3 m wide, 10 to 30 m in length
constructed.
Shaft of 2 to 5 m diameter, 3 to 5 m
depth is constructed if aquifer is
located at greater depth.

Recharge well mentioned above, is to
be constructed within this shaft.

5. SOAKAWAYS / PERCOLATION PIT
Source: Ppt presentation by Water management Forum, Rainwater Harvesting in Urban areas.
Water harvesting potential
= Rainfall (mm) x Area of catchment x Runoff coefficient
Runoff coefficient accounts for losses due to spillage, leakage, infiltration,
catchment surface wetting and evaporation, which will all contribute to reducing
the amount of runoff.

(Runoff coefficient for any catchment is the ratio of the volume of water that runs
off a surface to the volume of rainfall that falls on the surface).
Source: www.rainwaterharvesting.org
RULES AND REGULATIONS
In Kerala, workable rooftop rainwater harvesting arrangements shall be provided as
an integral part of all new building constructions for all occupancies.
Residential (with floor area of 100 sq.m or more and plot area of 200 sq.m or more)

The components of workable rooftop rainwater harvesting arrangement as
stipulated shall include:
i) Roof catchment area
ii) Roof gutters
iii) Down pipe and first flush pipe arrangement
iv) Filter unit and
v) Storage tank with provision for drawing water and spillover
The minimum capacity of storage tanks varies from 25-50litres/sq.m

The component of workable artificial ground water recharging arrangements as
stipulated shall include:
i) Roof catchment area
ii) Roof gutters
iii) Down pipe
iv) Filter unit
v) Recharge well/percolation pit
Additional arrangements for carrying the spill over water from storage tank to
recharge well or percolation pit need only be provided.
Source: Kerala Municipality Building (Amendment) Rules, 2004
The watershed is defined as the land area from which water drains under gravity to a
common drainage channel. Thus, watershed is a delineated area with a well-defined
topographic boundary and one water outlet.
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
Source: Google Images
Source: Kaushik, Anubha; C.P, Kaushik; 2004, Perspectives in Environmental studies, New Delhi, New Age International Publishers
OBJECTIVES
Minimize the risk of floods, droughts and landslides
Conservation strategies for minimizing soil erosion.

WATER SHED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Water Harvesting
Afforestation and Agroforestry
Water Conservation measures
Public Participation