Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to run off.It is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops, the land surface or rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and pots as well as more complex techniques such as underground check dams.

It is the process of augmenting the natural filtration of rainwater in to the underground formation by some artificial methods.

“Conscious collection and storage of rainwater to cater to demands of water, for drinking, domestic purpose & irrigation is termed as Rainwater Harvesting.”
Following are the advantages of using Rainwater harvesting-

1. The gathered rainwater can be utilized in  agriculture, which will help in crop growth and to fight situations of drought.
2. It can be used to feed livestock.
3. To meet the increasing demand of water.
4. The quantity of the subterranean water can be increased.
5. Unnecessary wastage of water flowing through drain, gutter, or any water-cause can be stopped and damage to water-course of any type cab be checked.
6. It can save from the problem of water logging.
7. The quantity of water can be raised and soil erosion can be checked.
8. It will lead to water conservation and sustainable development.

There are two types of techniques for Rainwater harvesting-

•  Surface runoff harvesting — In urban area rainwater flows away as surface runoff. This runoff could be caught and used for recharging aquifers by adopting appropriate methods.Surface runoff is a major component of the water cycle. It is the primary agent in soil erosion by water.
•  Roof top rainwater harvesting —Rooftop Rain Water Harvesting is the technique through which rain water is captured from the roof catchments and stored in reservoirs. Harvested rain water can be stored in sub-surface ground water reservoir by adopting artificial recharge techniques to meet the household needs through storage in tanks. The Main Objective of rooftop rain water harvesting is to make water available for future use. Capturing and storing rain water for use is particularly important in dryland, hilly, urban and coastal areas.

Rainwater harvesting should be preferred mode for water conservation as –

• it is neither energy intensive nor labor intensive
• It can be a cost-effective alternative to other water-accruing methods.
• with the water table falling rapidly, & concrete surfaces and landfill dumps taking the place of water bodies, it is the most reliable solution for augmenting groundwater level to attain self-sufficiency

Rainwater harvesting appears to be one of the most promising alternatives for supplying freshwater in the face of increasing water scarcity and escalating demand.

Conserve water because it is right thing to do!.