Fundamentals of

Rain Water Harvesting

Vishal Bhanushali

Eureka Forbes Institute of Environment

May 06, 2009

Launched in 2000

Vision
Living an unpolluted life
is our childrens birthright.

Air Pollution

Ground Water Pollution

What is the need

for harvesting
rain water ?

Water in Urban Space

Municipal water deficit

City
Mumbai
Delhi
Kolkata
Chennai
Banglore
Hyderabad

Need

Shortfall Shortfall %

4000
3830
2258
3000
840
956

1030
880
690
1050
135
186

25
30
30
35
16
19

Water in Urban Space

Municipal water deficit

City
Indore
Bhopal
Lucknow
Jaipur
Jabalpur
Vaizag

Need Shortfall Shortfall %

318
335
560
349
239
305

134
70
120
313
94.5
146

42
21
21
89
40
48

RURAL INDIA IS SCREAMING FOR WATER!

Water now precedes roti, kapda, aur makan

2/3rds of the country

has been declared

drought prone

90,000
villages
declared no source
villages- no source
within 7 km radius
Rajendra Singh, Tarun Bharat Sangh

Can Bore Wells Help ?

June 2004

Population
Land
Bore wells

Musampally village
Nalgonda District
Andhra Pradesh

3000
2000 acres
6000

No typing mistake There are 2 bore wells per person

In this village. More than 85 % never struck water.
Others dried up soon after drilling

The Bore Wells and

The Big Dams
are the real culprits

The Bore wells have

worsened the matters
Instead of reducing
scarcity, they are
increasing it.
We have seen bore wells
- 1500 ft deep and drying
Big dams and diversion
canals are making down
stream older river
courses dry

Ural Sea in Russia

Dried by Agriculture
And Industry

There is certainly need

for doing everything
possible for
conserving water

Where can we learn about

water harvesting ?

What are the basic rules?

The Fundamentals ?

Any Degrees, Diplomas ?

Foreign Universities ?

Water Learning Points

It is available every where
In the most pure form
It is free

Yet
There is scarcity
There was no water supply department in India
till the British Government made one
Till the British Government had to make one

Wise Water Management of our ancestors

Ancient India was Prosperous because of

Ponds and Lakes Made and Managed by People
Thus achieving water security, irrigation, flood control and food security

Modified from
Stephen Lemcke, 2002

Modified from
Stephen Lemcke, 2002

Varuna

Ganga

Modified from
Stephen Lemcke, 2002

Assi

Source - Stephen Lemcke,

e-mail: slemcke@sai.uni-heidelberg.de

Water Learning Points

Marine forts have sweet water

Corresponding mainland
water is brackish

Water Learning Points

Hill Forts Have Water

Lower lands may

not have water

Are these Miracles ?

No !
There are rational explanations

Which can be put to good use

Water Learning Points

Marine forts have sweet water
Fort walls, Temple and
surroundings collect rain
water that is stored in a
huge pond.

Through a well the

harvested water is used

Jalashayanam Vishnu Temple Mahabalipuram

Note the Rock paved surface

And drain channels as well as
The large rain water retaining
Cistern probably used as
rain gauge

Rameshwaram Temple
Note the gaps in
Foundation and the
Sweet water reflecting
the shrine

Water Learning Points

Hill Forts Have Water

Lower lands may

not have water

Water Learning Points

Hill Forts Have Water

Fortress walls help to hold

micro-water table created by a pond
Wells give the bounty in usable form

Nature offers us
our most important needs
- free of charge
Rain Water is one such thing
It is Water in its purest form
We only need to harvest it

WHAT is Rainwater Harvesting?

Activity of capturing
the rain and storing it
for direct use or
recharging into the
groundwater.

Simply.. catching rain where it

falls and using it.

What is the need

for harvesting
rain water ?

natural resource presently wasted

Prevents ground water depletion
A good supplement to piped water
Positive cost benefit ratio
Relatively pollution free
Water conservation & self-dependence

Who can harvest rooftop rainwater?

Any

An

person planning to build a house

independent plot owner.

Persons

in apartments

Industries,

Institutions and factories

People

who are purchasing water for

domestic use
In short, everywhere
the potential for rainwater harvesting is huge

How Much One Can harvest Rainwater ?

