RAIN WATER HARVESTING - A COMMON RESPONSIBILITY

Presented by, Shashidhara. R. Hosamani Soumya. S. Bankapur 4th Sem, Civil Engg SGBIT, Belgaum

INTRODUCTION
Water is as important for survival of human being as much as food, air etc, but hardly any attention is paid

for its economical use and conservation of this precious

resource. The rapid growth in population and industrial development are putting stress on the ground water table is going down abnormally and if the problem is

not given a serious look, then the future generations

may have to face severe crisis of water.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting and

storing
scientific

rain
and

water

in

controlled

manner for its future use. Rainwater can be used for irrigating crops, washing, cooking and drinking.

 Rainwater harvesting is a simple low-

cost technique that requires minimum

specific expertise or knowledge and offers many benefits.

People collect and store rainwater in

buckets, tanks, ponds and wells. This

is commonly referred to as rainwater

1

harvesting and has been practiced for centuries.

NEED FOR RAIN WATER HARVESTING

As water is becoming scarce, it is the need of the day to attain self-

sufficiency to fulfill the water needs.

To improve the water quality in aquifers. To improve the vegetation cover. To raise the water levels in wells and bore wells that is drying up.

From Where We Can Harvest Rain water

Paved and unpaved areas

Rooftops

Water bodies

COMPONENTS OF AN RWH SYSTEM

Catchment surface
Delivery system Storage

RAIN WATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES

Storage of rain water on

surface for future use.

Recharge of ground water.

 The storage of rain water on surface is a traditional technique and structure used in underground tanks, ponds, check dams, weirs etc. Recharge of ground water is a new concept of rain water harvesting and the structures generally used are:
Pits Recharge Trenches Dug Wells Hand Pumps

DESIGNING OF ROOFTOP RWH SYSTEM FOR HOUSES

Step 1: Calculate the quantity of water Calculate the rooftop area both the flat as well as the sloped areas. The area should be in m2. Water harvested (l) = catchment area (m2) * runoff coefficient (0.8) * annual rainfall (mm)

Step 2: Designing the roof area.

A flat roof can be gently sloped to drain water towards the down take pipes. Sloping roofs should have a gutter of PVC or zinc sheet to collect water & channel it to the down water pipe system. Step 3: Down take pipes. Step 4: Filter. Step 5: First flush diverter.

Step 6: Storage/Recharge:
Rain water that is harvested can either be stored or can be used to recharge the groundwater. The ideal system would a combination of both a storage tank, with an overflow pipe connected to a recharge well.

A storage tank could be:

A roof-level storage tank. Ground level drum or masonry tank. Below the ground sump.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING PROJECT IN KARNATAKA

Many villages in

Karnataka do not have

potable water supply. Hence Rain water Harvesting (RWH) has been proposed as an ideal sustainable solution.

 The Karnataka State Council for Science and

Technology (KSCST) has undertaken steps to

promote implement and create awareness on sustainable water harvesting and groundwater

recharge concepts.
The Government of Karnataka through the Rural

Development and Panchayath Raj department has

launched a rooftop rainwater harvesting programme.

ADVANTAGES OF RAIN WATER HARESTING

Environment friendly and easy approach for water requirements. Increase in ground water level. Reduces flooding of roads and low-lying areas. Reduced soil erosion.

Low cost and easy to maintain.

DISADVANTAGES OF RAINWATER HARVESTING

The success of rainfall harvesting depends upon the frequency and amount of rainfall; therefore, it is not a dependable water source in times of dry

weather or prolonged drought.

Possible contamination of water may result from animal wastes and vegetable matter. Rainfall harvesting systems may reduce revenues to public utilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Rain is the first form of water that we know and hence is a primary source of water for us. Rivers, lakes and ground water are all secondary sources

of water.
So its our common responsibility to implement and spread awareness about the importance of rain water harvesting.

 A planned approach is hence needed in order to

fully utilize the potential of rainwater to adequately meet our water requirements. Hence, an equal and positive thrust is needed in developing and encouraging both the types of

water harvesting systems.

We have to catch water in every possible way

and every possible place it falls.

REFERENCES

R. Shivakumar, Worlds largest rainwater harvesting project in Karnataka, Current Science, 162 Vol. 92, No. 2, 25

January 2007.
Patricia H. Waterfall, Rainwater Harvesting- For Landscape Use, Second Edition, October 2004 Revised 2006. Janette Worm and Tim van Hattum, Rainwater Harvesting for Domestic Use, ICCO and AID Environment, Publishers, First edition 2006. http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/

 http://www.aboutrainwaterharvesting.com/ http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/urban/Components.

html
http://www.ecoindia.com/education/rainwaterharvesting.html http://www.tn.gov.in/dtp/rainwater.html

THANK YOU