Rain Water Harvesting- What – How – Cost?

Rainwater harvesting is the direct collection of rainwater to supplement some of our water needs.

Why rainwater harvesting?

Broadly rainwater can be harvested for two purposes Storing rainwater for ready use in containers above or below ground Charged into the soil for withdrawal later (groundwater recharging)

Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. Uses include water for garden, water for livestock, water for irrigation, and indoor heating for houses etc. In many places the water collected is just redirected to a deep pit with percolation. The harvested water can be used as drinking water as well as for storage and other purpose like irrigation.

Rainwater can be:

  Stored for direct use or to recharge the groundwater levels

  Channelized through a filter bed into an underground storage tank

  Used for flushing, washing utensils & clothes and even gardening

A 20,000 litres tank requires a one - time cost of less than Rs. 2,000 per flat and needs very little maintenance.

Know more about Water Conservation on WaterConsumer.org

Water Conservation – How can you contribute?

With the below simple steps each one of us together can save several thousand liters of water per year.

1)    Fix leaking taps immediately
2)    To water your plants collect water from your roof
3)    Whilst shaving & brushing your teeth turn off the tap
4)    While shampooing your hair turn off the tap
5)    Cut down on the number of utensils to be washed
6)    Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap
7)    Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, and then reuse it to water houseplants
8)    While washing hands, don't let the water run while you lather
9)    Soak utensilsin a sink basin or a large container instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean
10)    Try to shorten your shower by a minute or two
11)    Upgrade older toilets with water efficient models.
12)    When cleaning out fish tanks, use the nutrient-rich water for your plants
13)    Don’t throw the accidentally dropped ice cubes but use them in a house plant instead
14)    Wash your pets and your car outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water
15)    When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain but use it to water your trees or shrubs
16)    Watering your lawn or garden in the morning or evening will help minimize evaporation, since the temperatures are cooler then
17)    Avoid watering your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates
18)    Adjust sprinklers such that water is not wasted. Also use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Small patches can be watered by hand to avoid wastage.

Know more about Water Conservation on WaterConsumer.org