RAINWATER

HARVESTING

Sagar Malsane, Asst. Prof., NICMAR

Introduction Elements of green building design

Building siting
Building orientation
Material selection
Energy efficiency
Water conservation
Construction waste management
Indoor air quality

Water Supply
Greater demand for water supply due to
Inadequate harvesting
Leakage in distribution system
Municipal water supply system has 02 objectives
Provide safe, potable water for domestic use.
Water at sufficient pressure for fire protection.
A typical waterworks consist of a
Source treatment
Pumping
Distribution system

Introduction

Rainwater falling on the building

It falls on the roofs (catchment surface)
Rainwater must be managed well
Either disposed off or collected for use

Why dispose or harvest

Dampness and leakage inside the

building due to rainwater ponding
unhygienic conditions

Rainwater Harvesting

Gathering, or
accumulating and
storing, of
rainwater for the
purpose of
conservation

Rainwater Harvesting
Features
Rainwater falling on roof flows along
gutters
Water flows through pipes to tank via filter
Removing unwanted particles from
rainwater
In-tank submersible pump delivers clean
rainwater to toilets, washing machine and
outside tap

Rainwater Harvesting

Benefits

Saves money by reducing water

usage
Helping to reduce flooding risks
Gains Eco-homes rating points
for your property

Domestic wastewater
Sanitary Sewer System

Domestic wastewater
Storm Sewer System

What decides the feasibility and necessity

of RWH

Measurement of rainfall in a city

Intensity of rainfall

Corresponding building design

Measurement of rainfall in a city

Measured in mm or cm with rain gauge

on monthly, annual basis

City

Mumbai

Annual
Rainfall,
mm
2099

Kolkata

1751

Chennai

1215

New

712

Rainy
Season
June September
June
September
August
November
July August

% of total
rainfall (rainy
season)
80
75
67
55

Rain gauge

Intensity of rainfall

Amount of rainfall in unit time, like per

hour
Expressed in mm or cm/hour
Rain gauge is used
For building design purpose, min 20 25
years mean intensity data required

Rainwater Intensity
Cities

Intensity (mm/hr)

Mumbai

125-130

New Delhi

70-80

Kolkata

70-80

Chennai

70-80

In the absence of the rainwater intensity data, empirical formula can

be used
I = [F (T+1)]/T(t+1)
I = Intensity of rainfall, mm/hr
F = Total rainfall in mm in time T (maximum
intensity)
T = Duration of storm, in hours
t = Duration of storm intensity, hrs

Rainwater Harvesting
Components

Catchments:surface which directly

receives the rainfall. It can be a paved
area like a terrace or courtyard of a
building, or an unpaved area like a lawn
or open ground, roof {(RCC), galvanised
iron or corrugated sheets}
Coarse meshat the roof to prevent the
passage of debris

Rainwater Harvesting
Components

Gutters:
Channels all around the edge of a sloping
roof to collect and transport rainwater to the
storage tank
The size of the gutter should be according to
the flow during the highest intensity rain.
It is advisable to make them 10 to 15 per
cent oversize.

Collection

Eves gutter, piping system and storage

tank
Commonly used 2 types of gutters half
round and ogee

Gutter size
Size, mm
100

Half round,
ltrs/sec
0.83

Ogee,
ltrs/sec
0.91

125

1.50

1.70

150

2.30

2.70

Rainwater Harvesting
Components

Conduits: pipelines or drains that carry

rainwater from the catchment or rooftop
area to the harvesting system.

Piping system

Must be approved by local authority

Located in suitable part of a building
Discharge directly into storm water
drainage system
Cast iron, galvanised iron, PVC

Pipe diameter, how to

decide
Pipe
diamet
er, mm

Avg rate of rainfall, mm/hr

50mm

75mm

100mm

50

13.40

8.60

6.60

65

24.10

16.00

12.00

Avera
ge
area,
sq.m

Rainwater Harvesting
Components

First-flushing: device is a valve that

ensures that runoff from the first spell of
rain is flushed out and does not enter
the system.

Rainwater Harvesting
Components

Filter
The filter is used to remove suspended
pollutants from rainwater collected over
roof
(i) Charcoal water filter
A simple charcoal filter can be made in a
drum or an earthen pot. The filter is
made of gravel, sand and charcoal, all of
which are easily available.

Rainwater Harvesting
Components

(ii) Sand filters

Sand filters have commonly available
sand as filter media.

Rainwater Harvesting
Components

Storage Tank

Purification

Apertures
should be
screened
Water passed
through sand
First rain
must be let
go

Methods of harvesting

Surface harvesting dams, lakes, ponds,

Underground harvesting water
percolation in the ground depends on
rainwater intensity, rainfall, soil quality,
vegetation, slope
Direct harvesting water tank on ground
Recharge well method directly led to
the existing nearby well

Significance
Rainwater harvesting provides an independent water supply during
regional water restrictions.
Developed countries is often used to supplement the main supply.
It provides water when there is a drought, prevents flooding of lowlying areas, replenishes the ground water level, and enables dug
wells and bore wells to yield in a sustained manner.
It also helps in the availability of clean water by reducing the salinity
and the presence of iron salts.
Makes use of a natural resource and reduces flooding, storm water
runoff, erosion, and contamination of surface water with pesticides,
sediment, metals, and fertilizers.
Excellent source of water for landscape irrigation, with no chemicals
such as fluoride and chlorine, and no dissolved salts and minerals
from the soil.
Promotes both water and energy conservation.
No filtration system required for landscape irrigation.

In the state ofTamil Nadu, rainwater

harvesting was made compulsory for every
building to avoid ground water depletion. It
proved excellent results within five years, and
every other state took it as role model. Since
its implementation,Chennaisaw a 50 percent
rise in water level in five years and the water
quality significantly improved.
At present, inPune(inMaharashtra), rainwater
harvesting is compulsory for any new society
to be registered.

True water demand

Bathing: 55 litres
Toilet flushing: 30 litres
Washing of clothes: 20 litres
Washing the house: 10 litres
Washing utensils: 10 litres
Cooking: 5 litres
Drinking: 5 litres.