Rainwater Harvesting

Rain Water Harvesting Methods

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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Discover innovative rainwater harvesting techniques and methods to conserve water. Learn about various rain water harvesting practices, benefits, and implementation strategies. Visit India Water Portal for expert guidance.
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rain water harvesting methods
Featured Articles
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Deliberations in the Congress organized by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) at New Delhi on March 22-23, 2011 focused on various issues viz., Integrated Water Resource Management, Artificial Recharge to Groundwater, Water Use

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National conference by IRRAD and UNICEF on women-led water management: Strategies towards water sustainability in rural India
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The Institute of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD) and UNICEF India hosted this  National Conference on Women-led Water Management .

Wisdom in every drop: ‘In search of water’, a documentary film on reviving of the traditional water harvesting system in the Thar Desert
This film provides an inspiring example of the efforts made by a community in the Thar desert to revive traditional water harvesting systems and take care of their water needs Posted on 22 Nov, 2012 12:22 PM

Veiled women walk unimaginable distances. Long queues. Dark sun and innumerable pots lined up, yearning to be filled. Hours of wait and half a pot of saline water was all they had.

Harvesting and using roof-top rainwater - Part 1
This article provides the details of how the roof top rainwater harvesting system can be implemented at home Posted on 18 Nov, 2012 10:37 PM

Why rainwater harvesting ?

Zen and the art of wise water management: Rainwater Club's youtube channel crosses 1 million views !
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Those readers who got the insider joke in the title need no introduction to the rainwater harvesting and ecological sanitation evangelist that is zenrainman.

Department of drinking water and sanitation, Government of Jharkhand invites EOI from experienced consultants to prepare an action plan for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge
Posted on 28 Oct, 2012 08:18 PM

Govt of Jharkhand

About the EoI

The Department of drinking water and sanitation, Government of Jharkhand, invites Expression of Interest (Request for Proposal) from single/ joint venture/consortium of organizations for providing consultancy for preparation of the feasibility report, developing master plan and extend implementation support for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge for the following districts of Jharkhand:
1. Ranchi
2. East Singhbhum
3. Saraikela- Kharsawan
4. Dhandad
5. Bokaro
6. Palamu
7. Godda
8. Sahibganj
9. Garhwa
10. Pakur

Kerala and Karnataka's lesser known rainwater harvesting structures
Madakas are being replaced more and more by borewells. Efforts need to be made to restore these structures, create awareness, and preserve local knowledge. Posted on 16 Oct, 2012 03:09 PM

Madakas are one of the fast disappearing traditional rainwater harvesting structures found in the laterite belts of Karnataka and Kerala. They are naturally occuring depressions with high terrain on the three sides where water from the surrounding laterite slopes, mainly runoff from the rains, is accumulated.

Madakas: Water harvesting structures in Kerala and Karnataka
Artificial glaciers- a Tedx talk by Chewang Norphel
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Surangas, the disappearing lifeline of the farmers of Kasargod, Kerala
In this article, Aarti Kelkar-Khambete narrates her experience of her visit to Kasargod, Kerala to meet Sree Padreji and to see the fast disappearing Surangas Posted on 10 Oct, 2012 09:22 AM

Surangas continue to be one of the relatively less known and gradually disappearing traditional water harvesting systems of Kasargod district, Kerala and are being gradually replaced by borewells to meet the water needs of the community. 

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