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.

Term Path Alias

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Featured Articles
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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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Policy matters this week Posted on 10 Jul, 2019 12:01 PM

Government cuts budget for Jal Shakti Ministry by 9.4 percent; increases funds for rural drinking water mission 

Irrigation well in Randullabad, Maharashtra. Image credit: Manu Moudgil for India Water Portal
Neglect and lack of monitoring behind country's water scarcity: CWC
News this week Posted on 10 Jul, 2019 09:20 AM

India not a water defict country. Neglect and lack of monitoring behind country's water scarcity: CWC

Queuing up for water (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Government launches Jal Shakti Abhiyan to tackle water crisis
Policy matters this week Posted on 02 Jul, 2019 04:59 PM

Centre launches Jal Shakti Abhiyan

Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched to battle water crisis (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
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India is witnessing the second driest pre-monsoon season in the last 65 years. As the country eagerly eyes the monsoon clouds, the delay so far has now widened the rain deficit to 43%.

Coping with droughts, a challenge for farmers (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
High Court takes note of acute water crisis in Chennai
Policy matters this week Posted on 26 Jun, 2019 11:36 AM

High Court raps Tamil Nadu government over water crisis in Chennai

Chennai reels under acute water crisis (Source: India Water Portal on Flickr)
Slow monsoon causes countrywide rainfall deficit of 44 percent
In the news this week Posted on 26 Jun, 2019 10:53 AM

Monsoon makes slowest progress across India in 12 years (source: Times of India)

Image used for representational purposes only. Image source: India Water Portal on Flickr
Piped water to all rural households by 2024: Government
Policy matters this week Posted on 18 Jun, 2019 08:04 PM

Government to launch rural piped water scheme

Ten thousand litres overhead tank to supply piped water (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
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An analysis of the effectiveness of the Composite Water Management Index as a policy-making tool Posted on 14 Jun, 2019 11:34 AM

INTRODUCTION

Image for representational purposes only. Image credit: India Water Portal
Jal Shakti ministry formed to tackle water woes
Policy matters this week Posted on 04 Jun, 2019 09:34 PM

Jal Shakti ministry formed by merging water ministry and drinking water ministry

Cauvery river at Hogenakal, Karnataka (Source: IWP Flickr Photos via Claire Arni and Oriole Henri)
Water management: Still a neglected electoral issue?
India is facing a major water crisis and a number of water sector challenges remain unaddressed even today. Posted on 25 Apr, 2019 12:04 PM

India is on the brink of a major water crisis. With drought looming over the southern and western parts of the country, the existing water resources are in peril. Rivers are getting more polluted, their catchments, water-holding and water-harvesting mechanisms are deteriorating and groundwater levels are depleting at an alarming rate.

India's water woes need urgent attention. (Image Source: India Water Portal)
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