Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a simple method by which rainfall is collected for future usage. The collected rainwater may be stored, utilised in different ways or directly used for recharge purposes. With depleting groundwater levels and fluctuating climate conditions, RWH can go a long way to help mitigate these effects. Capturing the rainwater can help recharge local aquifers, reduce urban flooding and most importantly ensure water availability in water-scarce zones. Though the term seems to have picked up greater visibility in the last few years, it was, and is even today, a traditional practice followed in rural India. Some ancient rainwater harvesting methods followed in India include madakas, ahar pynes, surangas, taankas and many more.

This water conservation method can be easily practiced in individual homes, apartments, parks, offices and temples too, across the world. Farmers have recharged their dry borewells, created water banks in drought areas, greened their farms, increased sustainability of their water resources and even created a river. Technical know how for the rooftop RWH with direct storage can be availed for better implementation. RWH An effective method in water scarce times, it is also an easily doable practice. Practical advice is available in books written by Indukanth Ragade & Shree Padre, talks by Anupam Mishra and other easy to follow fun ways

Read our FAQ on Rainwater Harvesting and have many basic questions answered.

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Featured Articles
September 21, 2022 The unique design and functioning of the Chakla bavdi in Chanderi Madhya Pradesh is another example of the water wisdom of our ancestors, which needs to be conserved and passed on to the future generations.
Chakla Bavdi at Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh (Image Source: Shirole, S. 2022. Architectural eloquence: Water harvesting structure in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh (India). Ancient Asia, 13: 9, pp. 1–13)
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Charkhari talab in Bundelkhand (Image: IWP Flickr)
Traditional rainwater harvesting systems to the rescue!
Rainwater harvesting, a “soft path” approach towards water management, cannot be advocated in isolation to tackle water scarcity. Posted on 19 Nov, 2014 10:26 AM

A drop in available water for irrigation is one of the important challenges that countries will face in the coming years. This could create a severe impact on agriculture and food production. This threat is far more serious in countries such as India due to the rapid growth in population as well as overexploitation of available water resources.

Eris/Tanks of Tamil Nadu
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Policy matters this week Posted on 18 Nov, 2014 01:41 PM

NGT turns down clearance to Cuddalore thermal plant because of threat to mangroves

A thermal power plant in Korba
Kerala's Ashtamudi lake certified by Marine Stewardship Council
News this week Posted on 10 Nov, 2014 10:09 PM

Kerala's Ashtamudi lake recognised for sustainable clam fishing

Mussel farm in Ashtamudi lake (Source: Fotokannan)
Neighbour's envy, user's pride!
Basavaraj's house in drought-prone Chitradurga district in Karnataka is mostly self-sufficient for water. Was it serendipity, luck or something more? Posted on 20 Oct, 2014 12:46 PM

Chitradurga district in southern Karnataka is infamous for drought. People here constantly suffer from water shortage and in the last few years, the problem has escalated due to poor rainfall. 

Basavaraj's water-sufficient house in Chitradurga
It's cyclone Hudhud's turn to cause damage!
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Hudhud lands in Vizag at 195 kmph

Tropical cyclone of 2013 (Source: NASA WorldView)
Zabo: The art of impounding water
Kikruma in Nagaland has its own system of water harvesting. Watch a farmer explain this unique method called Zabo, which helps manage water while nurturing the soil and optimizing agriculture. Posted on 06 Aug, 2014 01:37 PM

Located at an altitude of 1270 metres , Kikruma, a quaint village nestled in a rainshadowed area of Phek district of Nagaland is a wonder. Centuries ago, the village evolved a self-organizing system to take care of its water, forest and farm management. ‘Zabo’, which means 'impounding water', is an ingenious method of catching rainwater from running off the mountains.

Ponds as reservoirs for paddy fields located below
Solutions to Indore's water problems don't have to be so expensive!
The use of decentralized systems puts the onus on individuals more than the government or central bodies to provide Indore proper water and sanitation according to Rahul Banerjee. Posted on 02 Aug, 2014 01:46 PM

In the last five decades, Indore, in Madhya Pradesh, has witnessed a substantial increase in urbanisation and industrialisation. Its population has also increased from 5,60,936 in 1971 to 2,167,447 in 2011 (Census 2011).

Waiting for water tankers in Indore
People of a semi-arid Rajasthan village battle Coca Cola
The story isn't new. It is about Coca Cola exploiting groundwater resources at its bottling plant in Kaladera. What will hopefully be new is how the story finally ends. Posted on 27 Jul, 2014 10:23 PM

Kaladera, a small village about 40 km from Jaipur has always been known for its chaubandi (mud resist printing) and natural dyeing but it has been getting a lot of attention since 1999. No, it's not because of the handicraft but because of Coca Cola, which set up a bottling plant there.

Borewells go deep in Kaladera, Rajasthan
Ripples of Sukhomajri
Sukhomajri village, the model of watershed development, is today a witness to man's changing priorities which is separating him from his environment. The video tells the full story. Posted on 25 Jul, 2014 11:46 AM
Sukhomajri village has long been a reminder of people's participation in ecological preservation and in turn, greater economic good.
The main irrigation tank at Sukhomajri
Invitation for a course on 'Sustainable Urban Water Management', Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi
The five-days programme will focus on planning and designing of rainwater harvesting and decentralized waste water treatment systems
Posted on 05 Jun, 2014 01:18 PM

Increasing urbanization in India has led to soaring freshwater demands and has hence resulted in large amounts of wastewater generation. This water crisis is mainly a consequence of the current water management regime which focuses on centralized water management. We need to implement sustainable and affordable decentralised water management practices to contain this crisis.

Rainwater harvesting in Goa University
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