All About Rainwater Harvesting

By Super Admin

Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 11:22

Most of us often face 'surprise showers' of the ever mischievous Monsoon. Of all the seasons, Monsoon perhaps is the most loved and hated, whichever mood it carries along, only makes it all the more mysterious and notorious.

The arrival of monsoon is associated with various believes and myths,the most popular in India being that the intensity of faith towards God determines whether the monsoon will bring nourishment or destruction. On a more scientific note, Monsoons are the violent winds that change directions with season,usually traveling from cooler to warmer regions, reason being that cold air occupies more space than warm air. The direction of the monsoon is from the land towards the sea during winters and from the sea towards the land at winters.

Speaking about the unpredictable monsoons,our thoughts drifts towards the current issue of the Bihar floods. The sudden outpour in the Kosi river has caused hundreds of villages engraved underwater, massive population displaced and millions struggling to be rescued. During floods, the most striking impression is the expanse of the inundation and at certain locations the violent force of water furiously churning, swallowing up the landscape. After the water has receded the debris natural and man-made is everywhere.

Now that quite a lot has been discussed about the destruction that monsoon brings along,we might as well remember that it is its arrival that the farmers most anxiously wait for and it is the monsoons that free the parched earth from the long drought spells. The common practice of Rain water harvesting and its advantages surely makes monsoons not such a bad deal after all. So what and how is the Rain-water harvesting practiced? Rain water harvesting (RWH) is a method to conserve the rain water after a down pour and to be able to utilize it as per requirement. This process is age old and was practiced since the ancient times, evidence showing the excavations at Dholavira in Kachch. The traditional methods, common in the rural areas, usually involves the surface storage bodies like lakes and ponds.

The more advanced methods for the urban living includes Artificial Recharging and Rain Water Harvesting. The former includes Absorption Pit Method, Absorption Well Method, Well cum Bore Method and Recharge trench cum injection well. Most of the terms are well-known to the common man as it has become a vital part of our lifestyle and survival. There are quite a few interesting facts and practices involving RWH:

In India, reservoirs called 'tankas' were used to store water; typically they were shallow with mud walls. Ancient 'tankas, still exist in some places.

In China's Gansu province, harvested rainwater is boiled in parabolic solar cookers before being used for drinking.

Appropriate technology methods, such as solar water disinfection, provide low-cost disinfection options for treatment of stored rainwater for drinking.

In the United Kingdom water butts are oft-found in domestic gardens to collect rainwater which is then used to water the garden.

In Colorado, water rights laws severely restrict rainwater harvesting ,a property owner who captures rainwater is effectively stealing it from those who have rights to take water from the watershed.

In Bermuda, the law requires all new construction to include rainwater harvesting adequate for the residents.

If you think that RWH is applicable only for the rural areas, then perhaps you might be wrong. On the contrary RWH is a vital part of the urban life today. At the household level the RHW is utilized for flushing toilets and washing laundry; after proper treatments it can also be utilized for showering, bathing and drinking. Various cities utilize the rain water as a supplement source to increase soil moisture levels for urban greenery and to increase ground water table. We can see that, the rain can be man's best friend after all.

Comments

Article Published On: Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 11:22 [IST]

Latest Updates