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)
July 14, 2022 The river is faced with the dual problem of flood plain encroachment and growing levels of water pollution
Illegal transverse check dams (Badhals) built on Ichamati near a village in Basirhat (Image: Prithviraj Nath @ TheWaterChronicles)
July 11, 2022 The Chauka system of Rajasthan can not only provide a sustainable way to manage water resources in water stressed regions, but also support livelihoods through development of pastures.
Can greening of barren lands happen? (Image Source: India Water Portal Flickr photos)
March 21, 2022 Recognizing women's accumulated knowledge and adaptive capacities in springshed management
Van Panchayat Samiti discussing the matters related to forest (Image: Varun Raja)
November 9, 2021 Building resilient agricultural system through groundwater management interventions in degraded landscapes of Bundelkhand region
Charkhari talab in Bundelkhand (Image: IWP Flickr)
Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu sets an example by becoming water secure
News this fortnight Posted on 05 Jul, 2023 04:40 PM

Namkaal district of Tamil Nadu shows the way to successfully manage water scarcity

Tamil Nadu’s Namakkal district has successfully addressed its water scarcity challenges and become the second-best district in India in terms of groundwater availability according to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry’s annual ranking. 

Being water secure. Image for representation purposes only (Image Source: India Water Portal Flickr photos)
Solar energy changes the lives of rural women in Rajasthan
News this fortnight Posted on 19 May, 2023 10:30 AM

Solar energy changes the lives of rural women in Rajasthan

Women from rural Rajasthan. Image for representation purposes only (Image Source: Christopher Michel via Wikimedia Commons)
Desilting tanks and uplifting collective spirits
A community mobilises resources, including MGNREGS funds, to take care of its commons Posted on 11 Apr, 2023 06:46 PM

The picturesque village of Marasanapalli in Bagepalli Block, Karnataka is home to 70 households who primarily practise agriculture, livestock rearing, and daily wage labour. Farmers here grow a variety of vegetables such as beans, ridge gourd, cauliflower, spring onion and beetroot, and some with land in the command area of the village tank grow paddy.

Devarakere tank (Image: FES)
Call for submissions for the conference “Rainwater Harvesting: A Sustainable Solution for Climate Change Resilience and Achieving SDGs
This conference aims to support the growing lobby for investment and rainwater-harvesting policies by providing evidence of success stories from South Asia and other parts of the globe.
Posted on 17 Dec, 2022 08:52 AM

International conference

 

The Chakla bavdi of Chanderi
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. Posted on 21 Sep, 2022 01:03 PM

Water being an essential element for survival, methods of water conservation and harvesting were utilised by human populations throughout history in different parts of the world.

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)
Beris – a neglected indigenous water harvesting system
The answer to the water crisis in Rajasthan lies in this traditional system Posted on 30 Aug, 2022 09:03 PM

World Water Week is currently being observed across the world.

A villager drinking potable water from the Beri (Image: Dileep Bidawat)
Ichamati: River of poetry is dying a slow death
The river is faced with the dual problem of flood plain encroachment and growing levels of water pollution Posted on 14 Jul, 2022 07:01 PM

River Ichamati is venerated as a living entity and its fertile flood plains have been catering to the expanding human-mediated demands apart from harbouring an enormous assemblage of aquatic flora and fauna.

Illegal transverse check dams (Badhals) built on Ichamati near a village in Basirhat (Image: Prithviraj Nath @ TheWaterChronicles)
Greening of barren lands – the local way
The Chauka system of Rajasthan can not only provide a sustainable way to manage water resources in water stressed regions, but also support livelihoods through development of pastures. Posted on 11 Jul, 2022 01:04 PM

Groundwater, the lifeline of India

Over 55 percent of India’s population relies on groundwater for irrigation, water for cattle, domestic consumption, and industrial use making India the world’s greatest groundwater extractor, surpassing the USA and China combined.

Can greening of barren lands happen? (Image Source: India Water Portal Flickr photos)
ITC scales up its 360-degree interventions for a greener earth
Heavily invests in renewable energy, water conservation, waste management, afforestation, and climate-smart agriculture to record landmark achievements Posted on 04 Jun, 2022 05:13 PM

On this World Environment Day, ITC reaffirmed its commitment towards a greener Earth through its bold Sustainability 2.0 agenda. 

Reaffirms its Sustainability 2.0 commitments on World Environment Day (Image: ITC)
Centre launches Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign, 2022
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 06 Apr, 2022 10:24 AM

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign, 2022 launched during the 3rd National Water Awards

Catch the rain where it falls, when it fall (Image source: IWP Flickr album). Photo for representation only
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