Vol RWH =A x R x C
A=Area
R= Rainfall in meters
C=Runoff coefficient
An example
A =100 m2
R = 2000 millimeters
C = 0.85
RWH = 1,70,000 litres

Catchments details: Area, type and nature

Sr.No

Catchment

Area
(sq m)

Collection coefficient (%)

1.

Roof flat/slope

80-90

2.

Paved area
Driveway/courtyard,
roads

60-70

Unpaved area
Lawns, garden,
playground

20-30

WHAT is Rooftop Rainwater

Harvesting?

Collection
Filtration
Storage
Usage
Recharge

Types of Rain Water Harvesting 1

Daily Harvesting
Possible in rain forests or areas with
prolonged rainy season
Collect daily Use
Use when available

Simplest Rain Water harvesting Use when available

During Rainy season, Drinking water needs of 35-house village

are met by a simple saree based rainwater harvesting system.
(Pic: Shree Padre)

Types of Rain Water Harvesting 2

Harvesting for future use
Necessary where availability is not through
out the year
Collect during rains Store Use
Storage can be in
2.1 - Tanks
2.2 - Soil strata

Types of Rain Water Harvesting 2.1

Harvesting for future use - Storage in Tanks
Used in havelis of Rajasthan/Kutcch for
centuries
Replicated in Moral Re-armament Centre
and Ion Exchange Guest house in Panchgani
Roof acts as catchment area.
Under ground Storage tanks act as collection
devices.
Usage by fetching from the tank as per need

Clean Roof
Haveli

Storage tank in the

Raised Plinth

Harvesting for Future Use Storage in Tanks

Used in Rajasthan and Kutch

Types of Rain Water Harvesting 2.2

Harvesting for future use - Storage in Soil
Roof as well as open areas act as catchment
surfaces.
Inter particular spaces in soil / rocks are used
for storing water.
Water is channeled to structures made for
enhanced percolation of the harvested rain
water into soil layers
Usage through Dug wells or bore wells

Harvesting for Future Use Storage in Soil Strata-I

Recharge Pit
Terrace
Method
Building
Simple Ground Water
Recharge Pit
Permeable strata

Subsoil water

Ground water

Use through well/

Bore well

Harvesting for Future Use Storage in Soil Strata-I

Recharge Pit Type 2
Terrace
Building
Use through well/
Bore well

Recharge Pit
With a deeper shaft
Impermeable strata

Subsoil water

Ground water

Harvesting for Future Use Storage in Soil Strata - II

Recharge through Dug well
Terrace
Building
Recharge through well
Use through well/bore well

Subsoil water

Ground water

Harvesting for Future Use Storage in Soil Strata - III

Recharge through Bore well
Terrace
Building
Recharge through bore well
Use through bore well

Ground water

Harvesting for Future Use Storage in Soil Strata - IV

Recharge through trenches

Improved Ground water

Harvesting for Future Use Storage in Soil Strata - V

Improving permeability of pavement
Terrace
Building
Recharge through soil
Use through well/bore well

Ground water

Selection of Rain Water Harvesting Structures

Site Specific
Slopes
Geo-morphology
Space availability
Usage pattern
End use specific

What is the precaution needed

If you want to harvest rain water in industrial
setting
Take care not to mix it in any way with toxic
chemicals, industrial effluents, sewage etc
Allow first flush rain water to go out of the
collection system

One Success Story :

Aachal Avichal Chanchal
Situated at Yari Road, Andheri West
Area prone to flooding
YET THEY DID NOT FLOOD ON
26th July 2005
Featured on Doordarshan / BBC

Sunshine CHS, Andheri (E)

Storm water drainage Rainwater harvesting

Borewell recharge through storm water drainage

List of Societies/Institutes

Wishing all of you

Abundance of Pure Air
Clean water
Healthy Food

Yours Ecofriendly,

For
Eureka Forbes Institute of Environment
Vishal Bhanushali 9869145017
Vishal.b@eurekaforbes.com

Wishing All of you

abundance of
Clean Air
Pure Water
Healthy Food
And
Healthy Body & Rich Soul