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
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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कठपुतली बोलेगी कल की बात
बाड़मेर।भारतीय संस्कृति का प्रतिबिंब लोककलाओं में झलकता है। इन्हीं लोककलाओं में कठपुतली कला भी शामिल है। यह देश की सांस्कृतिक धरोहर होने के साथसाथ प्रचारप्रसार का सशक्त माध्यम भी है, लेकिन आधुनिक सभ्यता के चलते मनोरंजन के नित नए साधन आने से सदियों पुरानी यह कला अब लुप्त होने के कगार पर है। Posted on 09 Apr, 2012 03:10 PM

Puppets

People of Nuapada district in Odisha build a stop dam themselves - Roundup of audio updates from CGNet Swara (Sep 2011 to Feb 2012)
Article courtesy: CGNet Swara Posted on 03 Apr, 2012 02:57 PM

People get together to build a stop dam themselves

The people of Khariar road town in Odisha have long requested a check dam across the river Jonk. Khuturam Sunani describes how they have now begun constructing it through shramadaan.

Impact report of watershed development programme in Ayyannapalem village of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh
We are very glad to bring to the notice of the Watershed Development Fund (WDF) that the Ayyannapalem watershed Capacity Building Phase (CBP) activities are successfully implemented and it has reached the stage of Feasibility Study Report (FSR) proposal. According to the field conditions, the Ayyannapalem watershed is highly suitable for watershed implementation and there are deep gullies and high level hillocks that exist in the villages. Farmers' co-operation is also very encouraging and we could complete the watershed activities within the specified period. Posted on 19 Mar, 2012 11:59 AM

Author : Kotikala Chandrasheakar

Name of the watershed: Ayyannapalem
Name of the Mandal: Bollapalli
District: Guntur

Status of water supply in in class-I cities and class-II towns of Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Status of water supply in in class-I cities and class-II towns of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Posted on 17 Mar, 2012 10:15 PM

Source: Central Pollution Control Board’s 2009-10 Report

Class of cities/towns

Drafting a new National water policy, 2012 without consulting the farmers would be meaningless
The efforts of Union Ministry of Water Resources and Central Water Commission to initiate a new National Water Policy is welcome.
After going through the draft of National Water Policy 2012 (draft NWP 2012) and summary record of various consultations related to it, the following comments / suggestions, particularly related to participatory irrigation management aspects, are offered for consideration:
Posted on 04 Mar, 2012 11:02 PM

Author : Phanish Sinha

2 days course on rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management, IITB, March 30-31, 2012, Mumbai
Posted on 03 Mar, 2012 12:06 PM

Organizer: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB)

Venue: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay,
            CEP/ Seminar Hall / Department of Civil Engineering,
            Powai, Mumbai – 400 076

IITB

Description:
IIT Bombay is organizing 2 days CEP Short Term Course on Rainwater Harvesting & Sustainable Water Management March 30 31, 2012.

Some ideas to save water in huge quantities: Letter to the 2012 Draft National Water Policy Committee
This note presents some ideas by which we can save water in huge quantities. Posted on 01 Mar, 2012 03:03 PM

Author: Shyam  Agrawal

Draft National Water Policy 2012 - Dialogue organised by NEER Foundation, Meerut on February 18, 2012
The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), Government of India (GoI) has recently prepared a National Water Policy whose draft has been put up on the Ministry's website for public comments by February 27, 2012. The MoWR also stated that it would incorporate reasonable comments and suggestions into the new water policy after discussions. NEER Foundation, Meerut organized a one day intensive dialogue on February 18, 2012 at Hotel Crystal Palace, Meerut on the policy draft in which experts from across the country and farmers participated. Posted on 27 Feb, 2012 10:07 AM

Guest post by: Raman Kant Tyagi

Meeting

Mayadantha Male (The miracle of rain) - All India Radio Karnataka programme on rainwater harvesting
This article by Chicu summarises an AIR, Karnataka programme on rainwater harvesting. Posted on 26 Feb, 2012 04:37 PM

"The miracle of rain : Let the earth overflow"

Training programme on urban rainwater harvesting, CSE, March 27-29, 2012, New Delhi
Posted on 20 Feb, 2012 10:52 PM

Organizer: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)

Venue: Anil Agarwal Green College
            Centre for Science and Environment
            38, Tughlakabad Institutional Area,
            New Delhi- 62

CSE

Description:
Training Programme on Urban Rainwater Harvesting a three-day workshop on how to harvest rain in urban centres of India has been announced by CSE between March 27-29,2012.

The programme allows you to gain knowledge, acquire holistic perspectives and get hands-on practice in planning and designing urban water harvesting systems. It will help you to solve real-life water problems of today and give you a unique chance to meet and interact with experts and professionals in the field of rainwater harvesting. Fellowships Available for Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives.

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