Rainwater harvesting is one of the excellent techniques to replenish and use water. Read this article and know how to do rainwater harvesting.

How To Do Rainwater Harvesting

Some thinkers are of the opinion that World War III will occur because of oil and if we manage to keep the world intact even after that, World War IV will be fought because of water. Earth, our best resource of usable water, has only a finite supply, but the demand for fresh water is increasing with the passing time. Disturbing images can be seen all across, even at present. Of people squabbling with each other to get a bucket of water from a tap that is about to go dry. Of endless lines before a water tanker. Of old people trekking miles just to bring home a bottle of water. And other conflicting images that depict the wastage of water by the affluent. The noted film director Shekhar Kapur says “This inequity in the most basic resource necessary for human survival set me thinking and a story developed”. This story is ‘Paani’ - his forthcoming movie addressing water crisis and the resultant inequality. So, how to save water? The best way to do this is to ensure that every household adopts rainwater harvesting as a way of life. Harvesting rainwater not only reduces our dependence on ground water, but also makes us guilt free, for there are millions of people do not have any access to safe drinking water. Explore this article to learn more on how to do rainwater harvesting.
 
Rainwater Harvesting Techniques
 
Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting
  • Every household can have rainwater harvested in a very efficient way, with the roof acting as the catchment.
  • Allow rainwater to collect in the terrace of the house and fix a funnel at a corner of the roof.
  • Connect the funnel to a pipe that goes down into a drum or any other artificial recharge system on the ground, where the water gets collected.
  • The collected rainwater can be filtered and used as well as stored.
  • This is an inexpensive and very effective way of using rainwater.
 
Using Tanks
  • Tanks, about two meters wide and three meters deep, can be dug and used as catchments for harvesting the rainwater.
  • Instead of letting the rainwater flow away, cut small channels into the ground, leading to the tank, so that the water flows into it.
  • The water from the tank can then be diverted to an artificial filtration tank, from where it may be used for various purposes.
  • The water, after filtration, can also be diverted to a well, which can act as a reservoir.
  • This is also a good way to replenish the ground water level.
 
Rural Rainwater Harvesting
  • In villages, where there is no space constraint, huge ponds can be dug at places that are higher than the normal ground level.
  • The rainwater will get collected in the ponds.
  • The water can then be transported to a filter tank or left like that.
  • In low lying areas, the pond can be connected to channels that will feed it with even more rainwater.
  • This method can also be used to prevent bore wells and wells from drying.

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