The annual precipitation in India is about 4000 cubic km, most oI which is received in the

southwest monsoon season. In simple terms rain water harvesting is a system to collect and store
rain water.


Though water harvesting techniques had been evolved and developed in India centuries ago, it is
Irequently being used today, specially in the major metro cities as they Iace severe water
scarcity. Rainwater harvesting helps make the maximum use oI a Iree resource such as rain
water.
A building`s rooItop is used as a catchment area in most harvesting systems. The rain water is
channeled Irom gutters into pipes that lead to a storage tank Irom where it can be used Ior
household use or Ior recharging groundwater.
Mandatory in 18 states
In India 18 states have made rooItop rainwater harvesting systems mandatory Ior new buildings.
The Karnataka state government proposes to give Iive to 10 rebate on the water bill Ior those
practicing rain water harvesting. Over a period oI time it is expected that this would help solve
40- 45 oI the urban water problems.
Fresh directives have been issued by the Delhi government to all its departments, local bodies
and public sector undertakings to install rain water harvesting systems in their buildings. The
building norms in the capital are also being modiIied to make it mandatory Ior all the
departments to provide plans Ior installing rain water harvesting system in all new buildings with
area space oI 100 square metres and above.
Mumbai, Chennai, Indore
Mumbai, Iaced with acute water shortage, had made it mandatory Ior all buildings with a plot
area oI 1,000 square metres or more to adopt rainwater harvesting. In 2007, it was made
compulsory Ior buildings with plot areas oI 300 square metres. But due to the lack oI proper
monitoring systems, only 900 buildings had actually implemented the plan till June 2009.
In Chennai rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory in three storied buildings (irrespective
oI the size oI the rooItop area). All new water and sewer connections are provided only aIter the
installation oI rainwater harvesting systems.
In Indore in Madhya Pradesh rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory in all new buildings
with an area oI 250 sq m or more. As an incentive Ior implementing the scheme, a rebate oI 6 per
cent on property tax has been oIIered.